Medieval House in Provencal Village
20, Rue de Roi, Carces, Var
Carces
Carces is the perfect location for those seeking to experience genuine Provencal village life but lies within easy reach of all parts of the region.
20 Rue de Roi occupies an elevated position with panoramic views towards Cotignac, in the medieval part of Carces, a small market town on the edge of the Haut Var. The house dates from the 11th century but the foundations are said to be Roman. It has been reconstructed using stone from the ruined chateau at the top of the hill and from other local materials – the terracotta floor tiles are 200 years old. The heart of the medieval part of the village has also been renovated in recent years.
To the side of the house is a small, enclosed terrasse shaded by a pergola which makes a ple
asant place to dine. There is a double parking space next to the terrasse which belongs to the house although the surrounding streets in the medieval part are steep and narrow and used by very few cars.
The Property
The property sleeps 4 comfortably. It is not recommended for young children due to the open plan nature of the stairway to the upper floor
The house has been newly furnished and the accommodation consists, on the ground floor, of a dining kitchen leading through to a large lounge.
The kitchen is fully equipped with electric oven & hob, microwave, fridge, automatic washing machine and separate tumble drier. Ample crockery, cutlery and cooking equipment are provided. There is a small oak table and 4 chairs. Hot water is provided for the house from an electric boiler (situated in the basement). A portable air conditioning unit is also available.
The lounge is furnished in Provencal style with a leather sofa, a sofa bed and oak/walnut furniture. There is a small TV/video with satellite channels (including UK TV) and a CD player. From the lounge there are 2 sets of French windows which open onto the terrasse. A door from the lounge leads down to the cellars.
A stairway from the kitchen leads to the upper floor and opens onto a small sitting area. There is a large master bedroom simply furnished with a queen sized bed, 2 built-in wardrobes, a marble-topped dressing table, chair and oak chest of drawers. The second, smaller bedroom also has a queen sized bed and a built-in wardrobe with a bedside cabinet and chest of drawers. The bedrooms have panoramic views over the surrounding countryside.
There is a shower room with double sized shower, wash basin and w.c. and a further separate w.c.
In the basement there are 2 large cellars which are used for storage and house the hot water tank. There is also a small wine cellar which remains cool even on the hottest days.
Bedlinen, duvets and towels are provided. Heating may be provided by wall-mounted electric heaters and there is a large open fire in the lounge.
The terrasse is shaded and enclosed and wrought iron garden furniture is provided. The property does not have a swimming pool.
The Village
Carces is an agricultural village with a delightful medieval centre. The economy is very much dependent on the local vineyards although increasing numbers of holiday homes are to be found on the outskirts. However, the village is quiet and “off the beaten track”.
Local shops are only a 5 minute walk away, including a minimarket, bakers, pharmacists etc and there is a supermarket and petrol station on the edge of town (15 min walk). There is also a bank with an ATM and a local doctor. There are a few bars and restaurants in Carces serving basic but very good Provencal food. There is even a takeaway pizza shop and a Chinese restaurant! The local market is held on Saturday morning in the centre of the village. There is a local wine cooperative and a cave selling wine from Domaine St. Eloi.
The Surrounding Area
The Haut Var is the true heart of Provence with a landscape of forests, vines, lakes and cliffs. The area is ideally suited for walking, climbing, cycling, canoeing and even hang gliding – or just sight seeing. The myriad of picturesque medieval villages such as Lorgues, Flaysoc, Cotignac, Aups, Tourtour, Entrecasteaux and Villecroze are fascinating to explore and are only a few minutes by car from Carces.
The Abbaye du Thoronet, the oldest of Provence’s three Cistercian monasteries is close by. Carces is also within easy driving distance of Toulon, Marseilles, Aix, Arles, Avignon, Grasse and the spectacular Gorge du Verdon. On the Cote d’Azur, Cannes, St Tropez, St Raphael and Cassis are 60-90 mins away. Further afield, it’s possible to drive to Milan and the lakes or to Barcelona in a day.
Eating out is easy with a huge choice at a range of prices, and nearby towns such as Cotignac, Lorgues, Aups, Vidauban, Tourtour and Luc have outstanding restaurants. In particular, Chez Bruno in Lorgues and Bastide de Toutour are superb – Chez Bruno attracts diners from Paris who land their helicopters outside!
While Provence is not as famed for its wines as other areas of France there are many local vineyards surrounding Carces and beyond which produce very good, reasonably priced wine. Of course the local rose is eminently drinkable and the Rhone region is less than 2 hours away by car
Getting there
BA, BMI, Globespan, EasyJet and Ryanair fly to Nice or Marseilles. Carces is about 90 minutes by car (on the toll-paying auto routes) from either Nice or Marseilles.
To book
Please contact the owners directly
Brian Jones & Mary Hanson Tel +44 7977 038572
email: b.l.jones@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
Carces brochure (PDF format) Prices & Availability
