Description
A restored stone farmhouse with a large secure garden, a pool and overlooking the vineyards of the Côtes-du-Rhône region within walking distance of the village of Beaumes-de-Venise. The house is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The large bedrooms have views over the vines, and the sunlit dining room is in the old cart shed. There is plenty of shade under the trees with sunloungers for the pool and a beautiful garden terrace for al fresco dining overlooking the pool. The kitchen is very well equipped with all modern appliances. The house is completely private, with it's own driveway for parking.
La Plantade is a ten minute stroll from Beaumes-de-Venise, a small market town with great character and lots of activities, dominated by a 16th century church. The town has all the shops needed for day-to-day living, and an abundance of traditional cafes and restaurants, many with outside terraces. The streets are lined with plane trees. There is a municipal outdoor swimming pool for the summer months.
Beaumes-de-Venise is famous for its sweet white wines made from Muscat grapes. It is one of the celebrated villages of the Côtes du Rhône winemaking region, and has a visitor’s centre where one can taste the wines, take a tour, and view the wine-making process. Outside town, caves can be found in the cliff faces, which are used as wine cellars. Beaumes-de-Venise also has a large tourist centre which hosts many exhibitons from local artists and can offer advice for tours and activities. The olive oil co-operative is in the centre of the town and one can sample the oil and tour the mill.
One kilometre to the west towards the town of Vacqueyras is the chapel of Notre Dame d'Aubune, an excellent example of Romanesque architecture. The magnificent hillside villages of Gigondas and Séguret are both well worth a visit; both have excellent restaurants. There are many marked trails in the hills for both cyclists and walkers.
The nearby town of Carpentras, 12 kilometres away, was the capital city of the ancient "comtat Venaissin" that gave its name to Beaumes de Venise. It was ceded to the popes in 1274, when the papacy resided in Avignon, and remained the estate of the popes until the French Revolution in 1791. Carpentras is situated at the foot of Mont Ventoux. This mountain gives views as far as the Mediterranean and the French Alps; it is also famous as a particularly gruelling stage of the Tour de France.
Further afield are the towns of Vaison La Romaine, Orange, Avignon, Nîmes, Arles, and Aix en Provence, all of which renowned for their Roman and medieval architecture, and feature open-air theatres where events are staged throughout the summer months. Every day there are excellent markets to visit where one can buy the freashest regional products. The town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is well worth visiting, as it is full of antique shops. The cities of Marseilles and Montpellier, the beaches of the Mediterranean, the national parks of the Camargue and Vercours, and the spectacular caves and gorges of the Ardeche and Verdon rivers are all well situated for a day trip.