17th Century Mas in Quiet Provencal Village Le Paradou
House in Arles
5 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
Top-tier experienceOne of the higher cost properties in the area
About this house rental
The Mas du Vieux Charron is a seventeenth century Provençal stone farmhouse. It formerly belonged to the violinist and conductor Alexander (Sasha) Schneider, who often gave concerts there. Pablo Casals, Isaac Stern, the Guarneri Quartet, Jaime Laredo, Peter Serkin, and many other musicians have stayed in the house and rehearsed in the enormous music room - two stories high and running the full length of the house, with a thirty foot high wood beam ceiling.
The house is light and airy, with about 3,500 square feet of floor space, consisting of, on the first floor, a kitchen, a library, a small bathroom with shower, a studio/office, and the music room; and on the second floor, of two bedrooms and a large bathroom with bath. There are windows in every room and large doors to the garden from every ground floor room.
The house is furnished with old French country pieces and a good supply of china, glassware, silverware, cooking utensils, linens and towels. The kitchen has a Viking stove and its antique wooden table will seat six to eight. There are three working fireplaces in the house: in the kitchen, the study, and the second bedroom; the atelier has a Godin wood-burning stove.
Cars may be parked on the gravel-covered area in front of the house. The surrounding garden has a round stone table, a well, fig trees, an almond tree and rose bushes, as well as rosemary, lavender and other herbs and flowers. Beyond the garden is an orchard with fifteen apricot, cherry, and pear trees, surrounded on two sides by cypress trees and on the third by oleander and laurel. There is a 5 m. x 10 m. swimming pool at the far end of the property, separated from the orchard by a stone wall, with a covered area and pool-house for changing or getting out of the sun.
The village of le Paradou is our idea of the perfect village in Provence - too small to attract many tourists, but large enough to have the basic conveniences, and within a half hour of Avignon, Arles, Tarascon, les Baux-de-Provence, St.-Rémy-de-Provence, Fontvielle and Nîmes, and an hour of Marseille. In easy walking distance are a bakery, grocery store, and two restaurants, one of them the famous Bistrot du Paradou.
There are four bicycles in the house, and bicycling on the back roads of Provence is fabulous. Located in the heart of the Alpilles, there are unlimited possibilities for walking and exploring within minutes.
Life in Provence is generally slow-paced, relaxed and enjoyable. The village, the house and the garden smell wonderfully of lavender and herbs. It's hard to describe the pleasure of opening the big wooden doors to let in the morning sunlight, or of having lunch beneath the fig tree in front of the house.
A nap after lunch is more or less required. Almost every day there is a great open-air market in one of the nearby towns: Arles, Beaucaire, Fontvielle, Maussane-les-Alpilles, St.-Martin-de-Crau, St.Rémy-de-Provence, or Tarascon. Wonderful local wines and olive oil are easy to find, as are Provençal fabrics and antiques.
Note: between May and October, bookings must be Saturday to Saturday.
Keywords: House
Amenities
Pool
Air conditioner
Pets allowed
Kitchen or Kitchenette
Internet / Wifi
Fireplace
Parking
Laundry
Balcony or Patio
Dishwasher
TV
Family friendly
Map of Arles
$$$$
Reviews
Summary of reviews
Beautiful location with historical charm, lovely gardens, and beautiful pool. Highly recommended for a relaxing stay.
10.0
I hardly ever write reviews - but this was wonderful. Great location. Easy to walk to town and at the same time very close to great historical sites. We loved the decor and the gardens and pool were simply beautiful. We will be back ! I would highly recommend.
10.0
Excellent séjour dans les Alpilles
Très belle propriété : mas provençal authentique. Tout le confort dans la maison, très bien équipée avec un très vaste espace. Terrasse ombragée très agréable. jardin très bien entretenu. Piscine de belle dimension idéale pour la nage ou les jeux et très bien abritée du Mistral.
10.0
A Gem of a House in a Great Location
The Mas du Vieux Charron is a gem. It is rare to find a house in the middle of a busy village that is also so private: twenty-foot cedar hedges shield the large garden and the magnificent pool from the road and from the neighbors. The house is charming and full of historical interest. Once the home of the village cartwright (charron), it was restored by the great violinist Alexander Schneider (the music room was formerly the cartwright’s workshop). The current owners have kept many souvenirs of Schneider’s life in the house while installing many upgrades, including a kitchen equipped for serious cooks, Bosch and Viking appliances, air conditioning in one bedroom, and a ceiling fan in the other. All the windows and the kitchen doors are screened to keep flies and mosquitos out, which is very unusual in France. The housekeeper speaks some English and turned the house over to us in immaculate shape. The center of the village (less than five minutes away on foot) has an excellent bakery, a butcher shop that sells high quality meats and prepared foods, and a small general store that provides most other necessities. Paradou also has a marvelous (and famous) bistrot as well as a couple of other nice restaurants. The neighboring village of Maussane-les-Alpilles has several other very good places to eat at a variety of price points. The owner of the house provided a lot of detailed information about the house, the village, and the surrounding area which we appreciated very much. We would be delighted to return for another holiday.
10.0
Paradise
We’ve been visiting here on and off for years. It’s a beatiful place inside and out. The decor is amazing. When we visit we really don’t feel there are many other places to visit.
10.0
True Provençal living-- tranquility
We visited during beautiful Spring weather. Phenomenal and authentic property situated in a very small village which is proximal to many key sites in Provence. Excellent base from which to explore the surrounding olive groves, wineries and town markets.
The home is exquisitely peaceful and conducive to relaxation and preparing wonderful meals to be enjoyed in the dining room, kitchen or garden. Lovely pool and courtyard, walk to patisserie, boulangerie and local organic markets. This is a truly memorable experience.
10.0
September at the Mas du Vieux Charron
Our family of five spend an idyllic week at the Mas du Vieux Charron; a delightful experience in every way! Every aspect was beautiful and even better than the pictures-- the comfort and design of each room, the artwork and music collection, the well-supplied kitchen, the garden and pool. The owner was very helpful, and our arrival and departure went smoothly. The property was well maintained, inside and out. We loved the bikes and helmets! The huge music room and sound system was fabulous! Cooking meals was a great pleasure. The village of Paradou is one of our favorites in all of France, and we walked and biked in all directions. We hope to be back for another taste of paradise at this beautiful mas.
10.0
Absolutely fantastic place
Everything about this wonderful place was perfect. I wish I could buy it and move there. Any question you would ask I could asnwer affirmatively. You can call me at 601-713-4156 and I will tell you anything you want to know. I have stayed there two summers and will be there this summer 2011 and next summer. If you want to beat me to it you will have to rent it two years in advance!
8.0
A Great Week in Provence
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Mas du Vieux Charron. The home and setting fit beautifully in the quaint little village of Le Paradou. We loved the proximity to the markets and relaxing by the pool while enjoying the local food and wine. It was great to be able to walk to boulangerie every morning and we loved dining at the house as well as the surrounding restaurants. The kitchen is well-equipped and the Viking stove is a plus. The owner was very accommodating and provided lots of information about the surrounding villages and markets. You couldn't pick a better locale.
10.0
A wonderful week in le Paradou
A delightful house in a beautiful part of France. Our family of five thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Mas du Vieux Charron. The house is charming with an excellent kitchen and a wonderful garden and pool. Located within driving distance to so many sights, our week stay was not nearly long enough. The garden was beautifully maintained. Indeed, if we had not been so keen to explore Provence, we could have spent a very relaxing week eating "al fresco" in the garden and swimming in the sparkling pool. Peter, a very attentive owner, provided us with valuable information about the surrounding area, the market days for each village and local restaurant recommendations.
8.0
A wonderful resting place
We have rented this home for 17 years in a row. If that is not an endorsement I do not not know what is. It is charming and comfortable. The location is superb, close to towns and cities but in a quiet town itself. The pool is our haven after long travel days and the kitchen has all we desire for meals (usually simple ones given the fresh food that is readily available at local markets and the excellent Bistrot du Paradou located up the road - also highly recommended). Peter provides an excellent guide to everything that is around and it is very useful for the new arriviste in the neighborhood. Enjoy.
10.0
Unique house in the heart of Provence!
We are an anglo- french family with 3 children and enjoy coming to Le Paradou as much as we can! We spent two summers there and had kept an excellent memory of our stays: the house is beautifuly decorated in a provencal style with personal touches from the owners ( music, painting, photography) and the swiming pool is very agreable at any moment... The area is perfect for tourism ( this is probably the best spot in Provence!) and for those who love cooking (as myself) the markets and the products are just marvellous!
FAQs
How much does this house cost compared to others in Arles?
The average price for a rental in Arles is $165 per night. This rental is $383 above the average.
Is parking included with this house?
Yes, parking is listed as an amenity at 17th Century Mas in Quiet Provencal Village Le Paradou. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this house?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at 17th Century Mas in Quiet Provencal Village Le Paradou. Enjoy the water!
Is 17th Century Mas in Quiet Provencal Village Le Paradou pet friendly?
Yes! This house is pet-friendly. For more information, we recommend contacting the booking provider about animal policies.
What amenities are available at 17th Century Mas in Quiet Provencal Village Le Paradou?
We found 12 amenities for this rental. This includes pool, air conditioner, pets allowed, kitchen or kitchenette, and internet / wifi.
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