An Early 19th Century Mas in Provence.
Renovation in Progress.

An Overview:
This lovely property belongs to very good (French) friends of ours who bought it two years ago for themselves. A huge amount of love and work have already gone into it and 60% of the renovation of what was a ruin is complete. Circumstances have changed, they are both working in Cannes, and it is just a little too far for commuting daily, so they are selling (while work on it continues) at what can only be described as an attractive price.

The house takes its name from the “Domaine Grande Bastide” of which it once was a part, and with whom it now shares a common boundary. The Domaine is a well known producer of fine Vins de Provence in the Department of the Var and is now owned by Danish people. One can (and we did) buy their wines and fine Provencal preserves and tapinades etc. in the beautifully appointed “farm shop” just down the road. Vicky and I are drinking their rosé and their red at home now, and they are lovely. (One can take one’s own container and buy their wines in bulk too, at €1.50 per litre!) Please have a look at their website

The earliest written record of the house is a sub-division registered in 1880, but it is believed the house was built in about 1820. The setting in the middle of vineyards and with an uninterrupted view of the twin mediaeval villages of Tourettes on the hilltop on the right in the pictures, and Fayence on the hilltop to the left, is true Provence. I’m sorry it was such a dull day for photography, but it is mid-winter! A third well known and much visited hilltop town is just a few kilometres east and also visible – this is the village of Montauroux.

As a result of the 1880 sub division, the house was split and the two halves back onto each other today. The other half is in good repair and is occupied by a family, but it looks in the opposite direction, there are no windows or communication by sight from one to the other and separate entrances and driveways. One is not aware of neighbours.

Tourettes is just 40 minutes from Cannes, 30 minutes from St Raphael and 50 minutes from St Tropez. It is also only half an hour from the Gorges du Verdon a river canyon that is considered by many to be Europe's most beautiful. It is the world's second and Europe’s largest gorge, 25 kilometers in length and up to 700 meters deep with the startling turquoise-green Verdon River snaking through the base of it.

Oh, and for golfers – The “Domaine de Terre Blanche” which includes a Four Seasons Resort and Spa and two famous golf courses including the Terre Blanch Golf Club, is just 4km from La Grande Bastide – on the doorstep, almost literally. This is what the website has to say:

“Terre Blanche: Provence and the Cote D'Azur have always been an essential part of any grand tour of Europe. Straddling these two great regions of France, Terre Blanche Golf Club is now an essential part of any golfer's grand tour. The Chateau and Rioux championship courses are classical undulating woodland layouts, guaranteed to test and probe every department of your game. After the golf, the onsite Four Seasons Resort Provence provides a full range of luxury facilities to soothe the body and satisfy the appetite. Just a short drive from Terre Blanche and the Four Seasons resort are the cities of Cannes and Nice, and a host of other top-quality golf courses.”

Here are two sites to look at:
http://golftravel.about.com/od/europeandestinations/ss/europe-10_9.htm
http://www.fourseasons.com/provence/

Now, to the property itself:

• On 3600m² of land.
• A large terrace off each of the two main bedrooms (40m²).
• An office area or boudoir.
• Large open and light living room.
• Large modern kitchen.
• Swimming pool under construction (15m x 6.5m)

In addition:

• The total area of land is 6600m². The property is partitioned, and the other 3000m² is in front of the 3600m² contained in the offer. It is “inconstructible” and as such has absolutely no use to the seller now or in the future. I believe that it could quite easily become part of the sale. It would make for a very large garden!
• I have in front of me the “permis de construction” from the “Mairie de Tourettes” authorising 1) the current work on the house, 2) the swimming pool to the dimensions given above, 3) a “pool house” of surface dimension 8m x 5.6m and double storey and 4) a two-car garage.

The seller has spent 150 000€ on the renovation so far, and estimates that to complete the house (to his planned specifications) and the swimming pool will cost another 100 000€.

This does not include the building of the “pool house” which as planned entails a utility room for swimming pool filter and storage below ground, an entertainment area and summer kitchen on ground level, and a one bedroom guest apartment on the first floor. Neither does it include the cost of the construction of the garage or car-shelter.

The house has been renovated to an extremely high standard. All windows and doors have been designed and created to allow maximum light into the building while respecting the original and governing stonework. All windows and doors are double glazed and all slide back into the walls and therefore open to their fullest width. The electrics and plumbing have been completed and many plug points provided, internet access in every room has also been provided for (as have speakers and music, and television). The kitchen has been planned to be equipped with every appliance a modern kitchen might require.

The banisters for the stairs to the first and second floors have not been decided on (wood or wrought iron), but the railings on the two terraces are planned to be in wrought iron.

The ground floor is entered from a main door on the side wall, or through two very big double sliding doors on the front wall. The main room is the very light and spacious living room, beyond which is the kitchen which has a door onto a back (and entirely sheltered) patio. Part of this terrace is covered by the first floor terrace, and the plan of the seller was to equip it with a summer kitchen or barbecue and to enjoy outdoor meals.

The first floor comprises the office area on the landing, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The seller did not intend to have the second bedroom, preferring to keep it open plan as a single enormous bedroom and living area. However it was separate rooms originally and the walls and existing shapes indicate that to close off and make two very reasonable bedrooms might be the more sensible – depending on one’s needs. The plumbing is in place for two bathrooms. The main first floor bedroom opens onto a sheltered terrace which will have a wrought iron balustrade.

The second floor is the magnificent main bedroom and bathroom (and living room) with an enormous terrace on which the sellers planned to put a Jacuzzi (and it is plumbed for that). Once again the terrace is planned to have a wrought iron balustrade.