Chez Mirabel

THE HOUSE:

Chez Mirabel in the perched village of Mirabel-aux-Baronnies in the Département de la Drôme with the mountains on the doorstep. It is a beautiful part of Southern France, with a wide variety of things to do and see. Views take in rich lavender fields, grapevines, and the soft gray of the olive groves.

There is a market held every Friday throughout the year, as well as cafés and restaurants. Chez Mirabel’s front door is on the Impasse des Fleurs (Passageway of Flowers), a pedestrian street, and its garage is on the quiet rue du Bourg. Both are just steps from the village’s bakeries, grocery, butcher, and other shops.

The property was developed as a Fractional Ownership Property at the end of October 2011 and then 12+ months were spent completely renovating it, including new main and summer kitchens, new bathrooms, new tile flooring, and new electrical and heating systems.

The house has been completely furnished with lovely Provençal furnishings and accents. Ten wonderful families happily use the home annually, each with five weeks usage.

Chez Mirabel a four-level townhouse in the center of the village. The levels, from bottom to top, are:

• Lower level: The “entrepôt” (warehouse) is accessed from the rue du Bourg and consists of the wine cellar and garage. The garage also holds the owner’s storage lockers.
• Ground level: The “séjour” (salon, living room) is accessed from the village’s Impasse des Fleurs pedestrian walkway. It consists of the kitchen, living room, dining room, den with a fireplace, a full bath, and a balcony overlooking the rue du Bourg (about 860 square feet = 80m2).
• Level one: “Chambrés” (bedrooms) –– consists of three bedrooms, a full bath, and a study (about 930 square feet = 86m2).
• Level two: A terrace is on the roof consisting of a large outside area overlooking the village and surrounding hills (about 290 square feet = 27m2) and a media/activity room with a small “summer” kitchen (about 188 square feet = 17m2). The interior total: approx. 1980 square feet = 184m2)

Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is just 8 kilometers south of Nyons, the olive capital of France, and a similar distance north of Vaison-la-Romaine, one of the most important Roman heritage sites in France. It is about 40 minutes from Montelimar’s high-speed TGV train ride to Paris and other European locations, an hour northeast of Avignon (Cité des Papes), and less than two hours to Marseille with its international airport and the Mediterranean. The region is renowned for its fruit, primarily apricots, is on the edge of the Côtes du Rhône wine areas, and is in the region of the world’s best olives. It also supplies 90% of France’s white (summer) and black (winter) truffles!

Mirabel-aux-Baronnies has a dry and warm micro-climate and because it is tucked into a small valley, is well protected against the Mistral winds. This area of Provence is truly a place for all seasons. In March the spring flowers push through; April sees the fruit blossoms; in May the vines burst into leaves, there is greening everywhere; and the first strawberries and cherries turn up in the markets. In June, and the hillsides are cloaked in lavender. A vast lavender harvest occurs in late June, early July with countless tiny distilleries in the region perfuming the air.

There are sunflower fields and olive, apricot and cherry orchards all around. July and August are high-season months, with the village’s “fêtes,” music festivals, and more. There’s always a breeze to cool things off. September brings the grape harvests and the autumn colors are amazing in October and November. By Christmas the olives are ready to harvest. Christmas brings its own traditions and superb food delicacies.

Ninety percent of the French truffles are found in the Baronnies region around Mirabel. They are a real delicacy and are called black or white truffles, depending if they have been found in winter or in summer. The village is only minutes away from many of the most elite vineyards in the world – the Côte du Rhône Cru vineyards of Vinsobres, Gigondas, Rasteau, Vacqueyras, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

If you want a bit more life, Nyons is only 8 kilometers away. It has a great street café culture and one of Provence’s liveliest open-air markets every Thursday and Saturday! It also has a cinema, many cafés and restaurants, an outdoor theater, tennis, supermarkets, banking and services. There’s a gigantic outdoor Municipal Swim Center with café – a great place for cool family summer fun, and another memorable public pool is found beneath the Marquise-de-Sevigny’s huge Renaissance castle at Grignan. Just a couple of kilometers down the road on the way to Nyons is Franceloc, a huge water amusement park.

ONE SHARE AVAILABLE:

97,500€

• +$1,467/year homeowner association fees
• + $400 annual reserve fund

There are 10 shares, each 5 weeks/year. (Allows for 2 weeks annual repairs and deep cleaning.)

The share will be sold on a first-come/first-served basis. When you make your request, we will forward your interest to the current owner who will provide you with more information and the supporting documentation.

For more information and to purchase this share, contact us at [email protected].