Under the Shade of the Olive Trees…

I’m a city girl, but a house like Les Olivettes could easily turn my head…and has. This is like no other luxuriously renovated farmhouse in France. Period.

First off, it’s not in the middle of nowhere, which is something I could never get used to—too remote, too isolated, too boring. No, Les Olivettes in on the edge of one of Provence’s most charming villages—Lourmarin. Ranked among the most beautiful villages of France, and located between two valleys, the Durance and the Calavon not far from the town of Apt, Lourmarin is one of the region’s most desirable enclaves. It’s no wonder that famous international figures have been drawn to the town, such as French authors Albert Camus and Henri Bosco (who are buried in the village cemetery), as well as English author Peter Mayle (A Year in Provence), who helped bring world-wide attention to the area.

There are no less than four Michelin-starred restaurants within 15 minutes drive of Lourmarin. In town is Reine Sammut’s Michelin Star restaurant, Auberge La Fenière. Not bad for a small village, right? And if you prefer to delight on the region’s specialities, the Friday morning market in Lourmarin is one of the best. It takes over the plane tree-lined avenue into the center of the village as well as the square above it. I’ve enjoyed the market on many occasions, with the 15th-century Château de Lourmarin punctuating the landscape, reminding us all of its aristocratic heritage.

The Luberon, the region of Lourmarin, is of special note. With its abundance of olive trees, vineyards, fruit trees, lavender fields, and surrounding hills, the Luberon is as close to paradise in Provence (or just about anywhere) as you will ever get. It serves as an ideal base for visiting Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Arles and all of the villages of the region and beyond. You might recognize a few of these: Ansouis, Bonnieux, Cucuron, Gordes, Goult, Lacoste, Ménerbes, Oppède le Vieux, Roussillon…to name just a few. In addition, the famous port city of Marseille is an hour’s drive away, with an international airport that makes it easy to travel to anywhere. From Marseille, Aix-en-Provence or Avignon, you have fast and easy access to Paris—just three hours on the TGV to be in central Paris or less than three hours in the other direction to Nice.

Les Olivettes is a proven revenue-generating property…and could be, if that’s what you have in mind. Or maybe you will want it all to yourself, your family and friends. Either way, you’ll never forget your life and times here.

When you first drive up to the house and park (an area which allows for several cars), you are surrounded by approximately 65 mature, fruit-bearing olive trees which produce about 100 liters of olive oil a year and landscaped, typical Provençal gardens. The peace and quiet of the grounds is punctuated by a large swimming pool, covered with Bisazza mosaic tiles, and with its own cabana. If you’re like me, you will immediately fall in love with the gardens and pool…that love affair will never end.

The house itself is comprised of six self-catering double suites, each with a terrace, each with a large bedroom and a fully equipped kitchen—each like its own luxurious studio apartment. Every “apartment” is decorated and furnished in traditional Provençal style, each with its own colors and personality. This is the feature that makes this property so entirely unique…that each apartment can be let to different guests, with the communal areas of the house for use by everyone.

To bring everyone together, the heart of the house is a large and spacious living and dining room under a tall cathedral ceiling with flooring of handmade Vernin terra cotta tiles. This is where everyone can gather, relax, dine and dream. From here through the large windows is a perfect view of the Château and the landscape surrounding Lourmarin. Adjacent to the main room is a large sunny central kitchen, a laundry room and powder room for everyone to enjoy.

On an upper level is a large furnished terrace with another kitchen for communal barbecues and lazy summer evenings well into the night.

Because the house was built in the 20th-century, it has modern features such as a crawl space throughout, and a basement for the furnace and storage. The total surface area of the land is approximately 3800 square meters, of which the house occupies 300 square meters and the swimming pool 90 square meters.

Les Olivettes could easily generate 150,000€ income per year. It was designed and successfully operated as a Bed & Breakfast over a 20-year period ending in 2019. It benefits, on average, from 4.5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. It is unique among local B&B establishments in that each apartment includes a bathroom, a kitchenette, and a private terrace. Other business opportunities available for an investor may be a kind of co-living property, in which guests rent the rooms for periods of several weeks to several months. This business model, while possibly generating less revenue, would also involve less work.

The local personnel who operated the business (greeting, cleaning, and maintenance) remain available to any future owner. As a new owner, you may wish to refresh the décor, but that’s entirely up to you.

Asking Price: 1,350,000€ (agency fee included)
The price also includes an estimated 45,000€ in furnishings. (This reduces the listed price on the deed and reduces your notarial taxes and fees.)

Annual ownership and operating costs

Property taxes: €3,000/year
Electricity: €2,300/year (approximation)
Water: €600/year (approximation)
Canal de Provence (pool and garden): €450/year
Heating oil (when full): €3,000 to €4,500/year

Click here to see more photos and a full description including a floor plan and videos walking you through the property.

For more information, contact the Adrian Leeds Group, Carsten Sprotte or by phone at +33 6 26 08 12 94.

A la prochaine…