Vacation like a local native with Historic Rentals. Suites available in New Orleans and throughout France.

Old Stone House

Highlights:
  • Five-story, ancient stone house perched in the hilltop village of Menerbes
  • King-sized bed in the bedroom
  • Beautifully warm living room complete with stone walls, beamed ceilings, and a beautiful fireplace
  • Georgeous views of the village, vineyards and Luberon hills
  • Great central base for exploring Provence or visiting Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, St. Remy-de-Provence, and Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Village view from the Old Stone House.
Modernized kitchen area of the Old Stone House.


Overview:

The Old Stone House is located in the heart of Provence, in the “perched” or hilltop village of Menerbes. This village, which Peter Mayle wrote about in “A Year in Provence,” is an exceptionally authentic village in the heart of the Luberon with its hills, vineyards, fruit trees and lavender fields.

Menerbes is a storied village, famous for its beautiful stone architecture long before Peter Mayle wrote “A Year in Provence.” Picasso lived in Menerbes for a period after World War II and bought a large house for his lover Dora Marr which is now being turned into a museum. This village became a hotbed of Protestantism in the 17th century and withstood a siege for seven years until treachery opened the gates to Louis XIV’s troops.

A village in France is for relaxing, savoring the culture and the food, and peace and quiet. The High View House will give you the warm welcome to start your exploration of Provence.

The Old Stone House layout permits a family or group to enjoy renting a house in the heart of one of Provence’s most beautiful villages without having to take on a large 3-5 bedroom farm house which is so common in the area. Many families or two couples traveling together, however, choose to take the entire joined house so they may fully enjoy village life.

The Old Stone House is five stories in height and has doors opening on both the upper and lower streets of the village. Parts of the house date back at least 500 years if not more, but it has been lovingly renovated and modernized. (One of the village’s ancient bee-hive shaped ovens is incorporated in the building, though it is not available for visits.)

Details:
  • The lower entrance to the house is opposite the village Winter Church and, like the house’s upper stories, has views facing south over the Luberon hills.

  • On the ground floor, the Old Stone House has a living/dining room with stone walls and a beautiful fireplace.

  • A separate, modern kitchen provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy Provencal fruits and vegetables while looking out onto typical Provencal fountains and the hills beyond.

  • On the second floor, there’s a large bedroom with windows overlooking the southern Hills, along with a small second bedroom/office. There’s a lovely bathroom with bathtub, heated towel rack, etc. to provide all of the comforts you need in order to enjoy your stay in a typical French village.
  • The upper entrance to the house is off a small courtyard, and the top floor has an entry way, dining area and kitchen (again thoroughly modernized and designed for the American visitor). This floor is a balcony which overlooks the large Upper Salon, and through its windows are the Luberon hills.

  • On the floor below, the Upper Salon is a very large living room with a fireplace and windows that look onto the roofs of the village and the countryside below.

  • On the floor below, is a large bedroom and a smaller bedroom/office. There’s also a bathroom with a shower, and a small laundry area with a washer and dryer.
  • Both major bedrooms have king-sized beds, and the living rooms both have lit-gigognes, the French answer to a sleeper sofa. They turn into a single bed with another single bed underneath that can be pulled out in trundle fashion and then raised to bed height.

  • The five floors of the Old Stone House are linked by an ancient stairway covered with Provencal tomettes or tiles. The layout of the house provides plenty of space and privacy for those who wish to enjoy the entire house.
  • The village has two bakeries, a butcher, pharmacy, a grocery, two cafes, and from two to five restaurants depending on the season. This commercial life allows you to enjoy the rhythm and delights of French village life.

The upper entrance to the house is off a small courtyard.


Services include:

  • Weekly cleaning
  • All linens
  • Telephone service
  • Cable television

  • Wireless high-speed Internet access
  • Hair dryer in bathroom
  • Iron and ironing board

  • Washer and dryer
  • Parking available
  • A welcome pack of groceries may be arranged in advance (highly suggested given the variable opening times of French groceries) so that you can enjoy your trip to Provence from the very start.

King-sized bed in the bedrooms of he Old Stone House.
Conveniently located near:
  • The central location of Menerbes allows easy exploration of Provence by car, bicycle, foot or even horseback.
  • Aix-en-Provence is less than an hour away, as is Marseilles airport.
  • Avignon, the Palace of the Popes, and the TGV station are less than 40 minutes away.
  • St. Remy-de-Provence is about 30 minutes away.
  • Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the center of antique wheeling and dealing, is only fifteen minutes away.

Comfortable living area in the Old Stone House.

amazon