Gite Galileo

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Gite |2 bedrooms |Sleeps 4

Sigonce in Forcalquier

from £134 / night

£935–£1106 / week

1 night minimum stay

Changeover flexible

Be the first to write a review

Key info  Swimming pool, balcony/terrace, car advised, pets welcome

Check availability and book

About the home

Great award winning property for those who seek to retreat into the provence countryside. Ideal as a Winter sun break as well as a very popular summer R&R destination (sold out every year). Well set up for babies and young children as well as ideal for honeymooners and couples. Awarded 5 stars by World One Call letting referral organisation 5 years in a row. Place for a 5th person also available see details.

Main Discription:
Enjoy sunshine, peace and tranquillity in this award winning Gîte located in 30 hectares (75 acres) of private parkland in the heart of Provence, with a pool overlooking the valley

This two bedroom stone house is tucked away on a small hillside in the hamlet of La Colle. There are only three properties in La Colle, so there is little risk of traffic jams, noise, pollution, parking tickets, urban fog and other little side benefits that come with life in a big city. Just nature, tranquility and peace occasionally disturbed by bird songs and the buzz of bees.

Barely a five minute walk in any direction and the visitor is confronted with the splendour of nature, prairie, forest, lavender fields, scented shrubs, and the prodigality of the flora and the wild life. Here, nature is to be experienced by close contact, taste, and smell. Even the storms are spectacular!

The owners moved here from London at the same time as Peter Mayle did. They could have written the book themselves! La Colle was built several hundred years ago and stands as a good example of the traditional and ancient life and times of Provence.

The accommodation itself has received the Five Globes Award presented by World One Call, a private holiday referral service and has also received four golden olives from "Provence Golden Olives"

As the property is accessed by a narrow country lane, it is not recommended that guests bring sports cars or caravans see main European site for details.

Facilities

Further details indoors:
Entering the property, is a large open-plan living - dining - kitchen area with a high oak-beamed ceiling. The living area has built-in comfortable seating and additional sigle lounge chairs. There is a full entertainment centre which includes a stereo for relaxation. The fully-equipped kitchen includes a four-burner gas stove, a combination hot air oven and microwave, a dishwasher, a large fridge with a separate freezer, and everything else necessary to look after your culinary needs. The first double bedroom has a commanding view over the valley and its crested hills in the distance. The second double bedroom has a make up/ changing area with a hand-basin and an en-suite bathroom with a bath, shower, WC and basin. The two bedrooms are located at opposite ends of the house, thus ensuring maximum privacy for its occupants. The accommodation is also equipped with a cot, high chair, baby bath, and other items for babies and small children.

In addition to the above facilities list there is also : Flat screen TV 80cm (32") Wi-fi, DVD / CD /, Hi-fi, Computer.
Fully modernise with great respect for the ancient ways.
English French library
Kids board games
Beds pre-made up prior to arrival.
Full cleaning service available on request.
On site bi-lingual help.
Used often by honeymooners and second honeymooners.

Further details outdoors:
Tucked away on a small hillside is our little hamlet of La Colle with its three principal properties. You will not find here; traffic jams, noises of the city, pollution, parking tickets or a grey sky. Instead you will find nature in all its glories and will, more than likely, be awaken by the birds and the bees rather than the busy cry of the city.

Our property alone has 30 hectares (75 acres) of private park land, yet this is small compared to the adjoining natural space, some of which is cultivated and some left just as it has been for centuries. Here you will find:

A real old-world natural stone agricultural hamlet
Only three property owners in the hamlet
Lavender fields within walking distance
Olive tree plantations
Huge open areas to discover
Large pool
Fantastic local area to discover
Terrace with superb view of the valley below
BBQ gas and traditional
Hidden in the countryside
Great area for photographers and artists

Further details

Welcome pack provided on arrival.
Swimming pool open between April to October.
5th Guest capable via an easy to use blow up electrical single bed (extra person charged).
Garden and parkland is shared yet everyone has their own space. 75+ acres
English-speaking representative on hand to answer any questions.
Multiple outside dining nooks.
Professionally run Photo Safaris for Photographers April to July/Oct to Dec - see Owners website link at bottom right of this page.
Professionally run Painting Holidays (Learn and improve your style) April to July/Oct to Dec - see Owners website link at bottom right of this page.
As the property is accessed by a narrow country lane, it is not recommended that guests bring sports cars or caravans.

Conditions

Prices shown are for a one week rental. A 35% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the balance due two months before your arrival. Discounts are available for 2,3 or 4 week rentals. Linen and towels are supplied with the rental. Beds are fully made up and the gite is inspected and presented to our standard of cleanliness for your arrival. You will be given a welcome pack and a small quantity of some products which you can use immediately. (washing powder, soap etc..)

We have now spent over ten years providing high quality holiday accommodation and in our continued search for improved ideas for people who want to get away from it all at a reasonable price we have developed Smartdates and this policy now also allows people on smaller travel budgets to obtain quality accommodation for the same price of cheaper but less comfortable holiday accommodation. We have changed the rental week to Thursday to Thursday meaning that you can save on your flights by booking Thursday flights instead of Saturday flights.

If you are a frequent flyer you will know that some days of the week are less expensive than others (especially on low cost airlines).

Photos

 

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La Colle en Provence - Galileo

 

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Pool overlooking the valley

 

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View from the terrace

 

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Main bedroom with view of terrace and mountains

The Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur / Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region

I’ve loved everything visual and creative all my life and having spent the greater part of it in creative advertising and marketing; therefore I know what pleases the eye.

In this region you can venture out in any direction of the compass and find things to be visually excited. Yet you can also be encapsulated by moods or enveloped by tastes or just seep down into the pleasure of relaxation at a pace of life “sans stress”.

Generally the South East of France is one of the highest areas of constant sunshine in Europe, which is why people love it and it's lifestyle.

From our spot you can range out in any direction and within a short drive get to the coast, discover the ancient cities of Aix en Provence, Avignon or Marseille. Roll through undisturbed countryside, visit huge lakes, wander through the Southern Alpes or just cool out in you own hidden domain of La Colle

The Forcalquier / Sigonce area

I have literally travelled the world and was nearly born in a plane, so new places and adventures are very familiar to me. Yet one of the main reasons why I am happy to tell you about this area and why I bought and established myself here was the sense of “a very laid back way of life”, yet with all that the modern world can offer at the same time. A sort of “sophisticated relaxation!”

The principal town serving the area is Forcalquier where one will find all the necessary ingredients of such quality and variety that the preparation of a feast will become an immediate requirement. There are two supermarkets, and a host of small shops and businesses that will tempt your senses. Many of the products have been produced locally, tomatoes that taste like the real thing, local lamb that has been brought up organically on the prairies and pastures, and of course a vast selection of high quality cheeses and wines.

However there are many small interesting villages and towns to discover. Throughout the summer almost every town presents some type of festival, show, concert, special event or a local fête. In addition, there are many interesting architectural sites to see within a thirty minute radius, from churches to monasteries, beautiful villages such as Lurs -a fully restored hilltop village full of artists- a lovely countryside and some spectacular nature landmarks

How to get there

Gite Galileo What's nearby: Attractions Restaurants Click map icons for more information

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By far the best way to get here at the moment depending on where you live is via Marseille Airport with its specialised budget airline terminal known as MP2.

This hub now caters well for multiple European destinations as well as all the principle intercontinental hubs.

Marseilles has the advantage of only being about 1hr.15mins from us by road

The currant destinations supported directly from this airport are shown on MP2 own site shown here.
http://www.mp2.aeroport.fr/index.php?page=vols_directs

Easyjet (Linked car hire Europcar)
Easyjet now has a permanent hub at Marseille airport MP2 and offers a great series of flights in.

http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp

British Airways

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/globalgateway.jsp/global/public/en_

Ryan Air (Linked car hire Hertz)

Ryan Air now has a permanent hub at Marseille airport MP2 and offers a great series of flights in.

http://www.ryanair.ie/

Please note you could be adventurous and have a two centre holiday in different locations using MP2 as your cross over point i.e. Provence with us for a week and then on to Moroco for the next week retuning via MP2 to home.

Other near Airports:

If you can not get a flight direct to Marseille; try Nice or Nimes, or try one through London as it is a major hub to the rest of Europe.

You can then pick up a good rental at say Budget, Europcar or Hertz and be here within 2.30 hrs approx. (from Nimes or Nice) rather than spending 3 - 4 times the time coming down from Paris.

Road and Rail
My research has shown that if you are coming from another continent or country outside mainland Europe i.e. the US or the UK you would be better off using a company like Easyjet, British Airways or Ryan Air hiring a car through say Europcar or Hertz ( you can get a good discounts) and then driving up from Marseilles.

When I did a cost comparison driving from London to here for a family of 4 if you take all the costs including ware and tear on your vehicle the costs come out about the same.

The advantage is that you can gain 2 extra days of relaxation and the low cost airlines are getting cheaper all the time.If you live on the continental mainland of Europe, a car drive is financially better but there are so many new budget carriers that this changes very quickly. Also if you are coming for say only a week then why get tired on a long car journey? After all you are going on holiday!

In France between the 15th of July and the 15th of August is the French national summer holidays. These two periods are split roughly 50/50 into two weekly periods, therefore the first weekend near the 15th of July, the nearest weekend in the middle two weeks latter and the weekend nearest to the 15th August are signaled as RED heavy traffic. The first weekend going South, the second North and South and the third weekend going North.

Activities near Forcalquier

Rental prices

Prices for group size 4
Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Indian Summer/Autumn	22 Sep 12	15 Dec 12	1100€ 1100	200€ 200	350€ 350	Flexible
Christmas & New Year	15 Dec 12	5 Jan 13	1285€ 1285	-	-	1 Week
Winter	5 Jan 13	6 Apr 13	1095€ 1095	200€ 200	400€ 400	1 Night
Spring	6 Apr 13	8 Jun 13	1145€ 1145	200€ 200	450€ 450	1 Night
Mid	8 Jun 13	6 Jul 13	1195€ 1195	225€ 225	450€ 450	1 Night
Main Summer	6 Jul 13	31 Aug 13	1295€ 1295	-	-	1 Week
Mid	31 Aug 13	21 Sep 13	1195€ 1195	250€ 250	450€ 450	1 Night
Indian Summer/Autumn	21 Sep 13	14 Dec 13	1145€ 1145	200€ 200	400€ 400	1 Night
Christmas & New Year	14 Dec 13	4 Jan 14	1195€ 1195	-	-	1 Week
Winter	4 Jan 14	5 Apr 14	1095€ 1095	200€ 200	400€ 400	1 Night

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

Our prices as most French gites are based on Saturday to Saturday rentals it is impossable* to break these in the high and peak seasons. If you wish to request rental periods other then weekly we can consider them in the shoulder or off season months.

We have changed the rental week to Thursday to Thursday meaning that you can save on your flights by booking Thursday flights instead of Saturday flights. This is available for non peak periods only.

Smartdates are available in the periods shown as "Flexible". *In the event that there is sufficient demand for the main season we will make them available as well.

We regularily offer specials for "Earlybird booking" and "You pick your price" offers on weeks still available near their take up times. You could save greatly on either of these offers, Look at our website see link below at the end of this page.

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Contact the owner

* Required fields Please check the following errors: First name * Last name * Email *   Did you mean ""? Yes / No Phone number Arrival date Departure date   Ignore calendar - enquire anyway No. of adults No. of children Message * Send me ideas on where to stay

5 years listed You are contacting Rod Cook Landline 44 208 1331516 Mobile n/a Web Visit site Payment accepted Credit cards accepted PayPal accepted Languages spoken The owner is based in the United Kingdom and has advertised with Holiday Lettings since 2007. This gite has so far received no reviews.

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