Location description from owner

The Provence region

One of Europe’s most storied and sought-after destinations, Provence is a region in southeast France that stretches along 300 kilometres (186 miles) of the Mediterranean coast, reaching up to the mountains of the Alps.

Long favoured by artists and writers for its golden sunshine and luminous natural beauty, the landscape presents enchanting broom-covered hills topped with picturesque villages, fields of lavender and mimosa, groves of olive trees and vineyards that stretch forever. Our villa in Fayence presents Provence at its most picturesque, in a world brimming with wineries, flower markets, olive festivals and antique shops.

While nestled within Provence, Fayence offers easy access to the glamorous Côte d’Azur. It’s just 30 minutes to the beaches of Saint-Tropez and the film festivals of Cannes, and just 45 minutes to the urban sophistication of Nice. It’s also within a comfortable day trip of Aix-en-Provence, the Luberon, the Gorges du Verdon and the Isola 2000 ski resort. This astonishingly convenient location places a diverse realm of experiences at the doorstep of Fayence.

Fayence

Fayence is proud to boast about its 280 days of annual sunshine, a picturesque medieval village perched high with some beautiful views nestled to the east of the Var.

The area of Fayence has excellent shopping, supermarkets are within 5 minutes by car, although the village itself does have the usual shopping amenities. The property is around 15 minutes from the autoroute exit and access to all the tourist attractions are within easy reach.

There is plenty to do in the area:

Lac de St. Cassien
This beautiful picturesque lake is about 7 kms long north-south, with an east-west section another 3 kms long. The lake is bordered almost completely by forested hills and the shoreline is undeveloped leaving its beauty for all to enjoy.

There is ample parking and easy access to the shore with beaches for swimming, picnic tables, boating, sailboard and canoe rental. The majority of the shoreline, however, is isolated and accessible only (if at all) by small trails through the scrub oak and juniper to tiny coves and clear spots suitable for Picnicking and swimming.

Fishing
The lake contains huge carp as well as pike and other predator fish. Carp fishing is open year-round while the season for other fish should be verified at Chez Pierre's or one of the other cafes along the lake. To help maintain the sport of fishing you should release anything that you catch.

Sports
Boat, canoe and sailboard rental is available along the eastern shore of the lower lake (conveniently beside the road) and northwestern end of the Pont de Pre Claou bridge that crosses the lake. The rental boats are row boats and boats with small electric motors. Private motor boats are not allowed on the lake; no water skiing is permitted.

Hiking
Hiking trails go completely around the lake although they follow roads for part of the journey. To the east of the lake, the Bois de Callian goes up over hills towards the village of Tanneron, where oak forests merge into many mimosa forests. To the west, the hills and forests are wilder and steeper.

Golf
There are several beautiful golf courses in the local area:

Domaine de Terre Blanche. If the Côte d'Azur is the soul of the Domaine de Terre Blanche, the golf-course is its heart. No other site, in fact, can offer golfing amenities on a par with the ones you'll find here: two 18-hole courses, a golf academy, a floodlit practice range with covered positions. Swings and puts are thus on the residents' daily program. Villas and courses merge into a single backcloth for a life-style wholly dedicated to the owner's pleasure. The fairways of the two18-hole courses thus pay their visit to the five little hamlets on the Domaine. Check for more information at www.terre-blanche.com

Golf de L'Esterel
Par 71 and 5825 metres - Esterel Golf Club is just over a mile from the beaches of Saint-Raphael, in the heart of the majestic pine Massif de l'Esterel. This course has great views as it runs down to the Mediterranean.
Tel: +33 (0) 494526830 Fax: +33 (0) 494526831

For more golf courses in the region, please visit: www.golfinfrance.f9.co.uk/levar.htm

Gorges du Verdon
The Gorges du Verdon, is a spectacular canyon that forms a border between the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the Var. Up to 700m deep, the 21kms long canyon varies in width between 6 meters and 100 meters at the bottom and 200 meters to 1500 meters at its rim.

Activities include:
• White water sports: rafting, canoeing, kayaking.
• Water sports: sailing, water skiing, fishing.
• Aerial sports: para-gliding, free flight gliding.

Skiing
During the winter season there are several opportunities for skiing within less than 2 hours drive: Isola 2000 - located about 2 hours drive from the area at 2000 meters altitude offers skiing from December to April. Greolieres Les Neiges – 1.5 hours drive offers skiing from 1700 – 1400 meters altitude and is usually good from Christmas to March. The resort is good for learners and can be excellent after a big snow fall, but it is only a relatively small ski resort but there are snow making canons.