Would like a first-hand rec. for Lourmarin area
May 29th, 2006, 07:21 AM
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Would like a first-hand rec. for Lourmarin area
We are looking for a nice place for 6 people in the Lourmarin, Saignon, Aquitaine area of France. Hoping for recommendations from people who have rented. Would like "very nice" but not outrageously expensive. Can you help me find the perfect place?
May 29th, 2006, 08:22 AM
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We stayed at Les Olivettes in Lourmarin a couple years ago and loved it. It is a lovely country house with (I think) 6 apartments. There is a nice pool and you can easily walk to town to eat or to the market. Every morning they deliver fresh croissants and bread to each apartment. The website is www.gite.com/les-olivettes. It would be perfect. Joe and Eliz. are so helpful and have lots of travel info and suggestions for day trips. Enjoy! CJ
May 29th, 2006, 08:44 AM
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Our family rented in Saignon a couple of years ago. It's a very small village-- much smaller than Lourmarin-- but a beautiful location above Apt. From the "rocher" at the top of the village, you have about a 300 degree perfect view of the area north of the Luberon.
We rented the Rose Cottage from Henrietta Taylor. It only sleeps four, but she also has a larger cottage in Saignon called Place de la Fontaine, that we seriously considered for a six month stay in Provence last year. http://www.henriettataylor.com/accommodation.cfm Henrietta has beautiful taste in her renovations and decorating, and her prices are very reasonable. Place de la Fontaine is right off the main square in Saignon with a beautiful fountain and tables out under the plane trees.
Saignon is a great base for touring the Luberon.
Are you open to other areas in the Luberon besides Lourmarin and Saignon?
Suggest you also read through the rental reviews for Provence on Slow Travel: http://www.slowtrav.com/france/vr/list.asp?r=Provence (These are all written my travelers and most have info on the villages as well. My detailed review of the Rose Cottage is there...)
Kathy
We rented the Rose Cottage from Henrietta Taylor. It only sleeps four, but she also has a larger cottage in Saignon called Place de la Fontaine, that we seriously considered for a six month stay in Provence last year. http://www.henriettataylor.com/accommodation.cfm Henrietta has beautiful taste in her renovations and decorating, and her prices are very reasonable. Place de la Fontaine is right off the main square in Saignon with a beautiful fountain and tables out under the plane trees.
Saignon is a great base for touring the Luberon.
Are you open to other areas in the Luberon besides Lourmarin and Saignon?
Suggest you also read through the rental reviews for Provence on Slow Travel: http://www.slowtrav.com/france/vr/list.asp?r=Provence (These are all written my travelers and most have info on the villages as well. My detailed review of the Rose Cottage is there...)
Kathy
May 29th, 2006, 09:38 AM
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bashful, let me just echo kdcwood's recommendation for Saignon and Henrietta Taylor. We rented Rose Cottage in 2003 and enjoyed every second of our stay. The village is tranquil and beautiful. There are plenty of stores in nearby Apt for supplies, and Henrietta is a wonderful host. You will find she provides little extras that so many landlords don't.
If there is a downside to Saignon, it is that you have to drive through Apt to visit the western Luberon. It's a small price to pay, in my opinion. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Anselm
If there is a downside to Saignon, it is that you have to drive through Apt to visit the western Luberon. It's a small price to pay, in my opinion. I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Anselm
May 29th, 2006, 10:35 AM
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thanks for info. Part of our groups has visited this area and would like to spend the time in the Limousin area around Turenne..so we're kind of trying to make up our minds - the rest of us don't care. So I'm thinking of the group going to Limousin area and we would go to Saignon area (ie. Rose Cottage sounds perfect). Does this sound like a good plan? Is the Limousin area as nice as the Lourmarin area (I know all of France is nice!!)...just maybe a comparison of what the differences might be? Thanks.
May 29th, 2006, 11:31 AM
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Hi Bashful:
Your reply interested me, because I have also spent time in the Limousin area... actually right in Turenne. We were there for two weeks in September 2004, right before we started our six month stay in Provence.
Earlier this week I posted on a question about renting a house in Turenne. There are a couple of links there that might interest you:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2
As far as comparisons... tough. I enjoyed them both, but have such a strong connection with the Luberon area of Provence, I probably can't be totally objective! Here's a quick stream of consciousness...
The Luberon: Very rugged, rocky, wide views, many perched villages, Mediterranean influences, Roman history, wonderful outdoor markets, agriculture-- vineyards, olive trees, cherry trees
Area around Turenne: More forested, rivers, interesting castles and caves, great food market in Brive, WWII history, agriculture-- walnut trees, geese (foie gras), cattle
Check out some comparative photos here-- maybe pictures help show the differences:
Luberon: http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3420
Turenne: http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3394
Hopefully someone else can be more articulate about differences between these two areas!
Kathy
Your reply interested me, because I have also spent time in the Limousin area... actually right in Turenne. We were there for two weeks in September 2004, right before we started our six month stay in Provence.
Earlier this week I posted on a question about renting a house in Turenne. There are a couple of links there that might interest you:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2
As far as comparisons... tough. I enjoyed them both, but have such a strong connection with the Luberon area of Provence, I probably can't be totally objective! Here's a quick stream of consciousness...
The Luberon: Very rugged, rocky, wide views, many perched villages, Mediterranean influences, Roman history, wonderful outdoor markets, agriculture-- vineyards, olive trees, cherry trees
Area around Turenne: More forested, rivers, interesting castles and caves, great food market in Brive, WWII history, agriculture-- walnut trees, geese (foie gras), cattle
Check out some comparative photos here-- maybe pictures help show the differences:
Luberon: http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3420
Turenne: http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3394
Hopefully someone else can be more articulate about differences between these two areas!
Kathy
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