The classic features of this fine property, restored with skill and unfailing good taste, are immediately recognizable to persons whose eyes are tuned to the Provençal style. Broad stone arches, distressed marble tiles, a huge fireplace, beautifully maintained terra cotta tile floors - these all have a universal appeal that transcends individual preferences. Mas Bon Esprit is a house rich in character, and with its exceptional comforts it makes real the dream of gathering in a beautiful mas in Provence with friends and family to experience the good life for which the South of France is so rightly celebrated.

Mas Bon Esprit, so named because of its genuine warmth and inviting atmosphere, is all the more remarkable for its combination of size (some 560 m2, 6,000 sq. ft) and intimacy. Everywhere there is evidence of the attention to artistic detail that the architect and interior designer devoted to the renovation project: the functional cubby holes in the marble work island in the massive kitchen, the bronze fixtures in each of the five full bathrooms, the carefully chosen dressers and armoires in the eight bedrooms, even the mosaic of tiles around the built-in barbecue under the vine-covered terrace.

The house is also designed with real people in mind. Groups can gather in the salon, on the terrace, around the pool or at the long dining table. Couples can find tranquility in their own bedrooms, each beautifully decorated in its own style. Children may be the luckiest of all, with a specially decorated bedroom and a large adjacent playroom with old-fashioned school desks and a trunk full of toys.

The deeply Provençal character of Mas Bon Esprit is enhanced by its situation in the southern Lubéron, where the spirit of old Provence is very much alive. The nearest community, Lambesc, (5 km), home to about 7,000 residents, is a picturesque village with leafy streets, many little shops and a well-attended Friday morning farmer's market. It is an easy drive (28 km) to Aix-en-Provence, where one can visit Cézanne's studio, lunch in one of dozens of restaurants on the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, and shop in boutiques offering everything from Gucci handbags to exquisite fabrics to porcelain from Limoges. Each trip into the countryside will reveal another village to be explored, another vineyard worthy of a dégustation, another view worthy of a photograph. And for a change of pace, the sandy beaches of St.-Tropez are an easy two-hour drive by the Autoroute.

Set on an enclosed one-hectare (2.5-acre) terrain surrounded by tall trees, Mas Bon Esprit is approached by a road that winds through wide fields and pine forests. Suddenly the high contours of the three-story mas come into view, and once again there looms the signature image of Provence - a rust-red terra cotta tile roof and weathered beige stones framed by a deep-blue sky and surrounded by orchards and vineyards.

The formal entry into Mas Bon Esprit is by an impressive wooden front door that opens into a spacious foyer. (After settling in guests will find it more convenient to use the several doors that open onto the terrace.) On one side of the foyer is an office with a fax machine and desk, a convenient place to set up a laptop computer for Internet access. A powder room opens from the foyer, and beyond a short hall is the vast living room.

The living room has two sitting areas, one dominated by two large red sofas grouped around a coffee table and an enormous stone fireplace, and the second comprised of a settee and three plush armchairs. An antique armoire houses a big TV with satellite connection, including CNN and BBC, a DVD player, a VCR for American or European tapes, and a stereo with a 200-CD changer. With two sets of French doors giving access to the long front terrace, the living room has an open, breezy feeling that complements the ambiance of easygoing sophistication at this property.

The kitchen, reached through an archway from the living room, is a work of art in itself. The counters, central work island and double sink are all of Italian marble. Suspended over the island is a copious assortment of brass cookware, and an armoire with glass doors holds a variety of dishes and serving pieces. All the appliances necessary for a simple breakfast or an elaborate dinner are present: a semi-professional stove with five gas burners and an oversized electric oven, a second conventional oven and microwave, both wall mounted, dishwasher and a large American two-door refrigerator. The several countertop appliances include an espresso maker. Off to the side is an open laundry room with an American-style washing machine and separate tumble dryer. Double French doors open to the covered portion of the terrace, where there is a tiled table for six. Beyond, under a vine-covered trellis, is a second table for eight.

A broad stone arch separates the kitchen from the dining room. Here a table with inlaid tile and wrought-iron chairs can easily accommodate up to 12 for dinner. An armoire with stained glass pieces mounted into panels and illuminated from within holds additional serving pieces. A second powder room opens from the dining room.

Two staircases - the main one in the dining room, and another which rises from the living room - lead to the middle level, where five bedrooms open from a long hall. At one end is the commodious master bedroom, which has generous closet space and views in two directions over the vineyard, pool and countryside. The four-poster king-sized bed is in a frame of dark wood, with a matching chest of drawers and, as with all of the bedrooms, bedside tables with reading lamps. The floors here are of terra cotta tile with marble inlay. Beneath one window there is a seating area with armchairs. The master bedroom uses a bathroom across the hall, finished in cream and blue marble tiles, that has a large stall shower and WC.

The three guest bedrooms on this level are of medium size. Each has a view over the vineyard and an armoire or other attractive furnishings for clothes storage.

The first guest bedroom has twin beds in pretty wood frames, while the second and third both have king-sized beds. Across the hall from the three guest bedrooms are two bathrooms finished in marble, one with a tub and hand-held shower and WC, and the second with a tub and overhead shower and WC. There is an additional separate WC on the hallway.

The last bedroom on this level is a charmingly furnished children's room with bunk beds, a wall of closets and an armoire. Next door is the playroom, mentioned above, with old-fashioned desks and lots of toys.

Stairs lead to a third level and two different suites of rooms, both with fine views over the pool and countryside. The suites are separated by an antique door, and are ideal for a small family or group of friends who would like to be on the same floor but with separate accommodations.

One suite is comprised of a spacious bedroom with queen-sized bed, an ensuite bathroom, an open-plan kitchenette and dining area, and a separate sitting room with a loveseat, coffee table and TV with satellite connection. Following the theme of detailed perfection at Mas Bon Esprit, the small kitchen is handsomely appointed and well-equipped, with a four-burner electric stove and oven, microwave, small refrigerator and standard sink. A small buffet holds place settings for four.

The suite on the other side has a bathroom and two smallish bedrooms, one with a queen-sized bed, the other with twin beds. Both bathrooms on the upper level have a tub with hand-held shower, and a WC.

Almost all of the bedrooms at Mas Bon Esprit have views over the verdant countryside, which is a constant reminder to guests that this is wine country, principally of the Coteaux d'Aix appellation. There is a small vineyard on the property, tended by the owners, that covers roughly one-half of the grounds. The vines provide an ever-changing tableau of color according to the season.

At the opposite end of the house from the parking area, set into a slight berm, is the 6 m X 12 m (20' X 40') swimming pool, which has steps at the shallow end. The pool receives sun throughout the day, and there is a parasol and generous assortment of chaises longues.

Mas Bon Esprit is an excellent choice for groups of couples or several families. At extra cost the American owners can arrange for a cook, regional tour guide and pre-arrival delivery and food and beverages. The rental price includes 15-20 hours of weekly housecleaning, and extra hours for personal laundry or other services can be arranged.