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LE GRAND MAS DU FAUCON

Note: Le Grand Mas du Faucon comfortably accommodates up to 10 guests. For staff an apartment consisting of two bedrooms, a bath, sitting room and kitchenette may be available at extra cost.

In many ways Le Grand Mas du Faucon (literally, the Great Mas of the Falcon) resembles a sophisticated country inn - which indeed it once was before the owners decided to offer the former bed-and-breakfast as a rental home. The four bedrooms in the main house have taupe walls and limestone or terra cotta tile floors, and are all comfortably furnished and decorated in an attractive Provençal style. The bathrooms, ensuite with the bedrooms, are uniformly bright, spacious and modern. With its bubbling fountain, trimmed shrubs and shady nooks, the interior courtyard is reminiscent of a place where in former times travelers would disembark from horse-drawn carriages to pause for the night. The pool is surrounded by greenery and is shaded at one end by parasol pine and acacia trees.

But the charms and amenities of Le Grand Mas du Faucon far exceed a temporary residence for overnight guests. It is most of all a delightful family home, as seen in the cozy dining room, the commodious and light-filled living room, and the vine-shaded outdoor terrace. The warm and familial character of the mas is reflected most particularly in the large and superbly equipped kitchen, where for informal meals guests can gather at a sturdy farm table in front of a fireplace.

Location: the village of Goult

Guests eager to explore Provence, as well as those who just want to relax and stay close to home, will find Le Grand Mas du Faucon's location in the heart of the Luberon Valley just outside Goult ideal for both purposes.

Goult is a peaceful little village with two tennis courts, some half-dozen restaurants, a few shops and a centuries-old church where a visitor may pause in its cool shadows for a moment of quiet reflection. Goult has resisted the temptations of village sprawl and souvenir shops, and in our view ranks among the Luberon's most delightful villages.

It is exactly one kilometer (6/10 of a mile) from the courtyard gate of Le Grand Mas du Faucon to the main square of Goult. In the morning one can bike or stroll into the village (uphill going in, downhill on the return) in 10-20 minutes, buy bread and croissants in one of the two bakeries, and then, at Café de la Poste, purchase an American, British or French newspaper and enjoy a coffee overlooking the village square. After this arduous routine, a wonderfully aimless day by the pool awaits at the mas. In the evening one can then return to Goult for a dinner on the terrace of a pleasant little restaurant, or venture forth to one of the many excellent establishments that are within a 25-minute drive of the village.

A small country roads winds from Goult through vineyards of the Côtes-du-Luberon appellation to the driveway that terminates in the parking area of Le Grand Mas du Faucon. Near the entrance there is apétanque (boules) court under a canopy of plane and olive trees.

First-time visitors may be bewildered by the non-descript appearance of the property - until they step into the gravel courtyard that lies behind a high wall with a wooden door. To one side is the long and perfectly restored facade of a 18th-century Provençal mas, which faces south and is bathed in sunshine. The opposite side of the courtyard is enclosed by a stone wall with a softly running fountain. A double stone staircase leads up from the courtyard to the garden and pool deck. On the far end of the courtyard is a pretty outdoor terrace, sheltered from wind by the high walls of the mas, with a long table under an arbor of vines.

Public rooms

Just off the entry hall is the dining room, an intimate space where a wrought-iron chandelier illuminates a round table for up to 12 guests. An armoire contains a generous assortment of good-quality china and glassware.

The kitchen, next to the dining room, will please any cook, from the dabbler to the professional. The long, rectangular room has vaulted ceilings and large-block limestone floors. The centerpiece here is the La Canche stove, with two ovens, six gas burners and a central cast-iron plaque for a pasta or stockpot. Appliances include a dishwasher, two under-counter refrigerators, a microwave oven and a variety of countertop devices, among them an espresso machine. There are a freezer and additional refrigerator in the pantry.

The kitchen has excellent overhead lighting and an abundance of workspace. In addition to deep counters there is a granite-top work island, some three meters (almost 10') long, that parallels the stove and cooking area. French doors open directly onto the courtyard and outdoor terrace. At the far end of the room are a fireplace and a farm table that seats eight (12 with an extension). A guest lavatory is just off the kitchen.

The living room, adjacent to the kitchen, forms the short end of the L-shaped mas. This spacious room has French doors that open onto the interior courtyard on one side, and to the garden on the other. In the main sitting area two white sofas and matching armchairs are arranged in front of a large fireplace. Just off the living room is a comfortable nook with a small stereo system and a television (with DVD player) that receives international channels, among them CNN and BBC. The light-colored fabrics, high beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls and natural wood of the door and window frames lend a fresh and airy feeling to this luminous room.

Bedrooms

The four principal bedrooms at Le Grand Mas du Faucon are decorated in a pleasing style where the choice of fabrics and simple but tasteful furnishings complement the relaxed Provençal character of the mas. While the master bedroom is somewhat larger, all of these bedrooms are relatively equal in their comforts, with good storage space, firm bedding and abundant light from windows that face south toward the interior courtyard and pool area. The bathrooms, all ensuite with the bedrooms, are brightly illuminated and well appointed.

One of the guest bedrooms is on the ground floor. This bedroom, reached by a short corridor off the entry hall, has twin beds that can be pushed together (but not made up together) to form a king-sized bed. The bathroom has a double vanity and wide stall shower. The WC is in the corridor just outside the bedroom.

The three upper-level bedrooms are reached by a stone staircase from the entry hall. The first of these is actually a three-room suite that includes a main bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and a second small room that can function as either a sitting room, or as an additional bedroom with a single bed (a pullout trundle provides a second single bed). The ensuite bath has a tub with overhead shower, and a WC. This suite lies on one side of the stairway landing and is especially private.

Another guest bedroom and the master suite are on the opposite side of the stairway landing. The guest bedroom has a king-sized bed that can be separated into twin beds, and an ensuite bath with twin basins, a stall shower and a WC. The master bedroom has a queen-sized bed in a canopied frame, and the bathroom a tub with overhead shower, and a WC. The master suite is especially commodious, and has wide windows overlooking the interior courtyard.

There is a fifth bedroom in a separate two-level guest house on the courtyard. The upper level, which has a bedroom with 150 cm (5' across) double bed, is entered from the pool area; the lower level, where there is a bath with stall shower and WC, is entered from the interior courtyard. The guest house is ideal for overnight guests, or for a teenager or young couple who prefer separate quarters.

The pool and grounds

Le Grand Mas du Faucon is situated on a terrain of 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres) that is surrounded by 19 hectares (47 acres) of vines. The grounds include groves of olive and cherry trees, acacia, parasol pine and young cypress trees. Here and there in the garden are shady little niches from which to enjoy views of the surrounding hills and vineyards of the Luberon. The formal garden, where gravel paths wind through impeccably trimmed shrubs and hedges, was designed by a well-known Provençal landscape designer. A particularly delightful place for pre-dinner cocktails is the little coin aperitif, where olive trees shade a stone bench and chairs facing the western hills. Pausing in the garden to take in the view, a visitor is struck by how utterly quiet and peaceful this property is.

The 6 m X 12 m (19.5' X 39') pool is reached by a stone staircase from the interior courtyard, or a gravel path - illuminated at night - that winds through the garden. Along one side of the pool there are beds of roses, and at one end a shady area with numerous lounge chairs. The pool has two steps at the shallow end, and can be covered for the protection of children. The pool can be heated at extra cost.

Other amenities at Le Grand Mas du Faucon include a laundry room with an oversized Maytag washing machine and dryer, a fax machine, and a Weber grill. For Internet connection there are numerous phone outlets for hooking up a modem-equipped laptop computer.

The property has a state-of-the-art central heating system and is available for rental year-round. While the mas is at its most enjoyable in the summer months, its familial ambiance, convivial living room, two fireplaces and its proximity to the picturesque village of Goult, where there are Christmas Eve services in the medieval church, also point to Le Grand Mas du Faucon as a warm and inviting venue for a year-end holiday stay in Provence.