Mas Des Anges

Mas Des Anges is only 4km from Provence’s charming town of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, famed for its Sunday morning market and antique stores.

Reached via country lanes, the house and its vast garden enjoys a rural setting with a handful of neighbours and otherwise surrounded by farmland and countryside typical of this part of Provence. Within a 5-minute drive (or a leisurely cycle ride) you will reach a small yet characterful Provençal village with a grocery store, boulangerie and a couple of restaurants including a highly regarded auberge with a gorgeous terrace for summer evenings.

In the other direction is much-loved L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (4km) with its grand cathedral, atmospheric cafes, canalside restaurants and little antique shops. Visit on a Sunday morning to embrace the wonderful ambience of the bustling market where you can pick up all sorts of delicious regional produce from stalls set up by the canals alongside a fantastic brocante (flea market).

This is also a fine location for venturing into the Luberon region of France – Gordes and Ménerbes, both classified as two of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, are reached within a 20-minute drive. Alongside the Luberon’s many iconic perched villages, discover gastronomic restaurants, pretty markets, glorious cycling opportunities, wine-tasting and idyllic walks passing orchards, vineyards, lavender fields and forests.

For a change of scene, drive through the gentle landscapes of Les Alpilles passing endless olive groves and stop off for lunch in artistic Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (34km) or the picture-perfect hilltop village of Eygalières (24km). A little further afield is the famous village of Les Baux-de-Provence (43km) with its medieval château and hilltop setting surrounded by swathes of olive trees below.

Avignon (30km) is another fine day out, home to the UNESCO World Heritage sites, Palais des Papes and Le Pont d’Avignon, whilst history lovers will also adore towns such as Orange (52km) and Arles (57km). Venturing a little further south, embrace the romance of Aix-en-Provence (67km) with its exquisite architecture, atmospheric pavement cafes and surrounding scenery that has inspired so many artists and writers over the years.

Read more about Luberon

With some of the most enchanting landscapes of Provence, the Luberon awaits with its idyllic perched villages, swathes of lavender, cherry trees, vineyards and dense forest.

Become captivated by the scenery as you potter around artistic Gordes with its atmospheric Tuesday morning market before heading to hilltop Ménerbes, the village that inspired Peter Mayle’s ‘A Year in Provence’. Romantic Bonnieux enjoys the most glorious vistas, surrounded by a sea of vines and orchards, whilst red-hued Roussillon will take your breath away with its ochre landscapes and pine forests. They are all officially classified as ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ in France.

Yet there are so many hidden gems to explore as well. Discover the historic doorways, windmills and summer cherries of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt, then head to Goult to embrace its Provençal charm with little shops and pavement cafes. Surrounded by fields of lavender, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt is another historic jewel of the Luberon, often overshadowed by the handsome and historic town of Apt.

To the south of the Luberon, follow Albert Camus’ footsteps in Lourmarin, sip coffee by the picturesque bassin lined with plane trees in Cucuron and soak up the history of Ansouis – all three villages have a fine reputation for their high-end dining with a choice of Michelin starred restaurants.

Indeed, across the region look out for restaurant terraces serving Provençal cuisine with superb vistas alongside characterful markets showcasing seasonal delights from the Luberon and beyond (olives, melons, strawberries, cherries, truffles, chestnuts, lavender products and more). Most villages host a lovely weekly market whilst the largest in the Luberon is held on a Saturday morning in Apt. Just on the edge of the Luberon, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famed for its antique stores and Sunday morning brocante. Meanwhile, wine lovers should visit the vineyards and wineries of the region producing Luberon and Ventoux AOC wines.

The walking, hiking and cycling opportunities in the Luberon seem endless and you will also find horse-riding, rock-climbing and tree-top adventures as well as canoeing and kayaking along the Sorgue near Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Come across hiking trails for all abilities passing vineyards and forest or venture through the hills and mountain gorges for spectacular scenery. Cycling is also extremely popular – as well as more challenging routes, we especially love the family-friendly Véloroute du Calavon, a paved voie verte following a former railway line near the Calavon river passing poppies, lavender and orchards so typical of the Luberon.