This house in a hamlet in the Luberon sits within an acre or so of land with fruit trees, olive trees and spectacular views. See more pictures and details about this property.įour-bedroom house in Saint Saturnin – €637,000 Originally constructed in the 11th Century by the ‘Comte de Forcalquier’, the ‘Château’, is perched on the edge of a charming Provencal village, enjoying stunning views down the valley.įor sale with Knight Frank.

This part-moated chateau in the heart of the Luberon is an extraordinary building in a fine position, with 14 bedrooms and a pool. Four beautiful homes for sale in the Luberon 11th century chateau – €7,900,000 Although some things may have changed (for the better) since the book was published, happily, the region’s ability to provide these simple pleasures remains marvellously undimmed.

As Mr Swannie explains, ‘the Luberon is all about pottering around the local markets, shops and vineyards, enjoying a long, delicious, liquid lunch and then relaxing by the pool’. Ultimately, what buyers come looking for here is the lifestyle, which A Year so elegantly describes. The resulting book, A Year in Provence, was published 29 years ago, in 1989, and became a worldwide bestseller, with sequels, a TV series and even a 2006 film adaptation A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard. When he detailed his many distractions in a letter to his agent by way of excusing himself, it was suggested that he ditch his plans for the novel and send a few hundred pages more of the same. On arrival, he found, to his chagrin, that renovating a rambling old farmhouse while negotiating the quirks of local village life left little time for writing. Holly Kirkwood investigates whether there's still any truth in the bucolic French dream portrayed in the famous book for those looking to buy a home.įormer ad man and children’s author Peter Mayle had plans to pen a serious novel when he and his wife, Jennie, relocated to Provence in 1987. The writer is, sadly, no long with us, but Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence still informs many of our notions about life in rural southern France. Country Life's Top 100 architects, builders, designers and gardeners.

A year in provence show