In a village setting, stay beneath the arches of this authentically Provençal house with a glorious garden, terraces and a heated swimming pool in Les Alpilles Regional Natural Park. Les Arches was once the village post office and it has been sensitively restored into a beautiful holiday home in the heart of a small village. Sleeping up to 10 guests, admire fine pieces of furniture and artwork exhibited across the house alongside a true sense of authenticity with exposed stone walls and elegantly vaulted ceilings. Across two floors, there are five double bedrooms (one of which can be a twin/double), each one with an ensuite or private bath/shower room. All the sights and scents of Provence can be experienced outside with oleander, lavender, fig trees, terracotta pots filled with summer colour and elegant cypresses. The 10m long heated swimming pool is glorious and there is so much space to laze on a terrace, some of which are south-facing, or dine al-fresco beneath the pergola. Just step out of your wisteria-clad home and embrace the village setting as you stroll around the corner to a café-restaurant and small grocery store whilst there are a couple of high-end restaurants just on the edge of the village – do book ahead if you can. Just 2km further is charming Maussane-les-Alpilles, home to more lovely restaurants, artisan shops and a Thursday morning market whilst Les Baux-de-Provence, one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’, is only a 5 to 10-minute drive away. Across Les Alpilles discover walks through olive groves, farms and woodland, cycle along peaceful country lanes and sample the olive oil, wines and cheeses of the region at local farms and nearby vineyards. Soak up the ambience of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence’s Wednesday morning market or follow Van Gogh’s footsteps in Arles. Aix-en-Provence and Avignon are other wonderful day trips or spend time exploring the beauty of the Luberon and the wild landscapes of the Camargue in this ever-changing part of Provence. Features: Villa Interiors (40m2) Ground Floor (split-level with steps) - Open-plan lounge area with library - Second open-plan lounge area with stone fireplace - Open-plan dining area with doors leading outside - Kitchen, well-equipped including small table and chairs, oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, gas hob and dishwasher. Door leads to terrace   - Cellar/laundry room - Office with scanner/printer - WC and sink - Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm), dressing area, door to terrace/south-facing garden and bath/shower room with WC Upstairs - Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm) and bathroom with bath, shower, double sink, TV and WC - Bedroom with twin beds (90cm each, can be joined to make a double) and bathroom with shower, sink and WC - Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm) and private bathroom with bath and WC - Bedroom with double bed (160x200cm) and private bathroom with bath, shower and WC - Separate WC Outside Grounds (2.8 hectares) - Heated swimming pool (10x5m, depth: 1.2-2m) with safety shutter - Al-fresco dining terraces - Barbecue - Other terraces and garden - Children’s games - Parking area - Electric gate Facilities - Wi-Fi - Air-conditioning - TV and home cinema - Washing machine and dryer Location: In the Bouches-du-Rhône department of southern France, this wisteria-clad end-of-terrace house is in the heart of a small Provençal village in Les Alpilles Regional Natural Park, just around the corner from a grocery store and village café, a little further to a couple of high-end restaurants by the edge of the village (book ahead). There are further restaurants and little shops in the equally charming Maussane-les-Alpilles (2km), also home to a Thursday morning market. This region is famed for its extra virgin olive oil, some of the best in France, which can be sampled in mills and local farms alongside delicious cheeses, honeys and other wonderful specialities. It’s a fantastic area for walking, cycling, horse-riding and other activities across the beautiful landscapes of Les Alpilles. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (12km) is loved for its artistic heritage and bustling Wednesday morning market alongside its medieval lanes with bistros, art galleries and pretty shops. The picture-perfect village of Eygalières (21km) is worthy of a visit, home to a small handful of A-list celebrities who wish to escape the French Riviera crowds. Les Baux-de-Provence (5km) is another must-see of Les Alpilles, classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’. For a superb day out, venture across to admire the captivating scenery of the Luberon with iconic perched villages such as Ménerbes, Gordes and Roussillon just over an hour away. The gorgeous University town of Aix-en-Provence can be reached in around an hour by car whilst historic Avignon and its UNESCO World Heritage sites is only 33km to the north. Arles (17km) is also within easy reach – visit its Roman amphitheatre, follow the Van Gogh heritage trail and enjoy a coffee at Place du Forum before heading to the town’s impressive galleries and museums. Furthermore, Arles is the gateway to the incredible landscapes of the Camargue with its pink flamingos, white horses and wild bulls.  Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €2000 charged to client's credit card as a pre-authorisation at least 2 weeks prior to arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? 5.00 p.m. Late arrivals after 9.00 p.m. may be charged a late arrival fee of €120. Departure time? 10.00 a.m. Energy costs included? Yes. Linen & towels included? Yes. Pets welcome? On request only and with prior agreement with the owner. Changeover day? Saturday. All other changeover days on request. End of stay cleaning included? Yes and 12h cleaning per week included. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Smoking Allowed? Outside only. Insurance? Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, loss of personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. Minimum stay? 7 nights. All other durations on request. Tax? French Visitors Tax payable locally in cash (typically costs €1-€10 per adult per night - please enquire if exact amount is required). Pool towels included? Yes. Pool opening dates? Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming. Other Ts and Cs? Please note that your booking will only be confirmed once we have checked availability with the owner or their property manager.