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Newly equipped kitchen with Clothes Washing Machine, Microwave and conventional oven.

A €150 damage deposit is required on the first day and will be returned on the last - this can be in the form of a cheque.

The Auberge is at the tranquil centre of an ancient hill top village which overlooks the wine growing Luberon valley.

The village has a great deal of character and history (chateaux ruins & churches, interesting architecture), as well as a bakery and a small shop. It itself is a 5mins drive from a town called Apt with all amenities as well as a municipal swimming pool.

Apt has a well know market every week. Other nearby villages have their markets each on a different day with a different specialty. Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, for example, is the antique market and the 3rd largest in France.

The neighboring villages are some of the most well-known in the renowned Luberon Valley - Menerbes, Bonnieux, Lacoste (the chateau of the Marquis de Sade), Gordes, Oppede le Vieux, etc. Many lovely restaurants and sights.

The area is perfect for outdoor activities yet at the same time offers the comforts of a number of excellent restaurants and good proximity to the international airport in Marseille (65mins), the 2hr20min TGV connection to Paris from Avignon (1 hour drive) and the cultural centres of Aix-en-Provence (somewhat less than an hour's drive), Arles, Nimes, etc.

Below are a few ideas (apologies for some repetition) you might find worthwhile on your visit to the region.

A tour of the hilltop villages of the Luberon Valley. (1 Day) They ring the valley and any one is 10-20 minutes away. A tour could look like this- Gordes, Murs, Roussillion, Lunch in the square, (walk to the top) Bonnieux, Lacoste, (see the Marquis de Sade's Castle, Menerbes, Oppede-le-Vieux. (Walk up to the old Church and then on to the castle.

Roman sites. Colonisation started 27ad. You cannot see it all, but Glanum on the way to Saint Remy is well worth a visit as well as the Roman Arenas (Arles, Nimes and Orange) and the Pont du Gard.

Aigues Mort, very interesting as it was from here that one of the most ambitious of the Crusades was launched.

Isle Sur La Sorgue Antique Market - 3^rd largest concentration of antique dealers in France. 'Brocante' indicates something less than antique, however old. Lots to explore among the canals and alleyways.

The Major Towns:

Aix en Provence, 1 hour and old Aix takes 3-4 hours to tour.

Arles, about 1.5 hours. Essential if interested in Roman Provence.

Nimes, about 1.15 hours. If pressed for time I would choose Arles.

Avignon 1 hour for the Palais des Papes plus a trip to Villeneuve-les-Avignon

Orange, about 1.15 hours

Apt <5mins

A Canoeing trip down the Ardeche: This is very thrilling though safe and takes 2 days camping overnight on one of the islands which provide bbq facilities, showers etc. For the adventurous, I would definitely include this.

Sports.

Canoeing for 8km on the Sorgue (very shallow) starting at Fontaine de Vaucluse (1 hour) and ending in Isle-sur-la-Sorgue about 2.5 hours later. Safe and Fun for all.

Walking. Suggest Le Gorge de Regalon

White water rafting: Gorge de Verdun (also kayaking)

Other:

Citadel at Les Baux. Les Baux

Abbey de Senanque (ad1148)

Chateau Fort at Buoux

Palais des Papes at Avignon

Restaurants. Most are very good and unpretentious. The French take their food very seriously. Nothing of consequence happens between 12 and 2. Except lunch!

La Loube at Buoux (combine with visit to the Buoux Fort)

Ferme de La Houpe. Café de Paris (Bistro de Paris) near the tourist office in Apt is excellent for lunch.

Finally, if there is no moon, just sitting on the terrace with the lights out can be quite spectacular. Lots of shooting stars etc.

For enquiries, please Email: aubergedurocher@yahoo.co.uk