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Farmhouse Manor in Provence: The Perfect Vacation Spot For Your Family

April 15, 2025 By Mary Ann Pickett 30 Comments

This is an amazing place in Provence for a group family vacation! We called this gorgeous spot “The Bastide.” As in “after wine tasting, let’s head back to The Bastide.”

I looked up the word bastide and it says “fortified castle.” This is more like a “Farmhouse Manor in Provence.” But to the lucky 25 of us that spent a week in luxury here, it will always be The Bastide.

Farmhouse Manor in Provence

This was the annual trip with the group that started out as the guys’ group of college friends. But after… 25+ years of close friendships with the wives and having our kids grow up together, we are more like family.  Everyone contributes ideas of where to go on vacation now.  When we had babies and small children, we rented beach condos next to each and each condo put on a dinner night.

The Swimming Pool

pool in provence at french manor

It’s gotten a little more elaborate 🙂

An 18th Century Large Farmhouse In France: Holiday Rental

We took the high speed train from Paris to Avignon and at the TGV train station we rented cars.

fountain in garden at Manor House in Provence

Dorothy actually found this Farmhouse Manor in Provence gem, through Villas of Distinction Bastide de St. Martin. There is a four night minimum stay. My husband, Howard did all the organizing.

Number Of Guests

“Bastide St. Martin is an 18th Century Bastide offering 13 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, partial air-conditioning, tennis court, heated swimming pool, full service included with maids and chef at home, and can accommodate up to 29 guests with children included.”

Provence Farmhouse Location

At the foot of the Grand Luberon, between Apt and Manosque, 7 km from the first small shops, 12 km from Apt (all supermarkets, hospital and its nice local market.)
Avignon (TGV train station) – 66 km – (41 miles) 1 hour & 10 min drive
Marseilles Marignane International Airport – 104 km (64 miles) hour and a half drive.

First Floor Living Room with Beams And Modern Comforts

There is a movie screen that lowers on the other side.  We all watched “A Good Year” (about a vineyard in Provence with Russell Crowe) in here one rainy afternoon.living room in a French farmhouse manor

Here is the foosball table.  There were also tennis courts, a pool table, and board games…plenty of fun things to do at night. We spent most days touring but every night at home since the place is remote with winding narrow roads, through lovely fields…but no lighting. They also have wi-fi and a nice sound system.foos ball table in French farmhouse manor

The kitchen

…on the ground floor that cranked out 25 breakfasts and dinners (we hired a private chef and assistant) each day.french farmhouse kitchen

Aren’t these colors pretty?  This is the wash basin outside the powder room and the closet holds tennis gear.french farmhouse sink and neutral paint with violet light fixture shades

Comfortable Bedrooms

Here is one of the primary bedrooms in the main house.bedroom with zebra rug in farmhouse manor in Provence

There is also a guest house with four bedrooms on the other side of the graveled courtyard.pebbled courtyard and guest house French bastide

This is one of the bedrooms with stone walls in the guesthouse.  bedroom with original stone wall in French farmhouse manor in Provence

Dining AlfrescoOur group lunch at farmhouse manor in Provence

This is the table set for dinner. French Farmhouse Manor table set for dinner

The table set with flowers from the garden and the chilled dry Rosé de Provence.  Garden Roses and rosé in Provence

The Surrounding Area

My daughter, Alie and I took this shot on a little walk before dinner.  Doesn’t it look like a painting?

table set for dinner in Provence with sun setting

Area Sites

We enjoyed visiting the local markets

family photo in front of the Bastide, Provence, France

You may also like…

A Week in Sicily

Contemporary Beach Style in the Bahamas

Akumal: Mexican Riveria Vacation

Three Exceptional Markets in Provence

Fun Things to Do In PARIS Right Now

 

And check out my Travel Pinterest boards for lots of recommendations for California and around the world.

Have a great day!

Related posts:

New Places We Loved In PARIS That You Should Try Vibrant Coastal Design In Mallorca, Spain And More A Chic North Carolina Mountain Getaway, And More Faves

Filed Under: Design, Travel Design Files

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. sherry hart says

    July 8, 2018 at 7:05 am

    WOW….no words! What a fabulous trip!

    Reply
  2. Joni Webb says

    July 4, 2018 at 9:52 am

    Wow. What a dream. I can’t get over the fact that so many people travel together.
    That’s amazing!!!!

    Love this story.

    Reply
  3. Annetta Igou says

    July 3, 2018 at 12:41 pm

    Beautiful post and photos. Great eye.

    Netta

    Reply
  4. Karen B. says

    July 2, 2018 at 8:35 pm

    What a wonderful tradition with long time friends, and to have your kids with you must have been so much fun.
    Glad you’re feeling better.
    Karen

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 2, 2018 at 10:14 pm

      Thanks, Karen for your sweet comment!

      Reply
  5. Keven Jaros says

    July 2, 2018 at 7:12 pm

    Thank you for sharing. Your pictures are say it all!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 2, 2018 at 10:14 pm

      Thanks, Keven. It was a fun trip.

      Reply
  6. Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com says

    July 2, 2018 at 8:31 am

    What a simply AMAZING place Mary Ann. How lucky you are to have such a special group of friends to enjoy annual trips with. I’m so sorry to hear you were sick, though your lovely family portrait does not give that away. You transported me this morning, now I want to go!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 2, 2018 at 8:38 am

      Thanks, Celia…it sure was fun.

      Reply
  7. Carol S. says

    July 2, 2018 at 6:16 am

    Beautiful and dreamy. When your kids plan their own trips my guess is they’ll be begging you to join them. Good life!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 2, 2018 at 8:36 am

      Yes, Carol… that would be great if they asked!

      Reply
  8. debra@ 5th and state says

    July 1, 2018 at 7:58 am

    Bonjour Madame,
    what a dreamy trip! so lucky to have this group of friends!!!

    your family is soooo cute, your photo’s dreamy, especially the one you are thinking of framing, DO!

    xx debra

    ps; when on your site, I mark “save my name, etc. it never does. then again, I am lazy xo

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:50 pm

      I know, Debra…I don’t get that why it makes you check it each time. It’s does it on other blogs, too. I need to investigate. Thanks for your sweet comment.

      Reply
  9. Kim says

    July 1, 2018 at 7:09 am

    The trip of a lifetime, and your descriptions take us there too!
    Beautiful that you have a group of like minded friends, and that your children still choose to vacation with you!
    Enjoyed your post.

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      We keep thinking that someday the kids will have their own lives and vacations…but for now it sure is fun. Thanks, Kim.

      Reply
  10. Gail Storti says

    June 30, 2018 at 10:00 pm

    Oh Mary Ann, what a fabulous place to spend a dream vacation with 25 close friends! Such a beautiful villa complete with fun and a chef to cook for you. You definitely need to frame a print of that meadow. Would you be OK if I did a painting and use it as my reference? Love the pic of the four of you, such a beautiful family.
    xo Gail

    Reply
  11. Melina Platt says

    June 29, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    What a beautiful place to vacation with family and friends. I would love to do that some day! I just love France but haven’t traveled to that region yet. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks, Melina. I love following your family on Instagram!

      Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:54 pm

      I love following your family’s trips on Instagram, Melina!

      Reply
  12. Nancy Champlin says

    June 29, 2018 at 7:55 pm

    Such a beautiful location for vacation. You are so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends to make memories with!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:53 pm

      I know, Nancy!! Thanks for your comment.

      Reply
  13. MsBintheBayArea.com says

    June 29, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    What a beautiful post and what a wonderful tradition to plan a trip with this group each year! I’m wondering, do your grown kids join every year as well? We have been a part of a dinner group since our kids were 2 and are now 18! I think we are ready for the big time and we should plan a trip like this! What a beautiful home and such a great idea to hire a chef and asst each day for breakfast and dinner. Who wants to be doing dishes after serving that many people while on vacation! So funny about weight watchers after your rose and cheese diet! That’s my kind of diet! Thanks for sharing! xo

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:56 pm

      Yes, the grown kids come and range in age from 30 to 17 now. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

      Reply
  14. Catherine says

    June 29, 2018 at 2:53 pm

    I use a photo app called Waterlogue. It applies different “effects” to your photos; some look like paintings. Your photo would be pretty printed and framed after applying a painted effect from an app like Waterlogue.

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:56 pm

      I have that app, Catherine and love it 🙂

      Reply
  15. Taste of France says

    June 29, 2018 at 1:03 pm

    It’s gorgeous! I love the deep ochre crépi.
    A bastide is a fortified … place. It could be a city (the “new” town of Carcassonne, which dates to 1260, is called la Bastide because it was surrounded by a fortified wall). It could be a town or just a farm. Back in the day (14th century) gangs and marauders would roam the countryside and pillage whatever they came across. So people sought safety in numbers.
    Anyway, it’s gorgeous, and very well thought-out.
    Can’t wait for more photos!!!

    Reply
    • Mary Ann says

      July 1, 2018 at 1:57 pm

      I knew you would know!!

      Reply
  16. Kim says

    June 29, 2018 at 10:49 am

    I dream of good big there some day. Hubby says after he retires.

    Reply
  17. Lisa says

    June 29, 2018 at 10:06 am

    This is truly right out of my dreams Mary Ann….to be in such a beautiful place, with all your friends and family….it must have been amazing! Loved the pictures when you were traveling and so enjoyed this post! Sending it to my Framily – friends that are like family – right now!

    Reply
  18. elizabeth@pineconesandacorns says

    June 29, 2018 at 8:44 am

    This looks like a wonderful place to stay! I have to bookmark this for a future stay with a big group of family and friends. Have a fabulous weekend.

    Reply

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