for sale – a writer’s retreat in the south of france

by Sharon Santoni

dining in the shade in south of france

While in the South of France this week, I visited some friends near the pretty town of La Garde Freinet and  whose home is up for sale.     They have lived here happily for many years, but it is now time to move to something slightly smaller and closer to the children.

al fresco dining in south of france

Obviously I thought of you, and that you’d like to see the house and dream a little.

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aerial view of house for sale in south of france

This beautiful home was built in the 19th century as a stone farm building  not far from a small river that today runs through the property. 

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The house was initially only partly restored and used for many years as an occasional writer’s retreat, the ideal place to get away from it all and create.     Fifteen years ago they made further improvements and the house became  their full time home.

dining room in french house

The property is tweny minutes from St Tropez, and within easy reach of a motorway giving access to airports.

summer living room in south of france

Today the main house has three bedrooms and bathrooms, two spacious living rooms, an office library, a cosy kitchen  and an independent bedroom suite. 

kitchen in french house

There are outbuildings that are partly restored including a double garage, a guest house and an orangery.     There is also a wine cellar and a stunning pool.

roses in bloom outside house in south of france

The grounds are extensive ensuring total privacy, they have olive trees and produce their own olive oil.   The garden also boasts citrus trees, roses, a vegetable garden with a greenhouse and a beautiful wisteria giving sweet smelling shade to the terrace outside the dining room.wisteria in flower over terrace of french house

For more information about this property, and other pictures you are welcome to email my friend Béatrice directly at this address.

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house for sale in south of france

44 comments

Taste of France August 28, 2016 - 8:21 pm

What a lovely place! The home is in such harmony with its surroundings. They really preserved the charm with their restoration. Beautiful!!!!

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Jeannine August 28, 2016 - 8:27 pm

My heart be still. What a beautiful property – so calm and peaceful, both the property itself and the decor.

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Grace August 28, 2016 - 8:33 pm

Why the name Smith

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Renee August 28, 2016 - 8:33 pm

Absolutely beautiful!!!

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Katherine Bennett August 28, 2016 - 8:38 pm

My idea of Heaven!

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Emm August 28, 2016 - 8:47 pm

What a beautiful place, and big, and complex. Lots of property maintenance needed, I imagine, but a great resource if you had a large family and lots of visitors..

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Jen August 28, 2016 - 8:55 pm

Oh my gosh! What a beautiful home!!

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Pam August 28, 2016 - 8:56 pm

Oh how glorious. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

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Elizabeth August 28, 2016 - 8:59 pm

How I wish it could be mine!
I was first in La Garde Freinet in 1967 – helping restore a lovely old house La Campe de la Suyere (spelling!)(Wild boar).
Such a very long time ago – and how lovely it still looks!

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Richard Hacker August 28, 2016 - 9:06 pm

Hi Sharon,
Thanks for sharing the pix of this amazing house. If I was thirty years younger, I would buy it no matter what it cost. Off to France next week for my annual “Fix”.

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Bonnie groves poppe August 28, 2016 - 9:08 pm

Absolute killer property! It should find wonderful new owners who will appreciate everything about it.
Bonnie in provence (Vaucluse)

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Colleen Taylor August 28, 2016 - 9:21 pm

How beautiful it would be to live in such a place Sharon. I’m certain someone will snatch this up quickly.

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Our French Oasis August 28, 2016 - 10:18 pm

It is beautiful, big enough for our large family and all our children! And a guest house for friends and occasional visitors. Alas I don’t think I could persuade the family to move from the Charente Maritime even if I wanted to! They would miss the coast, the beach, their friends. But I cannot deny it is lovely and I do love Provence.

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Susan August 28, 2016 - 11:09 pm

I want to move to France and buy this house!

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Pamela August 28, 2016 - 11:23 pm

Such a lovey home!! Thanks for sharing.

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Sandra Evans August 28, 2016 - 11:42 pm

An amazing lovely home

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Cynthia August 28, 2016 - 11:52 pm

Just lovely-the quintessential “south of France” home. Looked it up online because we are actually considering a move. Tant pis, trop cher.

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Gaili Schoen August 28, 2016 - 11:54 pm

Many thanks for this lovely post. Wish I could buy this home for my piano retreat- perhaps another house, another year…

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Leslie in Little Rock August 29, 2016 - 2:29 am

Can’t be real… But REALly amazing! Thanks Sharon.

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Isabella Wilson August 29, 2016 - 3:06 am

Looking to buy a house in Normandy or Bretagne. Anything you can send us to see.
Not so xtravaganza, a little bit more modest and as charming but affordable. Merci Sharon. We little people have dreams too, but we want them to become real. Not everyone has that kind of money. Thank you ,it was a beautiful and magnifique house to visit. My mouse is watering! What a lovely place!

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Dana Veach August 29, 2016 - 4:50 am

What dreams are made of! Merci!

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Judy August 29, 2016 - 5:14 am

OMGOODNESS!!! I was salivating as I toured the Villa! It will be hard to leave such beauty & memories, but I get it!! Time to pass it on to a new family & let them experience the blessings!! Thanks for sharing.
Judy

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thefolia August 29, 2016 - 8:19 am

Happy Nesting!

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maxine bedwood August 29, 2016 - 1:07 pm

could you please tell me the prive of this property

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maxine bedwood August 29, 2016 - 1:08 pm

sorry that should say price.

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Liz Belford August 29, 2016 - 2:03 pm

Kindly advise on the price.

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Michele August 29, 2016 - 2:22 pm

How about this… We call ourselves Friends of Sharon (FOS) and communely purchase it. We would be bound together by our love of beauty, flowers, grace and kindness. Oh yes, and an appreciation of fine and inspirational writing (that’s you Sharon). Count me in!

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Sharon Santoni August 29, 2016 - 3:36 pm

Sounds good to me Michele, you buy it and do all the gardening and maintenance and I can just stop by to take photos and drink rosé wine!

xx

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catharine ewart-touzot August 29, 2016 - 2:33 pm

such a beautiful house/renovation/property..surely hope that I would have choosen such an option 30 years ago.

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Michael Dunn August 29, 2016 - 4:44 pm

It’s the answer to a dream.

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Maywyn August 29, 2016 - 5:42 pm

Beautiful, dream worthy for sure

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chardonnaylynn August 29, 2016 - 7:04 pm

In my wildest dreams!!!

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Maria August 29, 2016 - 9:58 pm

Want! Need!!

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Darina August 29, 2016 - 10:18 pm

This house looks like how my future house in France should be…#dreaming

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Karin Chandler August 29, 2016 - 10:50 pm

Hi, your home is lovely. May I ask what the sale price is? Thank you.

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Renee August 30, 2016 - 12:26 am

Hi Sharon! I’m off to France tomorrow ( Aug 30th ) to go househunting in Provence! Can you can you tell me if I can see the house? I’ll be staying near Aix. I look forward to hearing from you! Merci Beaucoup!!

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luciana August 30, 2016 - 1:32 am

Bellissima casa, la Provenza è la mia regione preferita ne ho visto altre altrettanto belle saranno i colori i pt
R

Bellissima casa…In Provenza dove ho vissuto per un anno ne ho viste di altrettanto belle spero sempre di poterne comprare una per poter passare la mia vecchiaia in in un posto magico sia per i colori che per i profumi che non potro mai dimenticare

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Renee Curry August 30, 2016 - 3:35 am

Can I come to visit this house? I’m leaving for France tomorrow to go house hunting in Provence. What is the cost? I hope to hear from you before I leave.

Thank you!
Renee Curry

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Sharon Santoni August 31, 2016 - 12:23 am

Hi Renee
I sent you an email, but you need to contact Béatrice directly at the link given at the end of the blogpost

have a good trip

S

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Laura August 31, 2016 - 11:49 pm

La Garde Freinet. I have very fond memories of a spontaneous picnic lunch on top of a hill overlooking the town 3 years ago when my husband and I were in Provence. This place looks so idyllic. What a dream…

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Riddhi November 19, 2019 - 5:31 am

Absolutely beautiful, Thanks for sharing the pix of this amazing house.Thanks for sharing this post

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Sandra K HENY June 18, 2020 - 2:15 pm

Wow
What a dream of a home in a French fairytale ❤️

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James Cruz June 3, 2021 - 2:35 pm

There is no better way in the digital age of finding out in real-time what makes other writers tick, what they’re currently working on and where they find their own inspiration. Blogs are free, in massive abundance and can be accessed round the clock without having to move an inch.

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Karen Sullivan August 12, 2021 - 11:37 am

It is also important to participate in group writing activities where you can learn the art of penning your thoughts through prose and poetry. This will teach you the essential aspects of creative writing which you can use to express your inner thoughts even in future. Often such group outings in a natural setting help an individual to focus on his personal project like a book, or a film script, which may have come to a standstill due to the chaos of city life.

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