Guests say
Guests are overwhelmingly positive about Les Cigales, praising its beautiful and well-equipped facilities, including a pool, jacuzzi, and outdoor kitchen. The property's tranquil vineyard setting and tasteful decor are frequently mentioned, alongside the attentive and helpful nature of the host, Jane. Personal touches and a sense of a home away from home contribute to the exceptional experiences shared by families and friends alike.
Reviewers consistently mention the cleanliness of the villa, with specific references to 'squeaky clean beds' and the property being 'impeccably clean'. The attention to cleanliness appears to be a significant factor in guests' enjoyment.
The villa's location is highly praised for its peacefulness amidst vineyards, with easy access to local amenities and attractions. The proximity to towns, vineyards, and the coast, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside, are appreciated by guests.
Comfort is a highlight, with guests finding the beds extremely comfortable and the villa spacious. The various cosy nooks and multiple seating areas, both indoors and outdoors, contribute to a very comfortable stay.
The villa's facilities receive high acclaim, with mentions of a well-equipped gym, multiple kitchens, and entertainment options like a boules pitch and pool. The availability of a hammam and the quality of the outdoor spaces are also noted as exceptional.
Guests frequently express gratitude for the thoughtful touches provided by the host, such as fresh eggs, vegetables, and wine. While these gifts are warmly received, it is politely noted that such personal touches, though common, are not guaranteed with every stay.
About this property
Nestled in the vines of one of the most prestigious vineyards in Provence, Les Cigales is a converted grape harvest barn in a spectacular setting. This is a wonderful location for visiting Provence and the glistening Côte d’Azur with some of the most beautiful beaches of the Var within easy reach and jet-setting destinations such as Saint-Tropez ideal for a superb day out.
Live amongst the vines the Provençal way as you relax at Les Cigales. On one side of the villa is a light-filled and spacious open-plan living and dining area attractively furnished with hand-crafted walnut pieces, large comfortable sofas and fireplace. The generous-sized table can seat up to 16 guests for fine dining throughout the year. This space leads out to the magnificent swimming pool and garden.
On the other side of the villa is the fully-equipped modern kitchen boasting a professional gas range and electric oven, American fridge-freezer, two dishwashers, coffee machines and other kitchen gadgets – cooking here is an absolute pleasure. There is also an outdoor summer kitchen with plancha, gas cooker and ice-maker.
Reached via the kitchen, the enchanting walled garden is shaded from the sun by a large pergola where you can dine al-fresco accompanied by the sound of trickling water from a natural source, ideal for lazy breakfasts, lingering lunches and barbecues on balmy summer evenings.
After a day’s activity, fall asleep to the sound of the cicadas in one of Les Cigales’ five stylish bedrooms. Three of the double rooms (all with king or super-king beds) are en suite whilst the two twin/double rooms (each with an extra sliding bed) share a family shower room. The ground floor bedroom is self-contained, perhaps good for grandparents seeking a little privacy, and we especially love the master bedroom with its south-west facing balcony, a romantic spot to watch the sunset with a glass of local rosé.
The 12m long swimming pool is surrounded by sun-drenched terraces infused with sensuous Mediterranean scents of rosemary, lavender, thyme and pine alongside the lazy drone of cicadas. Complete with an aperitif pool and a ledge for small children, this is an idyllic place to while away a lazy afternoon on the many sunbeds or beneath the two shaded areas for a siesta out of the midday sun.
Amongst the large and beautifully landscaped garden, guests can enjoy the boules pitch and ping pong table or the hammock for quieter moments. There is also a children’s play area and even a chicken coop at the end of the garden where you can often collect fresh eggs.
For guests wishing to keep active, there is a gym room with a Pilates reformer – imagine an early morning yoga session or circuit followed by a swim in the pool as a great start to the day! For those of you who wish to truly unwind, relax in the jacuzzi under the stars on the raised terrace overlooking the vines – a truly tranquil and magical setting.
Experience a spot of pampering by making the most of the hammam and brand new sauna (at an extra cost). The owners can also organise massages, wine-tastings, a private chef and other fantastic services with advance notice.
Lazing on the brilliant beaches of the Côte d’Azur, discovering the magical region of Provence, browsing the local markets, visiting vineyards and sampling the finest Côtes de Provence wines, hiking or just idling your days away by the pool, Les Cigales offers the perfect base to enjoy the beauty of the South of France. Ideal for family reunions, weekends away with friends or special occasions all year round.
Les Cigales is set in a pretty hamlet in the vines of a prestigious vineyard, a five-minute drive from an old Provençal village in the Var department of southern France.
The local village, just under 4km away, is full of charm with its winding lanes and historic buildings, pretty fountains and panoramic views from the top where you can admire many of the vineyards that make up the surrounding landscape. As well as restaurants, cafes and shops, you’ll find the wonderful Farmer’s market on a Friday morning. There is also a supermarket complex just a couple of kilometres from the villa, en route to the village.
Other great Farmer’s markets to discover include Pierrefeu-du-Var (8km) on a Saturday, the coastal town of Le Lavandou (40km) on a Thursday morning and Hyères (24km) on a Sunday morning (when there is also an atmospheric flea market/brocante). A little closer to home, Puget-Ville (5km) also has a brocante on a Sunday morning.
Wine-tasting is a given in this region which produces some of the greatest Côtes de Provence wines as well as other well-known appellations. Wine-tasting and vineyard tours can be arranged by the owners and you can buy wine from the vineyard next door.
The Var region offers so much across all the seasons. There are many hiking trails through the hills, cycling and mountain biking are popular in the area and horse-riding stables can be found within a few minutes by car. There are also tennis courts within 5km and various golf courses including Golf de Valcros, near La Londe, around half an hour away.
Despite this rural location, the beaches of the French Riviera can be easily reached. The nearest beach is in La Londe-les-Maures, around half an hour away or head to the lovely seaside town of Le Lavandou (40km) with its sandy beaches, including Plage de Saint-Clair which has been voted as one of France's most beautiful beaches. La Presqu'île de Giens (30km), just south of Hyères is also superb or head further east to the incredible La Croix Valmer coastline, especially wonderful for walkers who can follow the coastal path and come across unique beaches such as Plage de Gigaro (70km).
Hyères (24km) is a beautiful city to explore, as is Toulon (25km) with its great harbour. The well-known fishing village of Saint-Tropez (70km) is just over an hour away; make sure you visit the world-famous Pampelonne Beach with its exclusive beach clubs such as Le Club-55, often frequented by celebrities. Perhaps combine the day out with a visit to one of the many idyllic villages such as Gassin, Ramatuelle, La Môle or Bormes-les-Mimosas.
Take a boat from one of the harbours to some lovely islands just off the coast, including Porquerolles with its magnificent beaches. The island can be explored by foot or bicycle; take a picnic for a great trip out with all the family.
For another spectacular day out, head inland to the famous Verdon Gorge (120km), one of France’s most amazing natural wonders and a great place to hire boats, kayaks and canoes.
Accommodation
Villa Interiors (300m2)
Ground Floor
- Entrance hall
- Open-plan living-dining room with sofas, chairs, fireplace, dining table (seating 16 guests). Doors out to swimming pool and garden
- Modern kitchen, fully-equipped including two dishwashers, professional range with 5 x gas hobs and double electric oven, microwave, American fridge-freezer, small drinks fridge, juicer, coffee machines, kettle, toaster, food processor, blender. Doors leading to walled garden and al-fresco dining terrace
- Bedroom (self-contained) with en suite bathroom with shower, double sink and WC
Upper Floors
- Master double bedroom with dressing room, office and en suite bathroom with large bath, shower and WC. South-west facing balcony
- Bedroom (east facing) with double bed, garden/vine views and en suite bathroom with shower, sink and WC
- Bedroom (south facing) with twin/double beds plus a pull-out bed and hand basin
- Bedroom (south facing) with twin/double beds plus a pull-out bed and a balcony
- Family bathroom with shower and WC
Double beds are all king or super king-size
Separate Wellness room
- Gym, hammam (available at an extra cost) and double sofa-bed
Outside Grounds (3100m2)
- Heated swimming pool (12x5m, depth: 1.4m) plus aperitif pool with ledge. Safety fence and solid cover. Open approximately April to end-October
- Infrared sauna
- Several al-fresco dining and shaded sitting areas
- Outdoor kitchen with ice-maker, professional gas cooker and plancha
- Al-fresco dining table for up to 22 guests
- Poolside pergola
- Landscaped gardens
- Herb and vegetable gardens
- Animal pen with chickens and Angora rabbits
- Boules pitch with sitting area
- Table tennis table
- Children's play area
- Car parking (three spaces by villa and more at end of garden)
Facilities
- 2 x TVs with satellite channels (including BBC/ITV)
- French TV
- Gym room with bike, weights, waff, yoga mats and pilates reformer machine
- Hot tub/jacuzzi
- Hammam with steam room and massage table (available at an extra cost)
- Ironing facilities
Reviews (49)
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Joe
We recently chose to stay at Les Cigales to celebrate 2 x special birthdays and it was truly breathtaking. Not only was the house and the surroundings stunning but Jane made the whole experience so easy. For one of the birthdays, Jane helped us organise a private chef who was spectacular and really helped to make the experience special. In addition, Jane also helped us arrange a vineyard tour which was a great experience. The house had absolutely everything we could need and we loved it that much we ended up spending most the days by the pool and stayed in and cooked most evenings in the outdoor kitchen. Our children also loved it and were able to collect fresh eggs from the hens at the bottom of the garden. There were endless things to do, such as; sauna, home gym facilities, private pool, bowls, supermarkets 5 min drive away and most importantly relax! As a family we had the best time and made very special memories at Les Cigales, would highly recommend and we will certainly be wanting to book again in the future.
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Joe
We recently chose to stay at Les Cigales to celebrate 2 x special birthdays and it was truly breathtaking. Not only was the house and the surroundings stunning but Jane made the whole experience so easy. For one of the birthdays, Jane helped us organise a private chef who was spectacular and really helped to make the experience special. In addition, Jane also helped us arrange a vineyard tour which was a great experience. The house had absolutely everything we could need and we loved it that much we ended up spending most the days by the pool and stayed in and cooked most evenings in the outdoor kitchen. Our children also loved it and were able to collect fresh eggs from the hens at the bottom of the garden. There were endless things to do, such as; sauna, home gym facilities, private pool, bowls, supermarkets 5 min drive away and most importantly relax! As a family we had the best time and made very special memories at Les Cigales, would highly recommend and we will certainly be wanting to book again in the future.
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R.K.
We had the best time at Les Cigales! The home is beautiful and spacious, and stocked with everything you could need. Our favorite part of the home were all of the outdoor amenities. The landscaping is beautifully planned and maintained, and there were so many places to sit and enjoy the surroundings. The pool, spa, sauna, and boules court provided endless entertainment. Our children loved the chickens, rabbits, and fish pond, and looked forward to seeing them all each day. The fresh eggs, fruit, and vegetables from the grounds were also a highlight for us. The owner was extremely helpful and accommodating, providing us with many great recommendations of things to do in the area and assisting with making reservations as needed. The location of the house was also great, as it was private yet very close to town and a supermarket. It was a great central spot to easily do day trips to the beach, wineries, Gorges du Verdon, many historic villages and cities with great museums, and even Italy! We really could not have asked for a more perfect holiday!