There’s a low rumble of thunder and the haunting cry of a distant peacock. Bats swoop over the pool circling and regrouping as night falls softly , sky darkening to an inky hue illuminated by distant flashes of electricity as pressure falls after a hot hot day. We’ve feasted like kings tonight with a happy group of guests from Malaysia , Kenya , Canada and uk who held their university reunion here with assorted sweet children running in a pack. Having smelt tantalisingly delicious smells of curries and flatbreads made with fenugreek , green beans with turmeric and ginger wafting upstairs all day we were delighted to be invited to join One of the most enjoyable parts of opening our home is the interaction of interesting guests from all over the world , sharing their stories , laughing around a table and most importantly their food :))) ( ulterior motives a bit sneaky ) How good is that !!!!! #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #sharingstories #foodies #joinus #chambresdhotesdecharme #southoffrance #livingthedream #provence #occitanie #nightsky #lefooding #condenasttraveller #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #makingmemories #magicaluniverse #wheretonext #wheretofindme #somewhereiwouldliketolive #livethelittlethings #livingmybestlife #livethelifeyoulove #passionpassport #goodlife #hello_france
Mathieu found a friend to play with ! #cat #catlover #furbabies #sosweet #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #southoffrance #provenceinteriors #occitanie #wheretonext #wheretofindme #livingthedream #catsofinstagram #catlife #callmebyyourname #mirrormirror #funny #petlife
There’s a scramble of creamy butter yellow rambling roses entwined with jasmine trying to block the entrance to cottage 2 The recent much longed for rain came in torrents - no half measures here and whilst we basked in sunshine in glorious Oxfordshire at my nieces wedding our happy garden drank lustily soaking up that sweet nectar and rewarding ne us with a profusion of perfume and unprecedented beauty. Returned last night we served breakfast to our bemused guests and leapt outside with secateurs twitching and pockets of twine for errant climbing rose stems which are escaping their frame of old stone walls. Happy Monday!!!! #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #livingthedream #theartofslowliving #slowtravel #wheretonext #wheretofindme #paradise #gardeninspiration #southoffrance #provence #occitanie #naturelovers #livethelittlethings #livethelifeyoulove #dreamhome #chambresdhotesdecharme #lavieestbelle #lavieenrose #iletaitunefois #lefooding #callmebyyourname #beautifuldreamer #condenasttraveller #passionpassport #magical #makingmemories #gardenlove #holidayhome
Flash announcement ! We’ve had a last minute cancellation for the suite this coming weekend Friday and Saturday 28/29 th April. The suite is absolutely gorgeous for 2 people but also has a sofa bed which can take 2 children under 10 years old. It includes breakfast and can be booked directly on our website at 275 euros per night- minimum 2 nights The weather is beautiful - av 23 degrees sunny and this wonderful pool is magnesium and heated. What’s stopping you ????? #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #sheisnotlost #wheretofindme #wheretonext #passionpassport #lifeintheslowlane #theartofslowliving #slowtravel #travelhopefully #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #provence #southoffrance #occitanie #makingmemories #gardeninspiration #poolside #bliss #livethelittlethings #livethelifeyoulove #bestvacations #dreamhome #dreambig
And then the rain came. Long awaited pattering on soft cats paws, running in rivulets from honeyed roof tiles. We had listened earlier to giggles and laughter of children swimming and sat nursing cold glasses of kir outside at our local restaurant in the village in warm sunshine By early evening the sky darkened to moody truculent grey , and a sudden swirling in the trees meant a hurried collection of sunbed mattresses, tablecloths and cushions brought inside as fat globules smacked the paving stones causing concentric circles in the pool. Our garden is thankful. There has been very little rain throughout winter , rivers are low and plants thirsty and dry. We open windows to breath the smell of fresh grass and clean air and listen to natures happy song #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #theartofslowliving #livingthedream #southoffrance #callmebyyourname #ladolcevita #gardeninspiration #lavieestbelle #magicalmoments #raindrops #dreamholiday #natureknowsbest #provence #occitanie #livethelittlethings #condenasttraveller #makingmemories #puravida #bestvacations
This little snapshot sums up life at the Chateau St Victor la Coste ! We absolutely love it here - it’s seriously magical and judging by bookings this year so do our guests ! Happy weekend everyone ❤️
#château #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #theartofslowliving #livingthedream #callmebyyourname #lefooding #condenasttraveller #provence #occitanie #luxurylifestyle #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #livethelittlethings #magical #southoffrance #holiday #chambresdhôtes #chambresdhotesdecharme #makingmemories
Les temps retrouvés takes place on the last Sunday in August each year in Maussane Les Alpilles. Stall holders dress in costumes from the past showing basket weaving , making fig jam in a large copper cauldron or washing clothes on a wooden pallet with stones and thick slabs of olive green Marseille soap. The Arlesian women famously painted by Picasso elegantly stroll among us and the priest teaches boys in grey smocks to write with chalk on slates. Children play old fashioned games - hopscotch, pin the tail on the donkey and clamber on hay bales to see the procession of an ancient circus wagon led by a donkey. We drank pastis in the hot sunshine and bought heavy green pottery bowls for pistou soup and hand embroidered jam jar covers with coloured pom-poms.Happy salad days - life at its most simple and just golden ! #chateaulife #frenchtraveler #tradition #livinghistory #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #wheretofindme #wheretonext #familytime #familyholiday #livingthedream #livethelittlethings #livethelifeyoulove #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #puravida #arles #provence #occitanie #southoffrance #hello_france #super_france #makingmemories #magicalmoments #theartofslowliving #frenchvillage
Cleaning out the fountain is not a glamorous job. We have a wedding this weekend and in the heat it was getting murky and a bit niffy. Catching three wriggly little fat fish in a net and transferring to a washing up bowl wasn’t easy and it took all day to empty the basin of sludgy yucky stuff however as the task was almost done we found two shiney silver babies twitching in the mud ! So now we have 5 fat slippery fish swimming happily beneath the water lilies in a lovely clean fountain basin smelling sweet ! A day in the life of ……#chateaulife #chateau #wheretofindme #wheretonext #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #lavieestbelle #nature #theartofslowliving #lifeisneverboring #livingthedream #holiday #vacation #vacances #passionpassport #sheisnotlost #magicalplace #makingmemories #happylife #southoffrance #provence #occitanie #livethelittlethings
Ready steady go. Jump into the summer and check out Costas diving into fame ! We are now just about full this year but already eager beavers are reserving for next year. It’s just too beautiful to miss out ! #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #sheisnotlost #theartofslowliving #passionpassport #wanderlust #voyageursdumonde #livingmybestlife #livingthedream #livethelifeyoulove #southoffrance #suddelafrance #provence #occitanie #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #holiday #vacances #vacation #summervibes #castle #bestholiday #makingmemories #magicalmoments #booknow
Built in 1543 a Renaissance castle for a wealthy Italian banker living in the south of France. In Italian style it is flamboyant and stylish cradled by majestic cypress trees and now with a very famous pool and yet it is a home full of love . Walls which reverberate with laughter and kindness Sharing it with guests who appreciate its beauty adds incrementally to the inherent charm and positive vibrations felt by lucky travellers who find and cherish this rare gem. We take a maximum of 10 guests in the cottages or 18 if the whole Chateau is reserved for a very special holiday and already reserving for 2023 #chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #livingthedream #passionpassport #wanderlust #wheretonext #dreamhome #dreambig #theartofslowliving #holiday #vacation #vacances #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #renaissance #castle #makingmemories #magicalplaces #unique #provence #suddelafrance #occitanie #hello_france
A lovely family and their friends have rented the Chateau in it’s entirety for two whole weeks holiday so we have whisked away to the less accessible Ionian island of Paxos for a long awaited fix of turquoise sea ,salty feta cheese salads char grilled octopus and halloumi drizzled in olive oil. . Last here 20 yrs ago it hasn’t changed so such. Smarter yachts moor up in the small port or glide into the fiords and there’s chic cocktail bars with negronis served with giant ice cubes to stick freeze lips but otherwise the back street restaurants are timelessly busy with little blue wooden tables , wicker chairs and skinny cats. Zorba is happy 😃
#beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #sheisnotlost #passionpassport #wanderlust #wheretonext #wheretofindme #theartofslowliving #makingmemories #holidays #greekislands #livingthedream #livethelifeyoulove #lovethelifeyoulive #lavieestbelle #ladolcevita #puravida #relax
Not the usual tranquility of sweetly chirping birds and no that’s not a gentle thrum of bees or hover moths. We are gearing up for a busy season au Château and sanding the sun loungers prior to teak oil in preparation is part of the process ! We’ve gone round retouching paintwork ,regrouting tiles , cleaning and primping and replacing silicone bath seals , all so that everything is perfect for our first guests arriving this weekend . Eek !!!! That rather famous pool is the star of the show so she must dazzle.! Sacks of compost and organic fertiliser have been dispersed and the garden is looking verdant and healthy . Thanks to lots of wonderfully generous help and support our IG is fully restored. A horrible experience hopefully fully behind us now as we move forward into the warmth of that Provençal sunshine and just breathe. Happy Wednesday everyone !
#chateau #beautifuldestinations #wonderful_places #theartofslowliving #livethedream #sheisnotlost #passionpassport #wanderlust #holiday #vacances #dreambig #lavieestbelle #provence #occitanie #suddelafrance #southoffrance #condenasttraveller #hello_france #nature #countrylife #livethelittlethings #livethelifeyoulove #lovethelifeyoulive #sunshine #gardeninspiration #slowtravel #beautifulplaces #booknow