Le Mas Des Gardiols, La Cerisaie, a wonderful medieval Provence stone house in the Luberon national reserve, provides guests an authentic Provence living experience. The Luberon home is over three hundred years old, yet retains original beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, tiled floors, and a private trellised courtyard where grape vines wind and roses, lavender, and jasmine perfume the Provence evening.This Luberon home has been thoughtfully and beautifully restored with Gourmet kitchen, modern baths, extra hot water heaters, brand-new comfortable beds, authentic Provence country antique furnishings, and interior appointments. French doors in kitchen and dining room open directly into the private courtyard which has a stone table comfortably seating ten.
A spiral staircase leads from the dining room up to the family/living room on the second floor, from where one can view the gardens, nearby vineyards, lavender fields, the Luberon village of Roussillon, and the Luberon Mountain range. A master suite off the living room has private terrace, king-size bed, beamed ceilings, private ensuite bath with tub, shower, sink, and bidet. Living room also has beamed ceilings, bookshelves with books, games, CD player, video cassettes, satellite TV. A lovely large bedroom with fireplace, twin beds, a bathroom and smaller bedroom, twin beds, same Luberon view are located in the oldest wing of the home above a Provencal type living space. This ancient garden/kitchen and family living space, is today converted into a bedroom suite with queen-size bed with a unique vaulted ceiling, original fireplace, and original ceramic tile floor. Across the courtyard from this space is an old outdoor kitchen. Today this space provides a shaded hideaway, but the old wood-cooking bread oven can still provide a warming fire.
The Cerisaie sits next to its gated garden where a private pool is nestled in a lovingly tended garden with lavender, climbing roses, laurel, oleander, rosemary, and fig trees. Here one can lunch under the shade of a cherry tree at a second stone table in a trellised eating area, get lost in a book, gaze at Roussillon and the Luberon range, or snooze in the shade to the songs of birds and cicadas.
Food and wine are a prime reason many visit Provence and the Luberon. You can visit a different Provencal Luberon village or Vaucluse outdoor market every day and cook with fresh local ingredients, have a cook do it for you, or eat in one of the world-class, Michelin star rated restaurants in the vicinity. The home lies amid welcoming Luberon vineyards, our favorite within walking distance, but with the world-famous Chateauneuf-du-Pape just 45 minutes away.