Sarah has been a great host and we had a fabulous family time in her property which was as described. The rooms are spacious except for the kitchens, the location is great and there are many activities to do near Gordes. Thank you very much !
My friends and family stayed in this beautiful villa and enjoyed every moment of their time there. The villa is in a lovely serene setting looking out to forest and mountains. Close by there are trails to walk through vineyards and fields of poppies. Sarah, the host, who lives next door was so generous with her time to assist as needed and was willing to share her vast knowledge of the area. She also has great culinary skills and made a delicious dinner featuring the cuisine of Provence. The villa is very close to Gordes, which is featured as one of the most picturesque towns in Southern France.
If you are looking for an authentic French Provençal experience, look no further than this home. We had a wonderful week at this lovely family house that is ideal for groups like ours with plenty of bedrooms, bathrooms, living areas and a well equipped kitchen. We made full use of the various sitting areas outside to eat our meals or just sit and relax with a glass of wine or a cup of tea or coffee. The setting is beautiful and private and we found it very easy to relax and unwind in the peaceful surroundings. The pool was a great place to cool off in the afternoon.
The house is centrally located for visiting the many nearby market towns and villages that Provence is famous for.
Sarah was a warm and friendly host who took excellent care of us.
Six friends from Spain, New Zealand, Norway, and the USA decided to celebrate some major birthdays (80, 75, 70) and thought âLetâs head to the south of France in Septemberâ. Lucky for us we found Sarah Brown and Shep Fergusonâs house in Les Martins! What a delight - perfect for our exploring, yoga, swimming, eating and drinking rose! It was very comfortable for all of us with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms; the unique and interesting living room with the wonderful old bakery door still visible in the corner; the library terrace for our evening glass of rose while watching the sunset over the misty Luberon hills; the large covered terrace for our morning croissants and cafe au lait; the lovely narrow dining table from an ancient abbey which made our evening meals so intimate; the well equipped kitchen where we jostled and laughed and drank rose as we prepared our meals. Each day weâd sojourn to one or two wonderful towns in the area - Gordes, Roussilion, LâOppede de Vieux, Lourmarin - exploring old castles, churches, markets, and stopping for lunch, with rose of course! Sarah Brown, our hostess, was a delight - greeting our arrival with her lovely yellow lab, Gaston, and soup au pistou and local rose! She was a font of knowledge of the area and a wonderful cook. It was fascinating to learn her familyâs history in Les Martins and to hear how they purchased the old bakery in 1959 and turned it into this charming, book-filled and comfortable home. Weâd go back in an instant - maybe for 85, 80 75 - or any birthdays in between!
This home is for someone who wants and authentic experience in the region. Our host, Sarah is amazing!!! Everything was perfect and we canât wait to return. Our last night she did a wonderful cooking demonstration followed by an amazing dinner that we all helped prepare. Not much wine left however!!! Thanks Saran. You are a rock star!!!!!!!/
A fantastic French touristic and culinary experience
Have stayed several times at the property which has as much character as you can expect in one of the most beautiful parts of France. It is located within a short drive of many of the renown villages in the area you will want to visit to enjoy local art and customs. As a french family living in the US, we also enjoy the hosts' company and bi-cultural background. And to top it all, they are great cooks should you wish to enjoy traditional cuisine 'at home' rather than rely on restaurants or cook yourself (you are there on vacation after all).
We had a truly delightful stay at Shep and Sarah's family home. Every morning we enjoyed our coffee and croissants on the veranda taking in the view of the Luberon Mountains, the namesake of the valley where the village of Les Martins sits.
The accommodations are simple yet elegant and comfortable. It is real authentic country Provence, a house filled with vintage treasures and eclectic artwork. We had ample space, large clean bathrooms and light filled bedrooms with panoramic views to the mountains.
In the warm afternoons we made our way down to swim in the pool or we headed out by car to roam the narrow streets of the neighboring villages. The house is within close proximity to several lovely markets and wineries. In the evenings we could prepare a meal with Sarah's expert advice, a culinary institution in her own right. The rustic old kitchen performs well and the large farm table straddling the huge fireplace is a lovely place to dine.
Staying here was an absolute highlight of our trip to France. We hope to make this a regular stop in the years to come as our hearts yearn for such a classic and authentic experience.
We have had a wonderful time in the house. We spent two weeks with six adults and three kids. The house is very spacious but also very cosy and very unique in style. From the garden and the pool you get a great view on the Luberon. The property is close to Gordes and Goult.
Long overdue review as our family has rented this house during August for the last 6 years and will do so again in August 2016.
Why do we keep coming back? The house is lovely and perfectly set up for two or even three families with 4 bedrooms in the main house (a former Bakery) and 2 bedrooms in the wing (the former Stables). Plenty of room to be social indoors or out even a wonderful Library.
Great location situated in a very pretty part of the Luberon on the north side of the valley with wonderful light. Below the house are 10 acres of apple trees, vineyards & fields. Traffic and people are at a distance.
The kitchen is nicely furnished as the house was used for many years as a cooking school. Excellent knives, pans, etc., easy to imagine you were roughing it like Julia Child in the early 1970s!
The pool is a social center for kids and adults during hot days. The ruins of a Roman tannery are just visible through the bean plants that provide shade by the chairs near the shallow end.
For folks not experts in the region, Sarah (who lives next door) is a wealth of information on everything from different markets, to regional history (she is a trained historian), to how to cook an entire suckling pig. And for those with less-than-perfect French, Sarah's English is perfect.
Enjoy!
San Francisco Family
We have rented this house for two consecutive years and cannot say enough good things about our stay in this historic structure. The home is well maintained and perfect for large groups. It boasts the perfect amenities and location for introducing friends and family to Provence. After touring famed hilltop villages (minutes away) or the large attractions of Avignon, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, and Cassis (an hour or less drive), our typical day would include a stop at the local markets and well-appointed grocery store in nearby Coustellet followed by relaxation at the spacious swimming pool. The kitchen provides all you need to make authentic Provencal meals and he views of the Luberon range from the house and terrace provided a perfect setting for long dinners on the terrace. Sarah Brown provided us with expert advice on touring the countryside and historical context of the region that made these trips much more meaningful. We will return to this special place again and again.
Dave V.
Qui vous reçoit ?
Vous ĂȘtes reçu par Sheppard Ferguson, Sarah Brown.
Sarah Brown and Sheppard Ferguson, sister and brother, have known Les Martins since their parents bought the property and converted the farm into a family second home with swimming pool. Until high school, Sarah attended French schools. She has a PhD in medieval architecture from Columbia University and has been often described as the English speaking person who knows the most about Provence. She has lived in Les Martins for 25 years and is writing the definitive book about the history and culture of the Luberon valley. As well as A Week in Provence she has owned a gallery in the region. Sheppard has alternately been a bookseller and photographer, co-founding the rare art book company Ars Libri, Ltd in Boston and subsequently running Schoenhof's Foreign Books in Cambridge, MA, a subsidiary Editions Gallimard, the French publisher. His photographic documentation of the stone quarries in the region (the biggest one visible directly across the valley form the house) has been exhibited widely throughout Provence, in an Avignon museum and in New York. He currently lives in Watertown, MA. Both Sarah and Sheppard love introducing friends and guests to the valley and wider region.
There is a kind of magic to the location for us, a second generation to own the property, succeeding many prior generations since the vaulted living room was built in the late 1400s followed by additions built two hundred years later and then in the 19th century. The view hasn't really changed since 1500. In 1963, at night, we could see seven lights; now we see fourteen.
The house and property are expansive enough so that in 2016 we hosted a retreat for a Scandinavian law firm, a wedding arrival party for 35, a birthday for 50. Sarah Brown is acknowledged as one of the best cooks in the region and for years has been catering small meals for tenants or larger meals for events and parties.