LARGE PROVENCAL FARMHOUSE AMID THE COTES DU RHONE VINEYARDS

My wife, two-year old daughter and I spent three full weeks at La Barraliere this past September, with several day trips and a few overnight trips interspersed throughout. The house is situated between two very small towns - Visan and Tulette - a little less than a mile to either one. These towns offered great bread, an extraordinary butcher, and good farmers markets. The Cotes du Rhone "wine road" area that includes Gigondas was a 15-minute drive. It was also easy to access Mont Ventoux, Vaison la Romaine, and the Ardeche region (slightly further as you have to cross the Rhone river and highway). We also took trips to Marseille and Aix en Provence - both were an hour and a half drive south, so fairly close. Avignon was only 45 minutes drive. The owners also operate a contemporary artist residency and gallery on the property, and have information and connections to a lot of local artists and galleries. The walls of the house and connecting apartment are hung with interesting abstract paintings that added a lot of warmth and personality to the place. There are windows all around the house looking out to the vineyards (which literally surround the house on all sides) and to Mont Ventoux in the distance. It's an airy, yet cozy house.

Overall, the house exceeded our expectations, and was a good homebase for exploring the area. Not knowing a lot about how it would work out with a two-year old, we found it to be safe, spacious and well-suited for children. There is a big yard, an wide-open courtyard, a garden, a trampoline, and a few boxes of toys. The only downside might be that you would want a car to more easily explore the area and go back and forth to the two nearby towns for basic provisions. Both towns are easily walkable and bike-able (there are a couple bikes available at the house) but we had to drive most of the time because we didn't bring a kid seat for the bike. Very minor complaint!