Water Lily House

About this property

Water Lily House is set within its own twenty acre estate ensuring you feel totally immersed in the beauty, peace and privacy of your surroundings. Whether strolling around the renowned stunning formal gardens or basking by one of its two swimming pools, it is the perfect place to unwind.

It has all the charm of a secluded paradise yet is a short drive from all the best that Provence has to offer. The main house is a beautiful old Mas decorated in keeping with the charm and character of the local Provencal area. The kitchen is brand new yet with a rustic feel and has a large La Cornue cooker and leads through to a traditional and intimate dining room. 

For relaxing indoors there is a formal drawing room with fireplace and an air conditioned informal sitting room. All the ground floor rooms look out to the sensational gardens. The terrace is the perfect place to sit and soak up the view and the large outdoor dining table is protected from the midday sun by large and leafy trees. The owner has recently converted an outbuilding into a simply stunning indoor dining area where you can feast with family and friends in beautiful surroundings. There are currently 10 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.

The magnificent gardens at Water Lily House are famous throughout the gardening world for their outstanding beauty and originality. It has inspired gardeners the world over. The garden is divided into separate areas each with its special atmosphere. Within the formal landscaped gardens are two swimming pools. The main swimming pool is situated within The African Garden where you can enjoy doing lengths overlooked by the lifelike giraffe and elephants.

The adjoining Pool House continues the African themed décor and has its own kitchen with sink, fridge/ freezer, microwave and dishwasher. There is a large built in Weber BBQ and outdoor dining area for days when you don’t want to leave the pool. There is also a bathroom and wonderful outdoor shower making sure the whole area is completely self-sufficient to the main house.

The tennis court is at the front of the house and can be reached from the African Garden swimming pool through a lavender pathway. The tennis court has an inbuilt basketball net and two inbuilt football nets so it can be a great football pitch. There are also floodlights for those who want to avoid the heat of the day and play in the evening.

Water Lily House is perfect getaway whether you are a big family or a group gathering, there is something here for everyone!

Although there are ten bedrooms we recommend not more than 16 adults and 2 children. Two of the bedrooms (an attic dormitory and a small single room) are only suitable for children.

Water Lily House is ideally situated to profit from all the very best Provence has to offer. Located just ten minutes from the beautiful St. Rémy-de-Provence and within half an hour’s reach of the towns of Avignon, Arles, and L’isle sur-la-Sorgue, to name but a few.

There is a wealth of cultural and historical attractions within an easy drive. In Arles, you can see the Roman ruins, the Museum of Arles and Provence or go to the lively Saturday market.

In Avignon, there is the Palais des Papes, an important medieval gothic building, boasting one of the largest gothic fortresses in Europe. You can take a leisurely boat ride on the canals that pass through L’isle sur-la-Sorgue, a small but vibrant town, particularly visited for its many antique shops and where you can see working water wheels throughout.

Alternatively, you may wish to sample local wines and visit Château Romanin in St. Rémy where you can enjoy a tour of their vineyards and see their cellars.

Leisure activities around the area include horseback riding tours in Egalières, or avid golfers can tee off from either the Servanes or Pont Royal courses nearby. For those feeling more adventurous, hire a bike for the day and choose a challenging long distance mountain bike trail. Whether an easy or vigorous route, cycling is one of the best ways to experience the breath-taking vistas of the Provencal countryside.

For family days out with the children, there are a variety of adventures to choose from. Rent a canoe in Avignon and view its historic buildings from the river Rhône, or take the steam train of Cévennes from Anduze to Saint-Jean-du-Gard, passing through the typical landscapes of the region or spend the day at the Zoo in La Barben, where you can see a huge variety of creatures: elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, wolves and yaks.

Water Lily House is just outside of Noves, a beautiful small town which has two chemists, a supermarket and fine local bakery meaning you are just a short four minute drive from picking up your fresh croissants in the morning.

Accommodation

House Interiors (sleeps a maximum of 16 adults and 2 children)

Ground Floor

-    Hallway with large fireplace
-    Drawing room with fireplace, piano and library with extensive collection of books 
-    Kitchen, fully-equipped including La Cornue range cooker with two ovens, Quooker boiling hot water tap, two dishwashers, large fridge-freezer, microwave, toaster and Nespresso machine
-    Dining area (adjoining to kitchen) with circular oak dining table for 10 guests
-    Lounge with air-conditioning, sofas, 85-inch TV and Blu-ray/DVD player. Open-tread stairs lead up to a mezzanine-level reading nook with children’s books and toys/games

First Floor

-    Master bedroom with king-size double bed, air-conditioning, dressing room and en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower
-    Bedroom with twin beds
-    Bedroom with queen-size bed and air-conditioning
-    En suite bathroom with bath and separate WC (shared between above two bedrooms)
-    Family suite - bedroom with king-size double bed and air-conditioning and adjoining children's bedroom with single bed and cot. En suite bathroom with shower
-    Utility room with washing machine and dryer

Second Floor

-    Bedroom with king-size double bed, air-conditioning, walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower
-    Bedroom with twin bedroom
-    Attic children's dormitory with four single beds and air-conditioning
-    Hallway bathroom with shower

Garden Bedrooms (separate to main house, within the gardens)

-    Bedroom with double bed, air-conditioning and en suite shower room
-    Bedroom with twin beds, air-conditioning and en suite shower room

Outside Grounds

-    Main swimming pool
-    Pool house with summer kitchen (with sink, fridge-freezer, microwave and dishwasher) and poolside dining area
-    Outdoor shower
-    Plunge-style deep swimming pool
-    Terrace overlooking formal gardens with large marble table for al-fresco dining
-    Outbuilding converted into dining area with Sonos speakers (next to main house)
-    Built-in barbecue
-    Children’s playground and play area with sandpit, sunken trampoline and wooden playhouses
-    Ping pong
-    Badminton, croquet and cricket sets
-    Boules
-    Tennis court (with basketball net and two in-built goals)
-    Landscaped formal gardens
-    Viewing platform (via spiral stairs)
-    Kitchen garden and chickens
-    Water feature / pond
-    Field (ideal for playing games)

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Air-conditioning (certain rooms only – see above)
-    Library (books in English and French)
-    85-inch TV with French channels, English satellite channels, Netflix
-    Blu-ray/DVD player
-    Sonos music system (ground floor rooms)
-    Children’s books, toys and games
-    Hairdryers
-    Dressing gowns and toiletries
-    Washing machine and dryer