A Day in Provence

We got back late last night from meetings and presentation of property in the Luberon.

The film “A Good Year” was made from the book by Peter Mayle (“A Year in Provence”) and the team promoting the DVD asked me to show some properties to journalists to get a feel for the area. Being France of course this involved a good lunch, wine tastings and meetings in scented gardens bathed with warm sunshine.

Peter Mayle was with us for the day and was interviewed about his experiences in Provence, I was happy to find he was a sincere and pleasant person and I have no fear of being mentioned in his next book, although I may mention him in mine. Here is a snap taken in front of the Chateau.

It was interesting to calculate the effect on property prices that popular fiction and publicity have had on the Luberon over the last thirty years. I have have never been enthusiastic about that area finding the weather, especially in winter, harsh and, at times very cold and with a ghastly wind. But many people have bought old farm properties for use as summer homes and the scarcity of properties has driven up prices.

Some villages have impressive views and I can see the pleasure in visiting the “golden triangle” of Gordes – Menerbes – Bonnieux, but coming from the Languedoc under an hour away, with similar views, where the weather is better and with the Mediterranean on our doorstep, I found the prices being paid for old farm buildings and converted barns, with a few acres of vines or melons attached surprisingly high. Prices for a semi-detached, dilapidated ruin started at one and a half million euro, although I did see a converted barn in a magical setting at five million euro I liked very much – I have made a couple of quick pages of these at…

http://nizas.com/vaucluse/farm/

and

http://nizas.com/vaucluse/jackie/

Overall it was “A Good Day”