Frequently asked.

Le Bastidon is located in Saint-Jurs (postcode 04410), a village of 200 inhabitants in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department of southern France. The exact address is 146 La Plaine des Levades. We sit on the eastern edge of the Plateau de Valensole at 750 metres elevation, right at the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon.

Marseille-Provence (MRS) is the closest international airport — 1 hour 45 minutes by car. Nice-Côte d'Azur (NCE) is about 2 hours east, Avignon (AVN) 1 hour 30 west. The TGV high-speed station in Aix-en-Provence is 1 hour away, with direct connections from/to Paris in under 3 hours.

Yes, a car is practically essential. Saint-Jurs has no train station and very limited public transport. By car you reach Riez and its market in 15 minutes, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in 25 minutes, and Lac de Sainte-Croix in 30 minutes. Free on-site parking is available.

From Paris: A6/A7 to Aix-en-Provence, then A51 toward Manosque, then D907/D8 to Saint-Jurs — about 7 hours, 760 km. From Munich: A8 via Brenner and Genoa to Aix, around 11 hours without stops. Tip: take the TGV to Aix and pick up a rental car at the Aix-en-Provence-TGV station — easier than the full drive.

Riez (15 min) covers daily needs — supermarket, bakery, pharmacy, plus Wednesday and Saturday markets. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (25 min) is one of the "Plus beaux villages de France" with its faïence ceramic tradition. Gréoux-les-Bains (35 min) offers thermal baths and larger shops. Aix-en-Provence for city life is 1 hour away.

L'Abricot is the smaller south-western house — 2 bedrooms, up to 4 guests, with a sunset terrace. L'Amandier is the larger north-eastern house — 3 bedrooms, up to 7 guests, with a fireplace room and separate workspace. Both share the pool, garden and olive grove on 1.5 hectares.

Yes — we call it "Le Bastidon complete". Both houses together give you five bedrooms for up to 11 guests on 1.5 hectares of private land, exclusive to your group. Ideal for three-generation family gatherings, wedding weekends, milestone birthdays or friend reunions. When booked complete, the pool and grounds are yours alone — no other guests.

Fully equipped for actual cooking, not just microwave reheating: induction hob, oven, dishwasher, large fridge, espresso machine (DeLonghi), kettle, toaster. Decent crockery, sharp knives, proper pans. Olive oil, salt, pepper, and ground coffee from a roastery in Manosque are there on arrival.

Yes, fibre-optic connection with stable WiFi in both houses, suitable for video calls, streaming and remote work. L'Amandier has a dedicated workspace with desk and chair — suitable for workation stays.

Every bedroom has a Hilton Sleeper mattress, the kind you find in better city hotels. Bathrooms feature rain showers, travertine cladding and organic toiletries — no single-use plastic bottles. L'Abricot: one bathroom. L'Amandier: one bathroom with double washbasin plus separate WC.

The pool measures 5 × 9 metres — proper swimming size, not just splashing. Main season runs from spring to autumn; exact swim temperatures and opening windows we share before arrival. For specific pool-season questions please ask us directly.

Yes — when only one house is booked, L'Abricot and L'Amandier guests share the pool and garden. To have the pool exclusively, book both houses together ("Le Bastidon complete") — then the whole 1.5-hectare estate is for your group alone.

1.5 hectares of land with olive grove, lavender beds and a private terrace for each house. L'Amandier has a covered outdoor area with a pizza oven for long summer evenings. A long outdoor table for shared meals and sun loungers by the pool. Parking for up to six vehicles right at the house.

Peak bloom runs from late June to mid-July — peak typically around 10-15 July. At 600-800 m elevation, lavender blooms one to two weeks later than at lower altitudes. Harvest begins between 15 and 25 July. For fewer tourists, come the first or second week of July — by mid-July the famous photo spots fill with tour buses.

The entrance to the Gorges du Verdon at Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon is 30 minutes by car. The Route des Crêtes viewpoints (e.g. Point Sublime) are about 1 hour away. Lac de Sainte-Croix for swimming and kayaking: 35 minutes. In July and August these spots fill up — May, June and September are far calmer.

Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (25 min) is one of France's "Plus beaux villages". Famous for its faïence pottery (hand-painted ceramics), the gilded star suspended between two cliffs above the village since the 13th century, and the Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir chapel. Friday market, many ceramic ateliers. Restaurant tip: La Bastide de Moustiers (Michelin-starred, Alain Ducasse).

At 750 m elevation we have a milder climate than the Côte d'Azur — hot, dry summers (28-35 °C daytime, cool nights around 16 °C), mild springs and autumns, occasional snow in winter. Best months: May, June, September. July and August are hot; pool and shaded terraces become the centrepieces. Little rainfall — Provence is one of the sunniest regions in Europe.

Our top picks: Riez on Wednesdays and Saturdays (15 min) — tomatoes, alpine cheese, lavender honey, olive oil, truffles in winter. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie on Fridays. Manosque on Saturdays (larger, livelier). Forcalquier on Mondays (1 hour) is widely considered the region's most beautiful. Arrive before 11:30 — after that farmers pack up.

Right from the house: walks across the Plateau de Valensole, 1-3 hours. In the Gorges du Verdon: Sentier Martel (6 hours, moderate-difficult, one of Europe's finest canyon trails) and the Sentier de l'Imbut. Easy: a loop around Lac de Sainte-Croix. Maps and detailed instructions go out with our travel guide before arrival.

Classics: Gorges du Verdon + Lac de Sainte-Croix (full day with swimming, kayaking, lunch in Moustiers, 30 min drive). Aix-en-Provence for city vibes and Cours Mirabeau (1 hour). Marseille for harbour, MUCEM and Vieux-Port (1:45). Cassis and the Calanques for a day by the sea (2:15). Forcalquier market + Banon cheese region (1 hour).

Yes, very well suited. 1.5 hectares of garden for playing, olive trees at sensible heights for climbing. For baby equipment (travel cot, high chair) please ask before booking — we'll confirm what's available. Riez (15 min) has a playground, Lac de Sainte-Croix a shallow beach entry. The region is family-friendly without being tourist-saturated.

Lac de Sainte-Croix (35 min) is ideal — turquoise water, several beaches, paddle boat and kayak rentals. In the Verdon itself: natural pools at several spots, cooler but crystal-clear. Lac d'Esparron (1 hour) is quieter than Sainte-Croix. The Mediterranean at Cassis is reachable in 2:15 for a day trip.

Yes, gladly. Direct booking is especially worthwhile for longer stays (over a week), for booking both houses together, or for special occasions like weddings. We save the platform fees and pass the saving on as a better rate. Just write via our contact form — we reply personally, usually the same day.

May and September are our best value-for-money tip: good weather (20-26 °C), pool warm enough, few tourists, all markets and restaurants open — and significantly cheaper than peak July/August. April and October even cheaper but cooler evenings. Peak season July, especially the two weeks around lavender bloom, is the most expensive.

Minimum stays vary by season — significantly longer in peak July/August than off-season. Current rules are shown in our Airbnb calendar, or just ask us directly. For special occasions or long weekends we usually find a solution.

Airbnb bookings follow Airbnb's cancellation policy — exact terms are on our Airbnb listing. For direct bookings we discuss cancellation terms transparently before confirming the reservation. We always recommend travel insurance.

Standard afternoon check-in and morning check-out — exact times shown on the Airbnb listing or sent with your booking confirmation. Earlier arrival or later departure often possible depending on the following booking — just ask.

Please ask before booking — pet policy depends on size, number and season. Vet in Riez (15 min) for emergencies.

Washing machine in the house for your own use. For longer stays we provide a mid-stay change of linens and towels. On request we arrange daytime cleaning or a cook for a special evening — write at least a week ahead and we'll quote prices and availability.

Included: electricity, water, WiFi, linens, towels, final cleaning, parking, pool use, plus coffee from a Manosque roaster and a starter kit of olive oil, salt and pepper. Tourist tax is charged separately at the official rate for Saint-Jurs. Firewood for the fireplaces and extras such as chef or massage services are not included.