Villa with private pool on a large wooded plot

The property that welcomes you, the Gecko en Provence, is located above the old village of La Roque, on a plateau formerly dedicated to the cultivation of cherries. From this location derive the distinctive qualities of the place: space, nature and calm. A large flat plot of land (5,000m²) allows comfortable outdoor facilities. The space guarantees you peace and freedom from vis-à-vis. The slightly dominant position over the valley ensures superb sunsets almost every evening. Le Gecko offers you a large swimming pool (14 x 5.5 m²), placed on a terrace of beautiful dimensions in stones taken from the neighboring quarry. On one of the end, the swimming pool has a large 6 m beach which will allow sun lovers to fully enjoy it, with the help of a large parasol if necessary. At the other end, a grove of holm oaks provides beneficial shade from the start of the afternoon; if you choose to put your deckchair there, you will have Mont Ventoux in front of you. The swimming pool is secured by a guardrail conforming to the NF standard; on the side of the garden, we took advantage of the slope - covered with Provençal perennials - so that the fence was sufficiently distant and thus not give the impression of confinement to bathers. Next to the swimming pool, we have spared a large enough space for ball games. The garden offers a row of vines, half a dozen cherry trees, and two fig trees: help yourself! Besides these fruits, aromatic plants are available on the flowerbed in front of the covered terrace, just stoop: thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, chives. The outdoor terrace, or patio, with its two olive trees and its stone table from the same local quarry, is equipped with armchairs and deck chairs for reading afternoons, and a barbecue and lighting for the summer dinners . Adjoining the patio is the bowling green, under the cedars. A hammock is installed there, which allows you to follow the game of pétanque or, if you lie down the other way, to keep an eye on the children at the pool. On the other side of the patio is the garden annex, where outdoor equipment is stored: petanque balls, deck chairs, hammocks, pool games... Cyclists will also store their bikes there. The covered terrace, adjoining the living room, communicates with the latter through two sliding picture windows, always wide open in summer. Moreover, as it is on one level with the living room, this gives it the inside-outside character that befits so much to the houses in the south. It is exposed west; a blind protects you from too intrusive late afternoon suns. With its marble table, it is the natural place for daily meals. The small terrace in front of the kitchen, also facing west, allows you to have a breakfast in the cool, before the great afternoon sun. It is also very pleasant, out of season, for having coffee and dessert in the midday sun. Regarding parking, the Gecko provides two locations: for your daily comings and goings, a space under the pines at the end of the access path, and a carport away if you have decided to leave the car for a while. The 156m² house has just been refreshed and fitted with new equipment. It has 3 bedrooms, including a master bedroom upstairs (bedroom, dressing room, bathroom, Italian shower, WC). On the ground floor there is a bedroom with a double bed, and one with 2 single beds. The adjoining bathroom is equipped with two sinks and an Italian shower. The house benefits from a central reversible air conditioning system: heating in winter and cooling in summer. Separate kitchen, fully equipped, and new (quartz worktop, induction hob, convection oven, fridge, microwave oven, kettle ...). The adjoining laundry room is equipped with a washing machine (a washing line is available in the garden, no need for a dryer in Provence!) And a large sink. It also provides an additional cupboard for bulky items (oven dishes, large salad bowls, raclette machine, pressure cooker). Last but not least, there is also a wine rack where we provide you with our selection of Côtes du Rhône wines, at cost price. The separated cellar is equipped with an extra refrigerator (and nevertheless large), and provides bags and shelves to make and store your groceries. The large living room has 3 spaces: dining room, living room and library. The living room is equipped with a fireplace, pleasant in winter; a woodshed in the garden furnishes very dry wood, oak and cherry. The library offers books: classics of French literature, travel books, old and new, and around 80 children's comics. There is also the flat screen TV, equipped with a Chromecast accessory that allows you to view compatible internet applications, such as YouTube or Netflix, in large size. The TV is also connected to a Blue Ray player; about sixty DVDs out of the selection of the newspaper "Le Monde" are available. The property has just passed the classification procedure for furnished tourist accommodation, conducted by the Ministry of Tourism: the Gecko has been awarded 4 stars, on a scale that counts 5. Regarding village life, the Gecko is in fact linked to two municipalities: first the municipality of Roque-sur-Pernes on the territory of which we are installed, but also the municipality of Saint-Didier. La Roque-sur-Pernes is one of those Provençal villages built in the cliff - so-called hilltop villages - to preserve cultivable land. It has retained all its character, with its stone houses and cobbled streets. Its coat of arms is the hoopoe, a bird that is not uncommon to see in the surrounding countryside. Many paths, in the shade of holm oaks or under the light of Provence, will allow you to discover unspoiled nature full of scents, viewpoints from the top of the hills, isolated and typical hamlets, troglodyte houses and bories (the welcome folder offers you a walk starting from the Gecko, which is our ritual route for each of our stays). Saint-Didier is located at the bottom of the plateau, 3 km from the Gecko. It is also typical of Provence, but in a different register: main street lined with plane trees, cafes and restaurants with terraces, beautiful mansions in white stone. There are 3 bakeries, 2 grocery stores, a butcher with a specialty of Ventoux lamb, two take-out pizzerias, and a hairdressing salon. And no less than four restaurants, where you eat very well in a friendly atmosphere. And don't miss the Monday morning market! One last word: the gecko is the name of a charming little animal that will probably come to visit you in the evening at the vigil. It is very discreet, and quite harmless! Its presence is synonymous with sun, heat, and calm. We wish you an excellent stay in his company!