Guide to staying at La Roucoulade

This traditional Aix-en-Provence bastide was built in 1870 and sits, surrounded by mature trees and a lush garden, in the pretty Provencal village of Ventabren. Sunshine is almost guaranteed and even in winter you can spend much time outdoors, walking or cycling through the countryside. You’re in the golden triangle of Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Salon de Provence, which are all easily reached.

 

Cafés and restaurants

Dan B

Hilltop views – Michelin star

5-minute walk

Mon and Tues- closed
Weds: 19:45 – 21.00
Thurs – Sun: 12:00 – 13:30 and 19:45 – 21:00

A wonderful place to have on your doorstep for special occasions. Views soar from the terrace over the hills and the food is sublime. Dan works with local and seasonal ingredients in highly original ways with surprising combinations of taste and texture. Each dish is a work of art so even the most devoted Epicurians will be delighted.

La Table de Rina

Italian – Seasonal 

15-minute walk

Mon and Tues- closed
Weds: 12:00 – 18:00
Thurs – Sat: 12:00 – 14:00 and 19:00 – 22:00
Sun: 12:00 – 18:00

Enjoy proper Italian dishes at this light and bright restaurant. Freshly prepared pasta, hearty sauces, salads, meats and fish – all are delicious and you can finish off with a large dollop of gelato. You definitely won’t leave hungry and there’s a good bustling, very Italian, atmosphere.

Le Bistrot Caire, Velaux

Traditional – All day

Carantec, 15-minute drive

Weds – closed
Mon, Tues, Thurs: 07:00 – 18:30
Fri: 07:00 – 23:00
Sat: 08:00 – 23:00
Fri: 08:00 – 15:30

Traditional French food at this lively café/restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and supper and sitting in the main town square, shaded by tall trees. Fabulous for a morning coffee and croissant while you do a spot of people-watching, a sociable lunch or a candle-lit dinner. They do a good children’s menu too.

 

Walks & Outdoor activities

Roucoulade to the aqueduct

Walking – Views – Countryside

From the door

Starting from the gite you’ll pass by the lovely old windmill and into the village. Behind the church take steps up to the sports field for magnificent views of the Etang de Berre – a huge water lagoon. Take the Chemin St Honorat straight ahead to see the mighty Aqueduc de Roquefavour, the largest aqueduct in the world, a dizzying 83 meters high and 375 meters long. This gentle, rewarding walk takes around 1.5 hours.

 

Cultural experiences

Aix-en-Provence

Town – Galleries – Cézanne

20-minute drive

The town of a thousand fountains is wonderful to explore. Lose yourselves in the town’s Provencal lanes, wander between the three main squares: La Rotonde, Place du Palais de Justice and Place de l’Hotel de Ville. Explore art galleries and museums, spend time in the magnificent Cathedrale St. Sauveur – a national monument. Learn more about Aix’s most famous citizen, Paul Cézanne and follow his art trail. To get the most out of your visit you should arrange a tour with a local – Fréderic Paul is an expert.

Chateau La Coste

Winery – Sculpture Park – Restaurants

45-minute drive

Mon – Sun: 10:00 – 17:00

A stunning 600-acre sculpture park, art destination and organic winery in Le Puy-SainteRéparade. The sculpture park contains art and architecture by Tadao Ando, Louise Bourgeois, Bob Dylan, Tracey Emin, André Fu and more. Wander at will through it all then choose between five different restaurants, perhaps the excellent Bistro La Terrasse.

 

Boulangeries, traiteurs and supermarkets

Marie Blachere or L’Orge

Local – Bakery – Pastries

Ventabren, 10-minute walk

Sun: closed
Mon – Sat: 06:00 – 20:00

You’ll feel very French wandering down to either one of these wonderful bakeries to collect your morning baguette, croissants or whatever delightful pastries and cakes catch your eye. Also pick up wonderful flans and tarts, or savoury pastries for picnics. Everything is so beautifully presented and the delicious baking smell as you walk in is enough to make you swoon.

L’atelier du primeur

Groceries – Butchers – Cheesemaker

Ventabren, 10-minute walk

Mon: 08:00 – 12:30
Tues – Sat: 08:00 – 21:00
Sun: 18:00 – 21:00

Discover a bountiful, overflowing display of the freshest fruit and vegetables from the local area, a tempting épicerie with a myriad of cold meats and sausages, pickles, olives and dried tomatoes. Visit the cheesemaker, a butcher of Corsican origin and an excellent fishmonger, all under one roof.

So.Bio

Organic – Local – Groceries

Ventabren, 10-minute walk

Mon – Sat: 09:00 – 19:30
Sun: 09:00 – 12:30

If you like everything you buy to be fully organic then head down to So.Bio, a bright and cheerful shop selling not only good organic vegetables, fruits, meat and cheeses but also teas, honey and dried goods. Their philosophy is to fill the shop with as much local produce as possible and always organic.

Emilie Cadeau

Personal Chef – Gourmet 

Some days you may not want to cook for yourselves, especially when you’re on holiday Emilie is a professional chef who can deliver gourmet baskets and boxes. She’s very much in demand so it’s a good idea to book the meals you want before your stay. She can bring a full lunch or dinner of several courses for 100 euros per person. A nice day off for the cook.

Markets

Aix-en-Provence Market

Local produce – Crafts – Flowers

20-minute drive

Mon – Sun: 08:00 – 13:00

In the heart of the city of water and art, the Aix-en-Provence market unfolds daily in the squares and alleyways. On Thursdays the magnificent flower market opens on the Place de l’Hotel de Ville: a festival of colours and scents where Provence comes into its own. You’ll also find local produce and craft specialities.

Velaux Market

Authentic – Informal – Cheeses

20-minute drive

Sat: 08:00 – 12:30

For a more intimate and authentic experience head to the Velaux Market. This village market offers a great selection of fresh produce, regional cheeses and local delicacies. It’s the perfect, relaxed sort of gathering where you can talk to the producers and leave with a basket full of goodness.

Lourmarin Market

Gourmet – Textiles – Crafts

45-minute drive

Fri: 07:30 – 13:00

Lourmarin is one of the most beautiful villages in the Luberon so it’s worth exploring for its own self. But on market day it is especially charming with spices, textiles, crafts and gourmet foods carefully displayed under the shade of the tall plane trees. A lovely day out.

 

Brocantes and ateliers

L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Antique shops – Galleries – Canals

60-minute drive

Nicknamed the ‘Venice of Provence’ thanks to its many canals, this delightful little town is renowned for its many antique dealers and vintage furniture shopsit’s a mecca for those who enjoy rummaging for second-hand furniture. You’ll find galleries, boutiques and markets specialising in antiques, art, mirrors, rugs and fine furniture. It’s a big market with over 300 stalls most weeks. Twice a year, at Easter and in August, the town hosts an international antiques fair which attracts dealers, collectors and bargain hunters from all over the world and you’ll find up to 500 stalls.

 

Vineyards and distilleries

Mas Bleu

Vineyard – Tastings – Tours

10-minute drive

Sun- Mon: closed
Tues- Sat: 09:00 – 12:00 and 15:00 – 18:30

At Mas Bleu, a family-run estate of vines and olive trees, working the land sustainably and passing that knowledge on to the next generation is a real passion. The vineyard and the olive grove are maintained with a great deal of care and love and the family enjoy sharing it – you will love the wine. Come to events, tastings and tours and enjoy the wonderful views.

Château Virant

Vineyards – Tours – Mountains

20-minute drive

Mon – Sat: 08:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 18:30
Sun: 08:30 – 12:00 and 14:30 – 18:30

Château Virant is named after the ancient rock château built into the nearby mountain side, locally known as the “Virant rock.” The Cheylan family likes to think of this rock as ‘the benevolent protector of the entire Château Virant.’ Come to taste, tour and buy. They also have a great selection of oils from the olive groves on the estate.

Château Calissane

Vineyard – Historic Site – Lakeside

22-minute drive

Sat – Tues: closed
Weds – Fri: 16:00 – 18:30

This magnificent estate covers more than 1,200 sunny hectares and sits on the banks of the Etang de Berre close to the Via Aurelia - once the main road linking Rome to Spain. There are still some remains of Roman villas on the estate and an amphora from the 1st century was discovered while ploughing. Come for a true taste of Provencal sunshine in the wines and olive oils.

 

Family activities

Le Ferme Velauxienne

Farm – Playground – Not-for-Profit

Velaux, 12-minute drive

Weds, sat, Sun: 10:30 – 17:00

The farm is a not-for-profit organisation with the educational aim of teaching the young (and old) more about rural life. It’s a lovely place for children and you can wander the 2.5 hectares saying hello to horses, ponies, donkeys, cows, goats, pigs, fallow deer, wild sheep, chickens, a llama and even a turtle. There’s also a little children’s playground to round off the fun

The Rocher Mistral

Castle – Performance – Leisure Park

25-minute drive

Fri – Sun: 10:30 – 18:00 (Check the website for additional opening hours during school holidays)

In the heart of the thousand-year-old castle of La Barben, the Rocher Mistral offers an extraordinary journey through time via shows and activities. Dramatic stunts, comedy, dance, sword fights, sound and light shows will amaze you. The shows take place during the evening too – quite an adventure. This will be particularly engaging for older children, even teenagers.

Nicki Surf

Surfing – Skateboarding – Cafe

24-minute drive

Weds, Sat, Sun 11:00 – 20:00
Thurs – Fri: 15:00 – 20:00 (Check the website for additional opening hours during school holidays)

Watery fun for all the family from 5 years old, a permanent outdoor wave open all year round – a cross between surfing, skateboarding and wakeboarding. There’s a wave mini club for little beginners and a bar serving cocktails, beers, hotdogs and pizzas for those who just want to watch.

 

Indoor activities

Fondation Vasarely

Museum – Optical art – Vasarely

Aix-en-Provence, 20-minute drive

Mon – Tues: closed
Weds- Sun: 10:30 – 17:00

Immerse yourself in optical and kinetic art at this unique venue dedicated to the visionary world of Victor Vasarely. This modern, emblematic building is home to monumental installations which play with light, shape and colour. A captivating day out even if its not raining.

Hotel de Caumont – Centre d’Art

Art centre – Classical art – Town house

Aix-en-Provence,20-minute drive

Mon – Sun: 10:00 – 18:00

This splendid 18th-century building in the heart of the town houses prestigious temporary exhibitions in a refined setting – perfect for lovers of classical art. There are beautiful formal gardens to wander at will and a chic café for lunch. For gloomy days it’s a boon, but it’s worth coming for its own sake.

Les Thermes Sextius

Spa – Wellness – Pool

Aix-en-Provence,20-minute drive

Sun: closed
Mon – Sun: 09:30 – 19:30

Enter your happy place in this ancient building with healing thermal waters. It’s the best place to soothe yourself after pounding the pavements and seeing the sights. Body treatments, massage, hammam and thermal water baths all take place in a serene and soothing setting. Booking in advance is essential.

 

Further afield

La Ciotat

Harbourside – Beach – Restaurants

60-minute drive

Stroll along the bustling harbour lined with bistros and lively terraces before settling on one of the sandy or pebble beaches. Sunbathe, swim, take a picnic, immerse yourself in French beach life. For the more adventurous there are creeks for snorkelling sessions. Have lunch in Le Seaquest restaurant which faces the sea and offers amazing shellfish platters or grilled whole fish. It’s a modern, friendly place.

Lourmarin

Village – Renaissance – Cafes

40-minute drive

In this gorgeous village you’ll find cobbled streets, ancient houses and small shady squares – the essence of Provencal. The Chateau is an architectural gem from the Renaissance period and well worth a visit. Have lunch at the Café Gaby – a village institution serving simple but tasty food using local produce. Sit out on the terrace and breathe in the village atmosphere while eating a typical regional dish.