Mas/Bastide in Alpilles/Provence, Fontvieille
Exceptional Estate
in Idyllic Location
For Sale — €2,650,000
SUMMARY
Set in the beautiful Provençal countryside at the foot of the Alpilles, Mas Julian is an exceptional private estate combining historic character, privacy, generous accommodation and beautifully landscaped grounds.
The property comprises approximately 300 m² of accommodation (including a principal house, an independent guest house and a separate studio or Mazet), together with a 50 m² garage, set within approximately 6,300 m² of mature, park-like grounds.
For the past ten years, Mas Julian has also been successfully operated as a holiday rental, attracting an international clientele and generating established rental income (annual revenues approaching €100,000 in recent years). A new owner could therefore continue the existing rental operation or simply enjoy the property as a private Provençal home.
LOCATION
An Exceptional Location in the Heart of Provence
Set in the countryside to the south of the Alpilles, Mas Julian enjoys an elevated and particularly peaceful position surrounded by olive groves and open Provençal countryside. It offers views above surrounding olive trees plantations towards the South West -with Arles and Abbaye de Montmajour in distance- and allows to watch the sunsets above the Camargue, which creates the most special light, made famous by Van Gogh and many other painters and photographers who have come to the Arles region for this very reason.
The rear garden leads directly towards the Alpilles Regional Natural Park, placing the property immediately alongside one of the most celebrated natural landscapes in Provence. Yet despite its private rural setting, Mas Julian is only around five minutes from the year-round village of Fontvieille.
Fontvieille provides everything needed for everyday life, including several restaurants and cafés, bakeries, shops, a weekly market and a local cinema. It offers the convenience of a genuine Provençal village while the major attractions of the region are all within easy reach.
Mas Julian is ideally positioned within the celebrated area between Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Maussane-les-Alpilles and Arles.
Les Baux-de-Provence, approximately five minutes away, is one of the region's most spectacular historic villages. Nearby are Carrières de Lumières, the vast underground former limestone quarries now renowned for their immersive art exhibitions, together with some of the area's celebrated restaurants and estates.
Maussane-les-Alpilles and Paradou are approximately ten minutes away, offering excellent restaurants, cafés and traditional Provençal village life. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, around 15 minutes away, provides a more sophisticated mix of restaurants, galleries, boutiques and its famous weekly market.
Around 15–20 minutes away, Arles offers an entirely different dimension. Its extraordinary Roman heritage, including the famous amphitheatre, combines with a vibrant contemporary cultural scene and its enduring association with Vincent van Gogh. The city is also home to the internationally renowned Rencontres d'Arles, one of the world's leading photography festivals.
The surrounding countryside provides exceptional opportunities for walking, cycling and exploring, while the Camargue and Mediterranean coast are readily accessible by car. The beaches are approximately 50 minutes away.
The property is also exceptionally well connected for an international owner. Avignon TGV station is approximately 20–25 minutes away, providing high-speed rail connections to Paris and other major French cities, while Marseille Provence Airport is approximately 45–50 minutes away.
The Luberon, another of Provence's most celebrated landscapes, is approximately 45 minutes away, with Aix-en-Provence, the Camargue and the Mediterranean coast also readily accessible.
The surrounding olive groves are closely associated with Vincent van Gogh's time in Provence in 1888, when the landscapes around Arles and the Alpilles provided inspiration for some of his most celebrated works.
The result is a particularly rare combination: the privacy and tranquillity of a Provençal country estate, immediate access to the Alpilles and its villages, and excellent connections to the wider region and beyond.
HISTORY
A House with a Remarkable History
The immediate surroundings of the property are inseparable from the history of art. The land borders directly the olive groves of Mas de Laudun.
It was around this neighboring property that Vincent van Gogh painted a large part of his works during 1888. In the autumn of that same year, the painter also installed his mother and his sister there during his famous Arlesian period, taking advantage of this unique light that still bathes the Mas Julian house today.
The house has a singular cosmopolitan history. For nearly forty years, it belonged to the family of the Countess of Rovisanda. Subsequently, the farmhouse became a haven for prominent figures in finance, passing from the hands of a renowned Parisian banker to those of a London-based financier.
Romantic anecdotes are part of the place's identity. In 1999, an American entrepreneur, visiting the region for a birthday, fell so deeply in love with the property that he decided to buy it for his wife for a million dollars. More recently, the grand living room hosted a surprise marriage proposal that marked the history of this English family on holiday.
THE MAIN HOUSE
A Traditional Provençal Home
Down the private drive, hidden among fields of olive trees, sits Mas Julian. The approach immediately establishes the character of the property: a traditional Provençal farmhouse, turned into a small Bastide, surrounded by mature gardens and countryside.
The house was transformed and renovated in the 1960s, while retaining its traditional character. Its south-facing orientation provides natural light throughout the day, while the position offers shelter from the Mistral winds.
The principal house extends to approximately 250 m² and combines generous reception spaces with four bedrooms and a high level of flexibility.
The entrance hall features an impressive original fireplace and provides access to both the staircase and elevator.
The principal living room has a fireplace, high ceilings, exposed beams and French doors opening towards the gardens. A second living room or study benefits from expansive Orangerie-style doors, bringing natural light into the room from morning through the afternoon.
The dining room accommodates up to 14 guests and opens onto a magnificent south-facing terrace approximately 25 metres long, creating an exceptional setting for outdoor dining and entertaining.
The ground floor also includes a kitchen, a second kitchen and laundry room, and a separate WC. The second kitchen provides access towards the breakfast terrace between the main house and guest house.
Upstairs, a hallway leads to four bedrooms:
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Two bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom
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A principal bedroom with its own covered south-east-facing terrace
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A fourth bedroom arranged as an independent apartment, with its own external entrance, terrace access and bathroom
All bedrooms are air-conditioned.
THE GARDENS & POOL
A Mature Provençal Garden
The estate extends over approximately 6,300 m² of mature, beautifully landscaped grounds.
Around 70 olive trees, magnificent cypresses, five ancient plane trees and established rose gardens create a sense of privacy and tranquillity throughout the property.
The gardens are arranged into several distinct areas, each with its own character.
The principal garden surrounds the house and leads across a small bridge over the Canal des Alpilles towards the lower olive grove. This part of the grounds includes a lily pond and ornamental water well.
A separate gated area provides access to the swimming pool and its surrounding terrace.
The Swimming Pool
The 12 × 6 metre heated swimming pool is set within its own landscaped garden and enjoys sunshine throughout the day.
The pool terrace includes an old round stone table with curved stone benches, providing a memorable setting for long Provençal lunches and relaxed afternoons beside the pool.
The pool area is separated from the main garden by a child-protection fence and gate.
The separate Mazet garden is accessed from the guest house by a garden staircase and is enclosed by a wall, creating an additional private and secluded area.
THE GUEST HOUSE
Independent Accommodation
The independent guest house provides approximately 60 m² of additional accommodation and is connected to the main house by a covered passage.
It comprises a high-ceilinged living room, hallway, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen.
The principal bedroom has a king-size bed and ensuite bathroom. The second bedroom has bunk beds and a single bed, making it particularly suitable for children, together with its own independent bathroom.
The kitchen opens onto a separate breakfast terrace.
The guest house provides an excellent degree of independence for visiting family and friends, while remaining closely connected to the principal house.
THE STUDIO / MAZET
A Private Provençal Retreat
Recently renovated, the 16 m² Mazet provides a charming and secluded additional space within the estate.
The studio includes a living area overlooking the rose and olive garden, a kitchenette, shower room and sunny morning terrace.
Set slightly apart from the main grounds and reached via a garden staircase, the Mazet offers an additional level of privacy and tranquillity, making it particularly suited to a couple or individual guest.
Property Details
7 Bedrooms (sleeps 15)
Main House (Mas Julian): 4 airconditioned bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Guest House (Mas Julie): 2 airconditioned bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Studio House: 1 bedroom with ensuite shower room and kitchenette.
Spaces
Main House (Mas Julian)
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Four airconditioned bedrooms and four bath/shower rooms
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Main living room with fireplace
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Two separate kitchens
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Dining room - seating for 14 people
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Hallway/salon with period fireplace
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Orangery/office, with Grand piano
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Elevator
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Beautiful terrace outside main bedroom, with sun cover and seating area overlooking olive grove
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Terrace dining in front of main house, three tables up to 20 people
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Summer living room on terrace – plancha BBQ
Guest House (Mas Julie)
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Two bedrooms and two bathrooms
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Living room
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Kitchen
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Terrace breakfast/dining between small and main house
Studio House
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Bedroom
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Kitchenette
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Shower room
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Garden breakfast dining
Main garden
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5 mature plane trees and 70 olive trees
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Fig and quince trees
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Several impressive cypress trees
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Manicured lawns
Spaces continued
Olive tree garden
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Sprinkler system unit
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Old stone well
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Small stone basin with plants
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Canal
Pool / pool house
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Private, heated, secluded outdoor pool:
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Separate level from the house, fenced in and security gate
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Pool is a 12 x 6 meters concrete pool, 10 feet depth on one side
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Heated pool
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Pool has sun from 8am to 6pm in the Summer
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Pool terrace
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Pool house with pool machinery and own well
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Separate lawn pool garden
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Round period stone table with benches
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Outdoor play area
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Trampoline
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Automatic sprinkler system
Garage
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Large double garage – 50m2
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External woodshed area, for winter chimney fires
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Stone built pizza oven
Entry gate
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Automatic metal entry gate
Other
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Fibre Internet
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Wifi in two main houses
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Air conditioning in all bedroom areas, kitchens,
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Oil boiler heating
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Two large wood burning fireplaces
Nearby activities
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Museums
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Swimming
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Hiking in offseason
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Cycling
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Mountain biking
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Golf (8 courses, including Domaine de Manville in Mausanne)
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Winery tours, many chateaux
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Birdwatching in Camargue
Gallery
An Established Rental Business
Mas Julian has been successfully operated as a holiday rental for ten years, attracting an international clientele and generating a consistent and growing stream of rental income.
The property has welcomed approximately 100 separate bookings through a combination of VRBO, Airbnb and private bookings, with a strong level of repeat business.
Rental revenues have grown significantly over the past decade:
Year Gross revenue
2017 €25,000
2018 €27,440
2019 €29,524
2020 €52,313
2021 €56,728
2022 €74,890
2023 €90,060
2024 €98,028
2025 €94,003
2026 (YTD) €75,000
2026 (Fore.) €100,000
Average annual gross revenue, 2023–2026: approximately €89,000.
The rental operation has historically covered the property's normal annual running costs, while allowing the owners to retain personal use of the house. Gardener and housekeeper available.
An International Clientele
Guests have travelled from across Europe and internationally, with many returning to Mas Julian for subsequent stays.
The property has also attracted specialist professional use, including three consecutive years of bookings by Belgian live television directors filming in the region.
This established rental history provides a new owner with the option to continue the existing operation, combine private use with rental income, or simply enjoy Mas Julian as a private Provençal residence.
A Home Loved by Its Guests
“Mas Julian is an extraordinary place. Tucked away in a beautifully landscaped garden and set among olive orchards at the foot of the Alpilles, the villa is both elegant and comfortable.”
— Matthew
“The location was ideal, being rural and yet close to amenities.”
“The rooms were spacious and the ensuites were fantastic, the living areas were luxurious… the pool was amazing and the gardens extensive and mature.”
— Lorraine
"Perfect house in perfect location"
“A great location to everything you want to see in Provence. Plenty of room, beautiful house and surrounding property.”
— Wendy
“Magnificent Mas at the foot of the Alpilles, perfectly equipped, with a splendid swimming pool below the house.”
— Clea
“We would have happily stayed for three months! A charming and distinctive mas, surrounded by a beautiful garden with a beautiful swimming pool.”
— Ingrid
The Opportunity
€2,650,000
Asking price for the property, excluding furniture and household inventory.
Mas Julian is offered for sale fully furnished and equipped, including furniture, linen, tableware and other items required for its continued use as a private residence or holiday rental.
The furniture and inventory are available to the purchaser by separate agreement. Details and pricing are available upon request.
Private Enquiries
For further information, including the property's rental history, financial information and arrangements for a private viewing, please contact:
Email: info@masjulianprovence.com
Telephone: +447785 307 595
Location
Exact location available upon request at info@masjulianprovence.com