Callas holiday farmhouse: Callas

We spent 2 wonderful weeks in this charming, old farmhouse in the midst of olive trees. Our kids (7 and 12 years old) loved the pool - and Pohm the dog. The shaded patio behind the house was our preferred place to sit for all meals. Even in the midday heat it was a very pleasant place to sit. The house is very well furnished and equipped, and staying there felt much more like a real (temporary) home then the usual cottages we have stayed in so far. Jenny is a very helpful and at the same time discreet landlady. We have already booked 2 weeks for 2010, however this time we will try the neighboring villa owned also by Jenny (hard to say which house is nicer…). The property is so spacious that we have not once seen nor heard the tenants of the villa in our 2 weeks in the farmhouse. Other neighbors are rarely seen or heard as well. It is a very quiet and relaxing place to stay. We enjoyed very much our day trips to the stunning Gorges du Verdon (we recommend Point Sublime) and incredibly blue Lac de Ste Croix. More often we went to the nearby Lac de St. Cassien to swim. Passing by the crowded paddleboat rentals, we found quiet places on the border of the lake all for ourselves. Swimming in both lakes was a fantastic experience because of the clear and warm water. One day we took the ferry from Ste Maxime to St. Tropez as recommended by Jenny, which was also a nice thing to do. The waterpark at St. Raphael is also recommendable (esp. for kids). We enjoyed taking a walk in the charming villages nearby, such as Callas, Bargemon and Seillans, also very recommendable are the Provencal markets that take place every other day in the nearby villages. After the recommendation of Jenny, we went to the celebration of the national holiday, July 14, in Draguignan, which allowed us to experience the most beautiful fireworks we have ever seen, in a very friendly and charming atmosphere. Another special experience we had been totally unaware of, was the tour de France to pass by on the main road just 2 minutes from the house on our first day, which Jenny also pointed out to us right after our arrival. Ahead of the cyclists drove the so called caravane, consisting of hundreds of vehicles: police, tour staff, TV stations, as well as many “fantasy vehicles” throwing giveaways to the crowds on both sides of the road. That was like carnival!
So, in total we experienced very special holidays in a very special place. And we look forward to returning next year!

We (4 adults - from Australia) stayed in the farmhouse for 1 week in July of this year. The peaceful environment provided a wonderful setting for a family reunion. The farmhouse was very clean, with mod-cons though rustic in nature. One of the best features about this property is it's owner Jenny. She was an incredibly friendly,genuine and helpful host, who did her utmost to ensure that we enjoyed our stay.
We did find the farmhouse to be a little isolated. Driving to the coast and tourist destinations, such as the Gorge du Verdon (210km round trip), took much longer than we anticipated. In part this was due to the fact that we are not used driving on such narrow roads and we normally drive on the other side of the road. These destinations were wonderful though and well worth the visit. There are also some great restaurants in nearby Callas and several of the other nearby medieval towns.


The one negative of our holiday was our experience when hiring a car at Nice airport. After a prolonged 2 hour wait for a pre paid car, we were charged extra for an upgrade which we did not ask for.

Many thanks, Jenny. I hope that one day our paths will cross again.
Monique.

First of all I would like to say thanks to Jenny for providing a wonderful holiday.

The farmhouse feels like it is the only place for miles while only being a short drive to a few local towns. The property has all the facilities you could wish for on a holiday without losing any of the traditional feel of staying in an old french farmhouse.
The property is clean and well maintained and has everything you need to enjoy your holiday, just stop off at the supermarket to get food and beer and your all set.
Ask Jenny for directions to get your wine thought, the local stuff is much cheaper and better quality than they seem to sell in the supermarket.

Jenny supplied us with a guide of attractions to see including maps, directions and timetables.
We did visited St. Rapheal for the beach and a wander round the shops. Draguignan for the local market.
Monaco by train for a day trip is well worth it, train tickets are cheap but its worth by your tickets the day before to check the times.
Antibes was also was also a great day out, we went to have a look round the port at all the yachts and ended up dancing in the streets until the early hours since we arrived during a music festival.

Eating out I can recommend the restaurant in the small village of Bagnols en foret, we ate outside on the balcony with stunning views. Just be careful how much you order my hot goats cheese salad starter could have fed a family of 4.
The local camp site also has a nice restaurant which is just a short walk away from the farmhouse, useful for giving the driver a rest.

There really is just too much available to do in a weeks holiday but Jenny is very helpfully with her recommendations.

All in all a wonderful holiday.
Weather was Beautiful, everything else is thanks to Jenny's wonderful help and the wonderful accommodation.