On a Luberon hillside, a bright, spacious village house with great views. | House in St. Michel L'Observatoire

Perched on a hillside below a 12th church, this renovated house is inside the original medieval walls that surrounded the village. It has unspoiled views of the surrounding countryside with lavender fields, olive groves and in the distance, the Alps. The skies were considered so clear and the 360 views so unique, the French government built the national Observatory here in the 1930s.
The large terrace has a choice of places to relax with some ice cold rose while soaking up the sun. The outdoor table sits 6 and is a wonderful place to dine alfresco while stargazing and listening to the nightingales.
The spacious house is simply furnished with a variety of family heirlooms and flea market finds. It's filled with light and is very quiet- not always the case with village houses.
The upper floor has 2 bedrooms and a large bathroom with a shower big enough for 2. One bedroom has twin beds. The other has a queen. Each room has different views of the surrounding countryside- roses from the small bedroom, the Alps in the distant from the upper bedroom and also from the bathroom.
The ground floor has a fully equipped kitchen, large dining area and a pretty room sitting room with a comfortable new couch. 3 doors open out on to the terrace so cooling breezes drift in during the heat of the day. Since the house is in an elevated position, it's always a few degrees cooler here than the nearby market town of Forcalquier. This floor also has a little courtyard that leads to a separate laundry room.
The lower floor is a vast stone room with vaulted ceilings that originally housed farm animals at night and during the winter. It dates from the 18th century. In the corner there is still the old well with fresh water. It's covered and locked so no curious people can fall in!
This space has a queen bed and a separate full bathroom. When it's hot outside, this is a cool area to sit and relax.
Outside there is a private parking space under a big chestnut tree making village life less complicated. The house does not have swimming pool but there is a large lake nearby in Manosque for swimming and sailing A little river is minutes away but we haven't had much rain this year yet so it might be shallow. The sea is in Marseille, about an easy hour and half away.
Basically this is an unspoiled, unpretentious part of the Luberon where the atmosphere is relaxed and easy going. It's an undiscovered area so there are far few tourists than in other places.
It's easy to rent a bike and explore local routes through fields and hills- some of them steep and very challenging. The village has several stables for trekking through the countryside and there are guided tours for people who'd rather travel on their own legs. Nor do you have to be earthbound - there's a company that does early morning balloon rides with a champagne breakfast.
Most Sundays there are brocantes selling antiques and bric- a -brac. Prices are very negotiable so you can bring a treasure home without spending a fortune. There are many pretty villages close by including Lurs, Vacheres and Reillanne. The last village has a great Sunday market with cheeses, flowers, fruit , vegetables plus a cafe that overlooks the market and does a delicious lunch. Full of locals with their dogs and children, it's so French it feels like you're in an Impressionist painting.
The nearby monastery of Ganagobie has mosaics dating back to the Romans. Perched right on top of a hill, it's a wonderful sacred space that holds silent masses at midday. Surrounding the village there are many kinds of birds and butterflies, including a great variety of them on the road to Viens- another beautiful village. with the restaurant Le Jardin.
Further afield is the lake of St. Croix, a stunning jewel of turquoise surrounded by mountains and the Gorges du Verdon- the French equivalent to the Grand Canyon or at least the French think it is. Here you can swim, windsurf, sail or just soak up the sun on one of the beaches. Take the time to visit Moustier if you're in the area. There a 2 giant cliffs that the crusaders hung huge star between in the Middle Ages.
This is also a very musical area. During the summer here there are many concerts in the surrounding churches- the Catherdal in Forcalquier, the Abbey of Salagon, Simiane la Rotonde, Dauphin and probably the most spectacular of all the village of Vachere where the side of the church has been cut away so you can see a stunning view while listening to music. This architectural masterpiece was financed by a couple from Belgium who fell in love with the area.
At the Observatory and Astronomy Center, on the outskirts of St. Michel, there are regular talks and demonstrations through out the summer. And of course the clear summer skies mean you can study the stars any evening on your own.
There is also the Chateau de Sauvan, a privately owned house that does regular tours. Rumor has it, the original owner was a great friend of Marie Antoinette and offered to take her place at the guillotine.
In about an hour you can reach Aix-en-Provence a lively town with museums, opera, theater, great shopping, restaurants and the joyful hustle and bustle of a University town. There are many authentic, breathtaking buildings to marvel at and cooling fountains to relax by.
Marseille is about 30 minutes further south and is a great port and the second largest city in France. As you enter Marseille, you'll see a church poised over the bay. Try visiting it. It only dates from the 1800s but there many unique paintings and model ships to commemorate sea voyages. There are, of course, stunning views over the Mediterranean sea. Great beaches give you a chance to surf, swim, sail and snooze. There are many fresh fish restaurants including one on a tiny port in Marseille. I'm happy to advise on these!

On a Luberon hillside, a bright, spacious village house with great views is located in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire. On a Luberon hillside, a bright, spacious village house with great views provides accommodation, featuring Child Friendly, among other amenities. This House features Child Friendly, to make your stay a comfortable one.

On a Luberon hillside, a bright, spacious village house with great views has 3 Bedrooms , 3 Bathrooms, and max occupancy of 6 people. The minimum rental for this property is 1 nights, but this can change depending on the season you plan on staying. Previous guests have given good rated it, and VRBO labeled it a top-rated House because of the excellent services rendered by the owner or manager of this House, and has consistently provided great experiences for their guests. Most families or guests that use it recommend it to their friends and some of them are repeat guests. House has a friendly neighborhood, and the Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire has interesting places to visit. If you want to learn more about the House in Saint-Michel-l'Observatoire, such as places to visit and things to do nearby, you can check below to learn more.