holiday

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Climb every mountain - Mont Ventoux

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Climb every mountain - Mont Ventoux

Being situated in the Mont Ventoux UNESCO World Heritage Site means the mountain looms large in La Verriere’s outlook. Standing separately from anything nearly as high around it, Mont Ventoux is called the ‘Giant of Provence’ and is credited in some circles as being part of the start of the Renaissance era and by most people as an incredibly hard stretch of the Tour de France. Seeing this majestic and infamously windy mountain every day made us curious about it so here are some of the most interesting things about it:

A Magical Christmas in Provence

A Magical Christmas in Provence

As you can imagine by the altitude of our location, Christmas at La Verrière is beautifully snowy, cosy and magical. It’s the season for truffle hunting and skiing but there are also fascinating and absolutely adorable Christmas traditions in Provence that we recommend looking out for. The Christmas period in this region stretches from 4th December to 2nd February which helps to make a stay in Provence in the winter so special. Here are some Christmas highlights…

It’s a Vine Life – Come and Stay with Us and ‘Harvest’ your wine knowledge

It’s a Vine Life – Come and Stay with Us and ‘Harvest’ your wine knowledge

Visitors have the opportunity to experience the whole winemaking journey here at La Verriere. Harvest is of course an extra special time of the year in the vineyard and the winery, and guests are able to have a unique insight into viticulture and winemaking - quite literally from the grape to the glass. There are a variety of wine-related activities and workshops on offer at La Verriere throughout the year, catering for all levels of wine enthusiasts from novice to collector.

The Vendange (Wine Harvest)

It’s vital that the utmost care is taken to preserve the precious juice of our grapes so that we can turn it into our award-winning wine, so all our grapes are picked by hand and sorted by hand on a vibrating sorting table. Visitors can come and observe the harvest and be part of the incredible atmosphere at this time of year. We can also organise bespoke educational programmes around the harvest too.

A Stay that’s Provençal but definitely not Provincial

A Stay that’s Provençal but definitely not Provincial

Imagining a medieval priory as being somewhat basic in what it is has to offer is entirely understandable. But La Verriere is far from basic. Tucked away on the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a large part of the charm of this whole house hire is its idyllic seclusion. But rather than being a slightly provincial or ‘shabby chic’ place to stay, La Verriere oozes with eco-luxury accommodation and provides guests with a ‘medieval meets modern’ taste of Provence - from the beautiful setting, to the gastronomic organic and locally sourced food, to the biodynamic wines produced from the estate’s ancient vineyards.

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Why Sustainability Doesn’t Need to be Utilitarian (Even in a Priory)

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Why Sustainability Doesn’t Need to be Utilitarian (Even in a Priory)

Sustainability is sometimes associated with living simply and austerely. This is not the case at La Verrière.

Our goal from the start has been to preserve the integrity and history of the abandoned medieval estate and its prehistoric terroir, while enhancing its exceptional character with sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices - in the priory, in the vineyard and in the winery. Since we began renovating the property in the 1990s, we have worked hard to restore and protect the delicate ecosystem that existed long before the Templars farmed the land in the 9th century. We are located high up in a mountain saddle within the heart of the Mt Ventoux UNESCO Biosphere Reserve completely isolated, with no neighbours or contaminants, creating a perfect laboratory for pioneering practices that forge new thinking about caring for our surrounding nature, our planet and our health.

Why are UNESCO Heritage Sites so Special?

Why are UNESCO Heritage Sites so Special?

‘To be included on the World Heritage List, sites must be of outstanding universal value’

That makes sites with this designation very special indeed. Whether they are areas of amazing natural beauty or profound cultural significance, these sites are some of the most visited in the world and include Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall of China, the Roman Colosseum, the Acropolis of Athens and Stonehenge. So being able to have the exclusive use of La Verrière, a 9th-century medieval priory situated in the heart of a UNESCO world heritage site, is a unique and wonderful experience.

La Verrière, Provence – How Whole House Hire Became a Thing

La Verrière, Provence – How Whole House Hire Became a Thing

Discerning travellers are increasingly moving away from traditional 5* hotel accommodation in favour of hiring extremely high-end houses for their trips. Travel giant AirBnB responded to this change in trends by launching a service called AirBnB Luxe, extending their traditional ‘low cost’ accommodation by offering exceptional, luxury, properties to hire. AirBnB co-founder, Brian Chesky explained this decision: “Today’s luxury traveller is craving more than just high-end accommodations; they seek transformation and experiences that leave them feeling more connected to each other and to their destination.” Here are just some of the reasons people are choosing ‘whole house hire’.