Escape to the countryside anytime your heart desires to enjoy this gorgeous Provençal villa, surrounded by the famous Côtes de Provence wineries.
Nestled in the heart of over one hectare of landscaped gardens, this spacious single level villa offers amazing views over the countryside and boasts a number of enticing features, including:
Infinity pool surrounded by a terrace
A vast living room with fireplace and doors opening onto the terrace
A tv room & a sun-filled family room or parent’s retreat (currently in use as a music studio)
A fully equipped kitchen adjacent to a large butler’s kitchen/utility room
Four bedrooms
A spacious partly-covered outdoor entertaining area with summer kitchen
A large guesthouse with bathroom
The property is located within a few kilometres of the medieval village of Flayosc and 15 minutes of the more bustling city of Draguignan.
The villa was built in the mid-80s and extended in 1999 by a platinum-award winning artist who was captivated by the property’s charm, spaciousness and serenity.
Want to know more about this private sale? Get in touch with Nico at nico@lion-stone.com
Visit the website here: https://www.lion-stone.com/villa-flayosc/ Photos of Villa in Provence, click on picture to enlarge…
Monaco’s doctors, nurses and pharmacists are taking over the responsibility of testing the population for Covid-19 antibodies as the government continues to monitor the virus’ presence in the Principality.
Initiated by the Monaco government, the mass coronavirus screening campaign was launched on 19th May at the Grimaldi Forum and Espace Leo Ferré for Monegasques, residents and employees. At the end of three rounds of targeted testing, around 36,000 people had taken advantage of the free, volunteer-based campaign. The mass testing initiative was stopped on Tuesday 14th July, but it doesn’t spell the end of the programme entirely.
In order to continue monitoring the population for Covid-19, general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists have been asked to carry out the rapid blood tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. This new approach took effect on Wednesday 15th July.
According to the government, these medical professionals have received training from the Monaco Red Cross, while positive cases will be followed up by the Health Action Department.
The tests will no longer be free, however they are available for a small fee of €10 plus charges by the nurse or pharmacist, capped at €15, or a doctor’s consultation fee.
Just when you thought the award winning, three-Michelin star restaurant Le Louis XV had reached its pinnacle, it goes and offers something new and exciting for its privileged guests.
It was the perfect evening to launch the new pop-up terrace of Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris. The warm glow of an early evening sun glistening off of a bustling new Casino Square, the hum of contentment radiating from the Café de Paris, a crescent of supercars lining the legendary Casino … for the first time in a long time, it felt like Monte Carlo was whole again.
This evening, we have been invited to experience something special. The Louis XV restaurant, famous for its gilded interior and terrace with compelling views, is cleverly offering extra space for guests this Covid year.
The terrace of the Salle Empire, normally reserved for events hosted in the glamorous ballroom, is now available to guests of the three Michelin-starred restaurant, exclusively for the summer.
It is the perfect setting for our evening, which begins theatrically with an array of seasoned morsels of seafood steamed a la table upon a bed of hot rocks.
The narrative continues to unfold with a delightful blue lobster in chilled melon broth and hints of lemongrass and ginger. This is perfectly paired with the pear and citrus aromas of a Côtes de Provence Clarendon white – a refreshing ascent for a five-course meal on this warm summer’s night.
The full flavours of a Provençal garden shine through on the second course – the chef’s interpretation of a vegetable minestrone, celebrating the spectacular simplicity of summer vegetables and the punch of crushed basil.
To follow, perhaps my favourite dish and wine of the night – Mediterranean bass coupled with a pop of sea cucumber, a silky purslane puree, sweet summer tomato, and a deliciously rich jus. The wine: a crisp and clean Chassagne-Montrachet white.
By this stage, my palate and appetite are both full and undeniably content, but it would be rude of me not to indulge in the fourth course of the evening: Guinea fowl from les Landes with baby girolles and potato foam. Its richness is cleverly matched with a 2004 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru red.
It is now that we are introduced to Head Chef Dominique Lory. The quietly spoken Frenchman has worked his way through the ranks of Alain Ducasse restaurants since 1998, taking full reign of Le Louis XV in 2013 and wholeheartedly embracing the long-standing philosophy of this world-famous institution: Mediterranean cuisine that is generous, simple and sincere. Restaurant Director Michel Lang and Head Chef Dominique Lory
He is accompanied by Restaurant Director Michel Lang who orchestrates an impeccable service to the delight of a very demanding clientele. His dedication to Alain Ducasse and Le Louis XV for more than 27 years now is reflected in a staff who knows how to deliver the very best of French service with just the right amount of warmth to create a truly magical experience.
To end our menu this evening (although it is never really the end, is it?) is the famous Le Louis XV soufflé served with a creamy lemon thyme ice cream and a granita-laced panna cotta. A fruity Sauternes-Barsac from Château Coutet rounds out the degustation.
Finally, a bright green herb garden is wheeled to the table and we are invited to choose our infusion, freshly picked for our tea, accompanied by a selection of rich dark chocolates and homemade candies.
It is a fine end to what can only be described as an extraordinary evening, in an exceptional setting, with impeccable service and a cuisine that celebrates everything about the Mediterranean.
The fact that even more summer guests can now enjoy this privilege with the exhilarating atmosphere of the new Casino Square is simply genius. See below for a full gallery of the evening, click on the pictures to enlarge…
Princess Charlene has begun training for her Foundation’s latest challenge: a 180-kilometre water bike crossing from Corsica to Monaco.
After sending out a teaser on social media last week, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation this week revealed the remarkable endeavour, titled ‘The crossing: Calvi-Monaco water bike challenge’.
The event will take place over two days on 12th and 13th September and will see athletes travelling from Calvi to Monaco by water bike, all competing for the fastest crossing time.
The event is designed to raise water safety awareness as well as to alert the public to the various programmes run by the Foundation.
Leaving from the port of Calvi, two teams of four internationally known athletes will take turns at sea for almost 24 hours over a distance of 180 kilometres. The final leg will see the participants arrive at the Yacht Club of Monaco on 13th September.
The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation is highly active in a variety of water safety programmes which have been implemented around the globe. The Learn to Swim and Water Safety for the Prevention of Drowning have been wildly successful and have not only taught disadvantaged children to swim, but they have saved countless lives.
The Sport and Education programmes have focused on children’s well-being through sport. The programmes have touched the lives of more than 730,000 people in 34 countries.
The exciting art initiative Urban Painting Around the World returns for its fourth year, only this time with a change of venue.
In what has become an anticipated summer event, Urban Painting Around the World (UPAW) is coming back to Monaco from 18th to 20th July. This year, rather than holding court in its traditional locale on the promenade of the port, the event will take place in the square in front of the iconic Oceanographic Museum.
Due to space and health restrictions, this year’s UPAW will feature six, rather than the usual 10, artists including talent from France, Italy and Switzerland.
Parisian Dave Baranes and Italy’s Dario Vella are back after wowing crowds at last year’s show with chimpanzees, tigers and panthers. Jazi from Switzerland, whose creations included turtles, an octopus and a fish with a plastic-wrapped head, has also come back after a three year hiatus.
There are two new faces in Pheno from France and the Swiss artist Ashpe, who also designs sunglasses for Chanel and Fendi.
This year’s theme, naturally sea related, is ‘Free Mediterranean, a sea without plastic, overfishing, pollution or illegal fishing’. The pieces will be sold by silent auction this year, for health and safety reasons. This means that interested parties will place their pertinent contact information on a paper along with the name of the desired work and their bid. The winning bidder will then be contacted with instructions on where to pick up their new piece of art.
UPAW is the brainchild of Alberto Colman who had the idea to bring together street artists to show the public what street art can be, as well as to promote environmental issues.
All proceeds will benefit the Prince Albert II Foundation, who will in turn be supporting the Be Med project.
The Ballets de Monte Carlo has announced its return to the stage for the 2020-21 season with an amazing line-up of works by the ballet’s own Jean-Christophe Maillot.
The season kicks off from 15th to 17th October when the ballet is set to recreate two of Maillot’s iconic ballets – Altro Canto and Vers un Pays Sage.
For the holidays, the Grimaldi Forum will welcome the ballet between 11th December and 3rd January for choreographed fireworks displays. Additionally, from 11th to 13th December the company will perform Dov’è la Luna and Maillot’s latest work, Opus 60.
In the new year, crowds will be delighted by the Monte Carlo Ballet’s take on old favourites Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet and LAC, a reimagining of Swan Lake.
Dancers will be accompanied by the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Igor Dronov and Kazuki Yamada.
Tickets are already on sale online and box office sales for Grimaldi Forum will start 22nd August. The ticket office in the atrium of the Casino du Monte Carlo will open on 1st September. For more information, go to the ballet’s website at www.balletsdemontecarlo.com
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