Le Fer A Cheval - Charming Holiday House in the Heart of Sablet, Provence

Le Fer à Cheval (the horseshoe) is a beautifully renovated house in a former stable, restored with taste and charm, in the heart of the medieval village of Sablet in Provence.
It has been fitted with all the modern facilities you would expect to find whilst retaining its authentic provençal character.

The house has been furnished in a traditional style, with many vintage pieces sourced by the owners at local antique markets such as the famous Isle sur la Sorgue. It is fitted throughout with high quality fixtures and appliances (Bosch dishwasher and washing machine, large Smeg fridge) as well as wireless broadband, dvd player with a range of dvds, a telephone with free calls to European landlines, Hi-Fi in both the living room and the dining room.

There are two generous double bedrooms:
The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom with a large walk-in shower, toilet and washbasin. It is furnished with a comfortable queen-sized bed. There is also a sitting corner with a vintage French velvet armchair, cosy persian rug, and a discreet built-in speaker system for your mp3/cd player - perfect for a private moment of relaxation.

The second bedroom, which can be used as a twin, has an antique writing bureau and a lovely view over the vineyards from the bed! It has its own bathroom next door, which features a large, sleek walk-in shower with a tiled bench to sit on while you scrub, and a separate toilet.

A hairdryer is supplied in each bedroom, as well as lots of fluffy towels!

The bright, sunny living room has a huge, comfy corner sofa, bookshelves with plenty of holiday reading, a TV, DVD player with lots of DVDs, a Hi-Fi. The windows look out over the church gardens, with a lovely view of the clock tower.

There is a pretty, south-facing terrace, which opens off the living room, and is planted with herbs and lavender. It has gorgeous views over the gardens to the medieval church. There is a table and chairs as well as sun-loungers, a large parasol and a Weber gas-fired barbecue.

The dining room boasts a large, rustic old oak table and benches, which comfortably sit eight people. Next to the table you will find bookshelves with a collection of restaurant guides and books of local interest for you to browse.

One of the owners is a chef, so the bright, spacious kitchen contains all the high quality utensils you may need, as well as a collection of classic cookery books in both French and English. 

There is a separate WC /utility room with a washing machine.

About the Village

La Tour des Anges is tucked away in a quiet spot on the western side of the village, but all the bustle of the shops and amenities of the village are within a few paces, such as the bakers, butcher, mini-market, grocer, wine boutique, newsagent, chemist, stationer, florist, hairdressers as well as a post office and a bank with cashpoint. An excellent fresh fish stall and a fresh goats cheese maker visit the village on Thursday mornings.

In the main square, there is a traditional village bar, the perfect place to watch the world go by, or read the paper over your morning coffee and croissant. The bar also serves excellent 'Prix Fixe' lunches.There is also a relaxed family restaurant/pizzeria, "Les Remparts", with a large terrace and beautiful views.

Less than five minutes' walk from the house, near the town hall, or 'Mairie', is a gastronomic restaurant, "Les Abeilles". A little further, you will also find "Les Genêts", a simple restaurant housed in a family-run winery.

Within a few minutes' drive, there are many other restaurants - from simple establishments serving locally produced, traditional provençal dishes, to the Michelin starred "Le Grand Pré", for special occasions.

The main square also hosts the tourist office, or 'Syndicat d'Initiative', where you can find all the information you need about the village and about touring the local area, including detailed maps of marked trails straight from the village into the famous 'Dentelles de Montmirail' hills, suitable for both walkers and cyclists, and ranging from a gentle stroll to a six-hour hike.

The tourist office is also a showcase for the local independent wine-makers, who have made the village famous, and you can taste and buy their wines here.

Not to be missed is a visit to some of the local wineries, which are dotted all around Sablet and its outskirts, all of them happy to show you around and let you sample their wares. Many of them host events, from jazz nights to provençal picnics in the vines at sunset.

Sablet and Nearby

All year round there are events and festivals:

The 'Fête Votive', which takes place when the grapes have ripened and are nearly ready to be harvested, and lends the village a carnival atmosphere, with tables set up in the village square for an 'aïoli' dinner, followed by dancing.
There are frequent evening events at 'Le Gravillas', the village wine co-operative, with trestle tables put out for lengthy dinners in the shade of the trees, and plenty of wine flowing!
Live music and a simple fixed menu dinner at the bar usually takes place on Fridays, and draws young and old alike to the village square.
The 'Fête Votive', which takes place when the grapes have ripened and are nearly ready to be harvested, and lends the village a carnival atmosphere, with tables set up in the village square for an 'aïoli' dinner, followed by dancing.

Walking, Climbing, Cycling - There are marked trails straight from the village into the famous 'Dentelles de Montmirail' hills, suitable for both walkers and cyclists, and ranging from a gentle stroll to a six-hour hike.

There is an equestrian centre in nearby Gigondas (three kilometres away) from which you can go trekking with ponies or horses through vineyards and shady wooded trails.

There is an open-air public pool 10 minutes' drive away in the local town of Vaison-la-Romaine, open in the summer.The nearest beaches on the Mediterranean are approximately an hour's drive. There is a covered pool in Orange, 20 minutes' drive and open all the year round.

Wine Tasting - Sablet is in the heart of the Rhône Valley. The village has an excellent wine co-operative, Le Gravillas, as well as many world-renowned independant wine-makers. The first stop is the 'Syndicat d'Initiative' or Tourist Office, which sells the wines of many of the independent growers and can give details of where the different wineries are.
The Domaine de Piaugier, one of the village's top wineries, offers picnics in the vines, with views over the village, with a tasting of their range of wines accompanied by a traditional provençal meal - a really special event! 
Three kilometers to the south of Sablet lies the world famous wine village of Gigondas - well worth a visit, both for its wines and for its pretty streets. Vacqueyras, another well known name in Côtes du Rhone, is another three kilometers beyond. Beaumes de Venise, famous for its sweet Muscat wines, but also producing some very good reds, is 10 minutes' drive away, and Châteauneuf du Pape approximately 15 minutes' drive. All the wineries welcome visitors and you can taste before you buy.

Sablet's location provides a perfect base for exploring Provence as there are places to visit in all directions!