Neptune’s Domain: An 18th-Century Provençal Paradise of Fountains & Vineyards

Step through the wrought-iron gates where time slows and the golden light of Provence spills across nine and a half hectares of enchanted parkland—a realm where Neptune himself presides over a 90-meter pool, his marble gaze watching over the rippling waters as if guarding the secrets of this 18th-century *bastide*. Here, between the whispering lime trees and the stately oaks that have stood sentinel for centuries, lies one of the most breathtaking pleasure residences in all of Provence, a mere twenty minutes from the elegant bustle of Aix-en-Provence’s Cours Mirabeau yet worlds away in its serene grandeur.

The estate unfolds like a symphony of stone and greenery: the main *bastide*, with its two noble wings, cradles over twenty luminous rooms—each a masterpiece of Provençal refinement—where original *tomettes* glow underfoot and tall windows frame vistas of vineyards rolling toward the horizon. At its heart, a reception hall of palatial proportions awaits, its soaring ceilings and gilded details ready to host two hundred guests for weddings that linger into star-strewn nights or galas where champagne flutes clink beneath the chandeliers. Beyond, a pavilion and a one-story farmhouse, its three bedrooms swathed in linen and lavender, offer intimate retreats for those who seek solitude amid the splendor.

The gardens are a living tapestry, woven with fountains and statues so exquisite they bear the distinction of *Monuments Historiques*—water dances in sunlit arcs, while stone gods and goddesses peek from beneath the dappled shade of chestnut groves. Three pools beckon: the magnificent centerpiece, where Neptune’s statue stands as a silent sovereign; a second, hidden like a jewel at the entrance, reflecting the avenue of plane trees; and a third, a secluded oasis with its own pool house, where the scent of rosemary drifts on the breeze and a *pétanque* court promises lazy afternoons of play.

Beneath the main hall, a labyrinth of cellars whispers of vintage treasures, their cool depths perfect for preserving the fruits of the surrounding vineyards. Every corner of this domain—from the terrace where breakfast is served beneath a canopy of wisteria to the hidden paths where cypress trees cast long shadows—embodies *l’art de vivre* in its most elevated form. A sanctuary for the connoisseur of beauty, it is equally a canvas for ambition: a private leisure estate, a haven for unforgettable events, or a *maison d’hôtes* where guests might wake to the song of cicadas and the promise of golden Provençal days.

And yet, for all its seclusion, the world remains tantalizingly close—thirty minutes to the TGV station of Aix-en-Provence, forty-five to the international allure of Marseille-Provence airport. Here, between the silver olive groves and the ancient stones, is a legacy waiting to be claimed: a place where history breathes, where every sunset paints the façade in hues of honey and rose, and where life, as it was always meant to be, unfolds in perfect harmony.