Ask anyone if they could live anywhere in the world and, without exception, at least one of their top three answers would be Provence. Life there exists in a fantasy of seafronts, vineyards and quaint honey-coloured villages but, for most, touched only by all-too-short holidays and a futile Google property search, swept aside by the dashing realisation that it’s already gone anyway; from Nimes to Nice, Provence’s perfect spots have all been swept up, and the tourists have taken over. Well, it was last time I went to St Tropez.
At least I thought so. The picture-perfect Provencal postcard exists, in the small town of Marseillan. No, not Marseilles, Marseillan. Located in the Occitanie region, on the shore of the Thau lagoon, and playing off a backdrop of vineyards, delightful villages and easy access to the region’s exquisite beaches, it’s an area referred to, by those that know it, as the ‘real‘ South of France.
Here, property developer and Marseilan native Miguel Espada, with his company Propriétés & Co, has partnered with LUX* Resorts and Hotels to create LUX* La Baraquette, Resort & Residences – an exclusive Mediterranean resort development within a unique coastal enclave in one of France’s most seductive destinations.
Opening in 2021, the joint venture will position the new resort – a hotel and residential offering – to create a fresh and unforgettable experience that merges traditional French flair with a relaxed and distinctly LUX* vibe.
In addition to the hotel, the resort offers 189 stylish branded residential units – villas, apartments, and suites – in a resort that boasts working vineyards, expansive pools and gardens, a central village square with unique shops, a wine academy and cellars, all in a car-free environment, not to mention all the facilities of the five star hotel itself, which will include innovative dining venues, an exclusive spa with signature treatments, indoor-outdoor fitness centre, lounge and bars.
To exemplify that quintessential Provence feel, award-winning designers Slow Life Architects are bringing together the colours, textures and mood of the Mediterranean, with the villas and apartments sensitively integrating a sense of community with local culture and the natural environment. ‘Light, spacious, natural, local’ are the four guiding principles for the design from the one bedroom garden suites to the exclusive five bedroom waterfront villas.
Speaking on this exciting new partnership, Paul Jones, CEO of LUX* Resorts & Hotels said, “It was love at first sight to discover the quaint and peaceful coastal town of Marseillan and its surroundings. The site of the resort being right on the water with only vineyards in between makes the whole environment unique.”
Properties at LUX* La Baraquette, Resort & Residences are set to be the rarest of real estate acquisition opportunities in the South of France, affording its residents full property management, low operating costs and hassle-free rental lettings. And with a raft of owners’ privileges, this is more than simply an investment, it’s an acquisition of a much sought-after lifestyle.
Wistful fantasies need no longer be just wishful thinking; I think Provence just went back to the top of my list of ‘des res’.
Villas and apartments at La Baraquette range from €275,000 to €1.6m. Waterfront villas are available from €3.6m. For more information, including details of residences, resort facilities and a host of tempting photographs, and to sign up for more information, visit www.la-baraquette.com.
