Maison Elia is a near-perfect rental property in the heart of the Luberon: spacious and well-appointed, and perfectly situated in both the village of Goult and in Provence overall.
The house itself is spacious and nicely decorated, with a large dining room, kitchen, and living room on the ground floor, and 4 spacious bedrooms on the ground and upper floors; as well as a piano, ping pong table, TV and other activities. But the real selling points are the lovely backyard, with an elevated deck, paved patio, and in-ground pool that is a lush and private oasis after a morning in the bustling markets, perfect for lounging in the sun or cooling off in the pool; and the 3rd floor terrace overlooking the Luberon valley and Mont Ventoux in the distance, which is the ideal setting to steal away to read in peace, or enjoy a kir royale at dusk.
The house sits just a block or so from the village square, within easy walking distance of the grocery store, bakery, butcher, cafe, 4-5 excellent restaurants, and a host of other shops and attractions in Goult, but far enough away that the noise and bustle of the town is barely noticeable (especially on nights when there are town events).
Goult is also ideally situated for exploring all that Provence has to offer. It is within 10-20 minutes of many of the most popular villages to visit, including Gordes, Menerbes, Bonnieux, and Roussillon, and is within an hour of many others, including Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Apt, and Avignon. Marseille is less than 90 minutes, and Montpellier is a couple hours, among many others. The town itself is a wonderful place to stay: it's not quite as pretty or spectacular as say, Gordes or Menerbes, and so doesn't draw the same volume of visitors; but it is still a beautiful, ancient village, and so offers the best of both worlds.
The only blemishes on an otherwise perfect property are aging dishwasher and washing machines, and a lack of a drying machine (though clothes air dry rapidly in the dry provence air); and a lack of reserved parking (though there are plenty of spots within a block). We've stayed twice, and on both occasions the owner, Beatrice, has been responsive and helpful, both leading up to our stay (helping to secure dinner reservations, giving advice, etc.) , and in helping to troubleshoot problems while we were there (for example, a clogged drain in the shower was fixed within a day).
We love Goult and we love Maison Elia, and we hope you will too!