The house

We welcome You to the heart of Provence, between the Sainte Victoire mountain and the Mount Aurélien. Defend Vieux, is a arfmhouse dating from 16th and 17th centuries, which offers magnificent views of the hills and A.O.P. vineyards of Sainte Victoire.

The story of a dream house

We arrived at Le Deffend vieux in 1999 and opened our first bed and breakfast here in 2011. Ten years of dreams! The fruit of our dreams…

Ten years of work too…

In a place that was inhabited before us, we were astonished to see that there were still earthen floors on the first floor, window openings closed with oiled paper, and two ploughshares in the barns…

The little hands of the masons, the occasional sorcerer’s apprentice, a lot of elbow grease and a bit of imagination helped us to make progress, to learn more and more and, year in, year out, to renovate this farmhouse, without rushing it, slowly but surely, using ecological materials if possible, wood, cork, hemp, lime… Wood heating and solar hot water.

And it’s still going strong today. We’ve just finished making our wooden shutters.

Relaxation and rejuvenation in a setting full of character

Brightened up by the watercolours and pastels of Thérèse Bovy, our house promises relaxation and rejuvenation. Unpretentious, our three accommodation units have been designed to make your stay as pleasant as possible.


Of course they are practical and comfortable, with the option of preparing a meal on the premises: kitchenette and lounge, each with its own private bathroom,

but above all, simple, warm and charming.


In keeping with Provence, our accommodation extends into private gardens with shade, a swimming pool, a vegetable garden and direct access to the forest.

« S'il est un lieu de méditation propre à faire réviser l'échelle moderne des valeurs, c'est ici. »

Jean Giono, Provence