eat

move

think

Shaun Francis, Medcan Chair and CEO is the author of EAT MOVE THINK, an essential guide to living a longer, more active, and more fulfilled life—full of answers to your most pressing health and wellness questions.

Honest, straightforward, and accessible, Eat, Move, Think will empower and educate you, showing you the simple, achievable steps you can take to transform your health and your life.

For part of the year Le Mas de Granet is the family home to Shaun, his wife Stacy and their three boys.

Their experience living amongst the French, experts at disconnecting and appreciating the simple things in life led them to implement changes to the way they live as a family. They decided to share this 'art de vivre' with their guests by creating the EAT MOVE THINK RETREAT where you too can enjoy quality time with family and friends - just one of those simple things in life that make us instantly happier.

Truly experience 'l'art de vivre', the art of living, French style in idyllic Provence, where you’ll rest, recharge and awaken your senses. Whether your aim is to experience a physical challenge, to clear your mind, or both, our aim is to curate a bespoke retreat that will revitalise your life and the way you live it.

We'll work with you to design the wellness experience of a lifetime. We'll tailor your fitness and wellness programme to your personal goals and share our favourite cultural itineraries, unlocking the secrets of Provence.

Combining luxury, wellness, fitness, culture and relaxation, this is truly the vacation we wanted and now it's yours!

Get a fresh perspective on how to live to be your best self.

Working with your personal fitness trainer, we will design a schedule for your week that targets your personal fitness goals.

As well as taking part in dynamic fitness classes you might like to hike the Calanques in Cassis, stopping for a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters away from the Summer crowds or put on your yellow jersey and retrace some of the route of Tour de France. Tennis and golf facilities are also just five minutes away.

We believe stepping out of the gym and reconnecting with nature can give lasting changes to your mind, body and soul.

Discover secret creeks, islands and caves of the Calanques de Marseille from a kayak, or climb Mont St. Victoire and be rewarded by stunning views of the Provencal countryside all the way to the Alps. Take to the trees in an adrenaline zip-line adventure. If thrills are what you are seeking we can build these experiences into your personal itinerary. Stay within your capabilities or put them to the test. It's up to you!

We promise to give you an experience that takes you beyond the guidebook, while staying in shape along the way!

We have a deep love affair with Provence and can't wait to share it with you. We'll work with you to design an itinerary that takes you on the road less travelled to discover villages steeped in history, coastlines dripping with allure, vibrant markets, wine tours and cultural highlights of the area.

Get lost in the winding streets of the 'Perched Villages' and stop for a morning 'noisette' (French for hazelnut - a little coffee with a dash of hot milk) with the locals in a sunny square. Lose yourself in the fabulous antique emporiums of L'Isle sur la Sorgue or hike in the ochre landscape of Roussillon and cool off afterwards with a homemade ice cream.

You can even lose yourself in the grounds of Le Mas de Granet. Take a glass of wine or a freshly blended superfood smoothie, find a quiet, shady tree and pick up your pen or paint brush...

Hand yourself over to be tended to by our team of experts. Enjoy a relaxing massage in the shade while listening to the sound of the cicadas and breathing in the scent of fragrant lavender. We can also arrange yoga, meditation and pilates classes in the beautiful landscaped mediterranean gardens. In the evening watch the sunset from the heated outdoor pool or star gaze from the hot tub with a glass of champagne.

Picasso once said, "Creativity must find you at work." but we would argue that in this fast-paced world it's maybe more likely to find you at rest?

Le Mas de Granet is a truly special place where you will feel yourself letting go and relaxing the minute you step into the grounds. Where better to kickstart your wellbeing?

We believe every time you eat is an opportunity to nourish yourself, so your personal Executive Chef is on hand to create three delicious, balanced meals a day. You can indulge in healthy, guilt-free meals and snacks that will fuel your body for all of the challenging activities that you will partake in during the day. Your chef will be happy for you to accompany him to the local markets and suppliers where he sources only the freshest, local seasonal ingredients. You can even cook together so you can take home his secrets of how to turn nutritious and cleansing ingredients into a gourmet meal!

A highlight of every day is 'l'apéro', French sundowners, on the poolside terrace with breathtaking views of the sun setting over the olive groves. This is followed by a well earned gourmet dinner, complimented by the finest local wines served al fresco under the plane trees.

Your wellness retreat has been curated for clients who desire utmost privacy and personalisation. Your sanctuary during your stay will be Le Mas de Granet, a beautiful villa, located in Aix-en-Provence providing comfortable luxury for 14 guests. The six bedroom, five bathroom property is set against a backdrop of olive trees, lavender and plenty of quiet places to relax and reflect. The property's clever architectural design incorporates these views and gardens seamlessly. The house retains elements of its ancient construction while embracing contemporary design, making the most of the glorious natural light that made this part of the world so desirable for artists. This rare light is yours for the taking, so why not put up your easel and take a painting class? Unlock creative skills you maybe never knew you had!

Reconnect as a family! The relaxed lifestyle of the French revolves around family time. Here you'll live like the locals do and spend time bonding over lazy family lunches that stretch long into the afternoon. Collect your own eggs from our back yard chickens and together turn them into delicious French crêpes or make pizzas as a family with our chef - sometimes the youngest can come up with the most inventive and delicious topping!

Set in the heart of the Alpilles regional country park, Les Baux-de-Provence is a listed heritage site that has won titles such as “one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France”. Its small squares, well-shaded terraces, narrow streets and shops are typical of the area but what makes Les Baux de Provence unique is the Carrières de Lumières, a former quarry that has become an art installation. Famous paintings are projected onto the walls and floors, set to music providing an immersive and memorable cultural experience - not to mention it is nice and cool on a hot Summers day!

For a special lunch we love La Cabro D'or a short drive away and you can easily combine a visit to Les Baux with market day in Saint Rémy (Wednesday).

Hike the stunning Ochre Trail, the Provençal Colorado, where Provence's famous early painters sourced their pigments. Cool down afterwards with an artisan ice-cream in a shady square in this idyllic village and you'll see why so many artists were seduced by its charm. Jean Cocteau, Carzou, Buffet, Ambrogiani, to name a few. Lose yourself in the winding streets of ochre-red houses with their brightly coloured shutters and browse the many little art galleries. Thursday is market day

Roussillon-en-Provence

A little further on is the beautiful perched village of Gordes. With a little advance warning we can book a guided tour for you or you can just wander the charming streets independently. Either way the beauty of this village won't disappoint. Market day is Tuesday.

Every Friday there is a fantastic market in Lourmarin in the Southern Luberon, nestled within vineyards and olive trees. You can find everything there…..clothing, linens, jewellery, as well as the usual delicious seasonal produce. The town itself is known for its many art galleries and tasteful boutiques. Needless to say, there is no shortage of purchasing opportunities! lourmarin-market

Albert Camus, the famous French author lived, wrote and is in fact buried there. If you have time to explore, you might also visit the 15^th/16^th century chateau-de-lourmarin 

If you aren't going back to Le Mas for lunch we recommend numero9-lourmarin A small but carefully selected seasonal menu, tucked away in a tiny square. Booking essential as it quickly fills up with locals!

The villages of Bonnieux and Menerbes (made famous by Peter Mayle, author of 'A Year in Provence' are also lovely and can be easily incorporated into a tour from Lourmarin.

Another must-see market is every Wednesday in the buzzing Saint Rémy-de-Provence. Almost all the streets of the village are packed with busy market stalls. Pop into the Florame factory in the centre of town to learn about essential oil extraction and stock up on the purest Provençal lavender products to take home. On the village outskirts is the 12th Century monastery Saint-Paul-de-Mausole , where Van Gogh famously found sanctuary and where he painted many of his most famous works. There is a reconstruction of his room and the monastery itself evokes such peace.

Back at le Mas you can enjoy a relaxing lavender massage while you play over the events of the day.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famous for its Sunday market and Provence's antiques capital. A little green paradise on the river Sorgue where hidden gems can still be found. Today, moss-covered water wheels still push water along the canals of this peaceful, inland town, known as the Venice of Provence. Part of the fun is to get lost in one of the many antique emporiums but if you prefer we can provide you with an expert Antiques Guide to help you negotiate. The river location has a cooling effect even on the busiest market day. All the dealers stop for lunch, so you might as well join them in one of their local haunts lecarredherbes 

Right on the doorstep of Le Mas de Granet is the elegant spa town of Aix en Provence.

Follow in Cézanne's footsteps and people-watch from his old haunt, Café des Deux Garçons on the tree-lined Cours Mirabeau and stroll through the old cobbled streets to his studio and gardens where he painted.

Visit the fine art collection of the Musée Granet or the beautifully restored Musée Caumont. Its manicured gardens and salons with walls painted to match their macaroons are a favourite spot for afternoon tea.

The town is full of very chic independent boutiques, if a little retail therapy is needed and don't miss the buzzing market on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Enter Avignon, the historic capital of Provence through a gate in the ancient city walls and wander the tangle of cobbled streets and architectural treasures. Take a tour of the Palais des Papes, rising sheer and powerful then take refuge in the very special Hotel la-mirande restaurant for a delicious lunch.

You can walk along the remains of the bridge made famous by the children's song but you can also get great views of it from the Jardin du Rocher des Doms. This public garden, on a hillside 30 metres above the Rhône, also has its own tiny Côtes du Rhône vineyard and a bar where you can sip its wines.

A tall screen of whispering bamboo envelops Club 55, the beach club created in the year of its name to provide refreshments to a film crew starring Brigitte Bardot. Over the years this French institution has managed to retain its authentic charm. Under a parasol next to the twinkling Mediterranean with your toes in the talcum powder sand, sipping rosé it is easy to see why the world's most famous celebrities have chosen it as their Summer safe-haven for all these years.

This short documentary about the history of this institution of the Côte d'Azur is a must-see before you go! Club55

“He who has seen Paris and who has not seen Cassis can say … I have seen nothing.” Frédéric Mistral (1830 – 1914), beloved Provençal poet and Nobel Prize laureate

Sir Winston Churchill learnt to paint here and Virginia Woolf came here to write, so why not

unlock your creativity too?

Against the backdrop of the Cap Cannaille, a dramatic sea cliff topped by the Chateau de Cassis, pastel-coloured buildings of irregular heights are crammed together around the little harbour, and streets crisscross each other at nonsensical angles. Cassis today is still one of the most bohemian yet classiest resorts in Provence, with working fishing boats supplying the great seafood bistros and a twice-weekly market. The beaches can be busy with French families taking a dip after lunch but they are fun and the waters are crystal clear . Try the traditional Bouillabaise - a fish stew prepared table-side - the broth is replenished as many times as you wish. Our favourite spot is chezgilbert, right on the quayside. They are members of the Marseille Bouillabaise Charter so you are guaranteed it's the real thing!

It's well worth getting up early and taking the 20 minute passenger ferry from Hyères to this relatively unknown island, the Ile de Porquerolles. Its Plage de Notre Dame was recently voted France's finest beach and it's easy to see why. Turquoise sea, white sand and pine trees work together beautifully, creating a scene reminiscent of a distant desert island. Rent bikes in the village (bike trailers available for little ones) and spend the day touring this idyllic, car-free island under the shade of the pine forest, cycling through vineyards and stopping off at little beaches and creeks for a cool down. Your chef can pack you a picnic or eat lunch in the pretty village square. A truly memorable day trip that even the youngest family members will love.

If you prefer an overnight stay when the day-trippers leave and the island becomes a virtually private haven we recommend Le Mas de Langoustier and its wonderful restaurant.

This hike to the  calanques en-vau takes you into the Calanques national park, next to the vibrant seaside town of Cassis. This experience epitomises what we love about the South of France. It is simply perfect in its absolute simplicity. The rawness, tranquility, beauty, and a healthy way of living all make this so compelling.

You can also explore the Calanques by sea kayak or stand up paddle.

Pack a delicious seasonal picnic lunch to eat at one of the tranquil creeks or opt to have lunch at one of our favourite restaurants brasserieducorton the more casual sister restaurant to the 2 Michelin star Villa Madie.

Mont Sainte Victoire, a mountain ridge (1,011 meters high) presides over Aix en Provence. It is beautiful. So beautiful in fact Paul Cezanne was inspired to paint it over 60 times. No one is completely sure why it became such an obsession but he offers a clue in a letter to his son in 1906,

“ The same subject seen from a different angle offers subject for study of the most powerful interest and so varied that I think I could occupy myself for months without changing place, by turning now more to the right, now more to the left.”

We can arrange a guide for you who can select from multiple trails, depending on your group's ability but the reward of whichever route you choose is the stunning view, as far as the snow-capped Alps on a clear day. Catch your breath at the summit and marvel at the unforgettable panorama.

One of the most invigorating and peaceful ways to appreciate Marseille's stunning coastline is by kayak.

From Marseille's Pointe Rouge you will paddle on stable sit-on-top canoes alongside impressive sea cliffs, passing little working fishing ports and unspoiled calanques, accompanied by a guide.

Stop off for a dip in one of the deserted creeks away from the Summer crowds of the Med.  

Your personal trainer is also, like many of the French, passionate about cycling. Depending on your goals he can take you mountain biking along the forest trails of Bibemus where Cézanne put up his easel to paint his beloved Mont Saint Victoire or if road biking is more your thing you can retrace the tracks of Le Tour de France and explore the quiet villages and countryside around Le Mas de Granet from the saddle.

This is absolutely one of our favourite places to visit! Château La Coste is a wine domaine just a few miles north of Le Mas and houses an astonishing collection of contemporary sculpture and architecture. You can hike the undulating wooded trails, through the vines where the air is heady with pine and rosemary, and there are installations by Tracey Emin, Liam Gillick, Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Serra and Paul Matisse (grandson of Henri). There’s also Ai Weiwei’s path, Ruyi, inspired by the form of a Buddhist ceremonial sceptre that links two roads, one known to have been built by the Romans. Cool off with a tour of the wine cellars and a tasting of their excellent wines. What could be better? Wine, culture and exercise in one jaw-dropping spot! chateau-la-coste

A visit to Cezanne's studio is a very moving experience. Painstakingly preserved, the everyday objects made famous by his still life paintings sit side by side his brushes, palettes and artist's smock. Although sadly none of his original paintings are housed here it really does feel as if the artist himself has just stepped out for a stroll.

This beautifully restored 18th Century former private mansion in the historic centre of Aix houses a permanent collection of art plus some excellent temporary exhibitions. You can wander around the elegant quarters of the original owner that have been faithfully recreated and nibble macarons in the tea room fit for a princess. Caumont Centre d'art

This is a truly interesting and multi-faceted museum right on the Mediterranean Sea and within a short walking distance of the Old Port of Marseille. The displays are highly illuminating on the history of cultures and civilisations that touch the Mediterranean. There are fabulous views from the roof terrace restaurant.

After getting inspired by Cézanne's studio, Mont Saint Victoire, great art in the local museums and being immersed in the breathtaking Provençal vistas why not take the opportunity to embrace your creative side? We can arrange for a painting class with an English speaking local artist either at the property or in the surrounding countryside. This is also a great activity to enjoy together, as a family!

At Le Mas de Granet kids can roam freely around their own safe and secure wildlife haven. Track down the noisy cicadas, catch butterflies, climb trees, build dens and make wildflower posies to decorate the lunch table. These are all favourite activities of our kids who have embraced French life and its natural simplicity. Watch them change into free-range children where screens no longer have such an attraction!

We can arrange painting classes for kids and creative workshops for quiet time. Your children can grab a basket and harvest their own Provençal lavender from our gardens and create their own lavender scented sachets to take home as a souvenir of their holiday.

There are plenty of fun places for children to let off steam within around half an hour of the villa. Even older kids and adults love Indian forest a zipline adventure course in the shade of pine trees. The Village des Automates has an outside adventure playground with water play area as well as the somewhat surreal automated puppets that may scare some adults but the children love them - when we went we spotted Brad Pitt and Angelina here with their kids! Next door is an air conditioned indoor play centre for rainy or very hot days. Another hit with our kids is  Le bois des Lutins , an elf themed adventure park in a forest with rope swings, giant ball games, water play and tree houses.

Go horse riding in the Camargue, Provence's unspoiled Wild West where the cowboys (and girls!) will take you on their famous white horses to gallop on endless beaches or splash through marshlands where you can spot pink flamingoes! They can organise treks for little ones too, so it's a magical thing to do as a family. Here it really does feel as if time has stood still.

https://www.provenceweb.fr/13/promenade-rieges/uktrekking.htm

With a little prior notice we can arrange excellent English speaking childcare in case you want to work out, hike or just have some time as a couple knowing your little ones are being entertained. We can also arrange for one of our baby sitters to accompany you on day trips, so you can enjoy that extended lunch on the beach while she/he takes the kids for a swim!

One of the most famous wine regions in the world, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has no rival when it comes to producing world class red wines.

From the castle in the beautifully preserved medieval town, now home to various wine stores and tasting rooms you get amazing views over the rolling hills of the vineyards and neighbouring villages. There are many wineries that offer tours and tastings

 Domaine Pegau, Chateau de Beaucastel ,Chateau de beaurenard and Cave Saint Charles are just a few we recommend. If you decide not to come back for lunch to Le Mas, try Le Verger des Papes or la Mere Germaine both have lovely views.

From the very best rosé wines in the world to fabulous red wines using the exclusive Mourvèdre grape, and some bright refreshing white wines, the vineyards of the AOC Bandol have so much to offer both the newcomer to the world of wine and the serious connoisseur. Chateau de Pibarnon is one of our favourite places to taste this appellation and tour its theatrical amphitheatre of vines perched atop the highest part of Bandol, commanding sweeping vistas of the the Mediterranean Sea. 

Since purchasing the estate in 1975, Comte Henri de Saint-Victor and his son Eric have been producing some of the most seductively aromatic and nobly structured wines in all of Southern France. Tie this wine tasting in with an informal lunch on the sandy Anse de Renecros beach at Bandol or take the ferry to the little island Ile de Bendor and eat at the elegant restaurantlegrandlarge 

Another fabulous way to discover our favourite fishing village of Cassis is through the great wine estates that have earned it such an excellent reputation, especially for its light, delicious rosé. First stop, Ferme Blanche (AOC Cassis) and the highly rated Domaine Paternel (organic wines) where you can see the fabulous terroir with its extremely rich soil for yourself. After stopping for a fine dining experience at 2 Michelin starred La Villa Madie, or its less formal sister restaurant brasserieducorton, both with stunning views, get back onto the wine route to meet other passionate producers. Domaine du Bagnol and Clos Sainte Magdeleine both welcome visitors into their wine cellars. cassis-the-wine-route