This 19th-century mas, with its newly refinished stucco walls accented by pale green shutters, is the perfect image of Provence.  It is all the more appealing because it is on the fringe of one of the Alpilles' most picturesque village, Maussane-les-Alpilles.  Maussane, home to the South of France's most celebrated olive oil mill, is a brief drive from Les Baux-de-Provence and only 10 km from the best-known town of the region, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.

The mas, originally a bergerie, is constructed of stone and has 246 m2 (2,647 sq. ft.) of living space on two levels.  The mechanical and central heating (fuel oil) systems are all in excellent mechanical condition.   

The grounds are entered by a long corridor of cypress hedges that leads from a remote-controlled iron gate to the parking area, where there is a two-car garage as well as exterior room for several cars.  A wide terrace extends along the entire facade of the south-facing house.  The terrace is shaded by an ancient mulberry tree and looks out on an extensive lawn and landscaped garden that surround the oversize 7 m X 15 m (23' X 49') swimming pool with a chemical-free filtration system.  The pool house is equipped with a shower, WC and changing area.  Cypress trees and tall shrubs protect the property from the view of passersby.       

French doors open from the terrace into the living and dining room; there is an additional door into the kitchen.  The public rooms on the ground floor have white stone floors, exposed-beam ceilings, a stone fireplace and other architectural features that contribute to a warm, Provençal ambiance. 

Two rooms open off the living room - a cozy library with built-in bookshelves, and a room with French doors onto the terrace that can be used as an office or sitting room. Next to the library is a guest lavatory.  The kitchen, adjacent to the dining room, has a full array of appliances and is appointed in a Provençal style.

On the upper floor are four bedrooms, all with hardwood floors.  Three bedrooms open off the upstairs landing, while the fourth, the master suite, can be entered either through the third bedroom or by a private stairway from the kitchen area.  All three bathrooms are fitted with modern fixtures, and all are exceptionally large, beautifully tiled and well illuminated with overhead recessed lighting.  The bedrooms receive abundant natural light, and there is a fine view of the Alpilles from the spacious master bathroom.

The property is on a municipal water system maintained by the village.  It also has a well, and has the right to take water from a small canal that runs along the rear of the property.

Mas des Dauphins has an established record as an income-producing rental property.  The sales price also includes a non-adjoining and non-constructible 1.2-hectare (3-acre) terrain nearby in the Alpilles.

Maussane-les-Alpilles lies within the famous Golden Triangle, as it is sometimes called in real estate circles, that includes Saint-Rémy on the north, Maussane on the south, Eygalières on the east, and Le Paradou on the west.

Property values in the Golden Triangle have climbed steadily in the last decade, and show no signs of abating.  Part of the sector's price buoyancy is attributable to its easy access (35 minutes) to the TGV station at Avignon, where several trains depart daily for the 2-hours-and-40-minute trip to Paris.  Perhaps a more important factor is the Golden Triangle's abundance of excellent restaurants, among them the Michelin-starred Bistro d'Eygalières in Eygalières, and the famed L'Ousteau de Beaumanière in Les Baux.