Win a villa holiday in Provence worth £4,000 with Oliver’s Travels
The clue
Today, my friend is firing on all cylinders. This is a new town for him — and the fact that a champion (mother: Carmen) was born and raised here has set his pulse racing. He wants to see as much of it — and the surrounding area — as possible.
I had proposed a different formula, one that included just a couple of leisurely visits. But we’re in Friend’s car, so he’s in charge. “The rule of thumb is this,” he explains. “No more than 40 minutes for each stop, including the drive.”
So it is that — as well as the town — we (briefly) see a village that was home to an alleged witch, another where a member of a famous wizarding trio grew up and — finally — a flamboyant country mansion.
Two miles south-southwest of the first-mentioned town’s centre, the mansion has starred in several films. But what interests Friend is a record set there over three nights, just over 20 years ago.
By now I’m a little carsick, as well as frustrated by the lack of time at each stop. So I ask Friend to drive me to a station in a second town, six miles north-northwest of the mansion. I’ll catch a train home from there. “Aw, come on!” he begs. “Let me entertain you with one last stop.”
Reluctantly, I agree. Ten minutes later we hit a tight country turn. It’s not exactly Mirabeau at Monaco, but Friend misjudges it all the same and ploughs into a hedge. “Where are you going?” he asks as I get out.
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“Let me tell you what my new rule of thumb is,” I say, checking for signs of injury . “From here on in I’m hitching.”
The questions
1. What is the name of the country mansion?
2. What is the name of the second town?
The prize
The winner and up to three guests will stay for seven nights, self-catering, at Villa Paulette in Provence. In the Luberon Regional Nature Park, this charming villa has commanding views of the surrounding countryside, as well as an open-plan living room, three double bedrooms, a gas barbecue, swimming pool and indoor fireplace. From here it’s a ten-minute walk to the neighbouring hilltop village, while a 15-minute drive will take you to the nearest vineyard. Beautiful Aix-en-Provence is nearby too.
Villa Paulette is one of many exceptional villas, châteaux and cottages on offer from Oliver’s Travels — each one hand-picked and reflecting 20 years of experience in the holiday rentals business. For details see oliverstravels.com.
The prize also includes return flights for four (to a total value of £200pp) from a big London or Manchester airport to Marseilles, as well as hire of an economy car. See thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i/ for full terms and conditions.
How to enter
Can’t see the competition form? Answer the questions and complete the entry form at thetimes.co.uk/travel/where-was-i by the end of Thursday, January 11. One entry per person. Full terms and conditions apply, and your information will be used in accordance with our privacy policy at newsprivacy.co.uk.
Last week’s prize
The answers are John and Lutterworth. Paul Butterfield from Kent wins a five-star spa break worth £1,360 at Seaham Hall on the Co Durham coast.
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