Bertrand Pommier
A few years ago, a young Belgian couple, sliding sport enthusiasts with an insatiable curiosity, stumbled across a one-hectare country property with a small Berber house at its heart.
It was love at first sight with what was to become their haven, only twenty kilometres from the white city of Essaouira, a coastal town in western Morocco formerly known as Mogador.
Extended and tastefully decorated by the owner using locally crafted materials that perfectly capture the charm of Morocco, Villa Baboucha offers the added, and appreciable, advantage of being sheltered from the persistent wind. It is designed for indoor and outdoor living in the heart of a magnificent forest of argan and olive trees.
Offering the ideal setting to relax in the sun by a heated sumptuous infinity pool covered with green mosaics from Fez, it feels like the magical oasis of our dreams, an invitation to step into a world where time stands still.
The generously sized villa can accommodate up to 15 people. The owner, Emilie Galoux, a professional interior designer, set out to create different atmospheres. The lounge with its orange tadelakt walls facing an open fire or the outdoor patio with access to the interior and exterior staircases are ideal places to unwind. Specialising in window dressings, cushions and sofas, she has succeeded in giving her home an original soul thanks to her choice of fabrics, colours and the most sophisticated materials. The furniture and decorative objects have also been tastefully selected and reflect the country’s ethnic traditions and history.
Winter dinners can be taken in the dining room with a large oak table at its centre, set on authentic tree trunks.
And for an intimate time-out, there are six charming and spacious bedrooms with high-end bedding, each with an en-suite bathroom, some with desks, dressing rooms and/or private terraces. A separate bungalow adjoins the swimming pool and has two bedrooms, one with an open fireplace, and direct access to the pool.
To ensure that every stay is unforgettable, the villa offers its guests high-end services.
A couple who live on site will bend over backwards to meet their needs and various special requests. She is the housekeeper and cook, ensuring the villa is spotless and concocting gourmet menus according to the guests’ wishes. He welcomes new arrivals, manages all the logistical details and maintains the property, including the swimming pool.
Additional services can be provided, such as grocery delivery, car and taxi reservations, the option of having a personal trainer on site, the services of a masseuse and hairdresser, and entertainment for a special evening with a local band, a fire juggler, dancers, and more. Baboucha is a place that exceeds all expectations and nothing is too much trouble to delight those lucky enough to discover it.
Bertrand Pommier
