Property Details

Le Vieux Mas is in the centre of the south of France, due north of Montpellier and due west of Avignon. It is in the Cévennes, a beautiful but relatively little known part of southern France. Lying west of Provence and north of the Mediterranean, it is a land of chestnut groves, clear streams, mountain ridges and valleys nestling between the Massif Central and the Mediterranean garrigues.

The house is in a tiny hamlet called St Michel de Dèze le Vieux, about 6km south of a village called Collet de Dèze, which is on the N106 roughly halfway between Alès and Florac. The hamlet has fewer than half a dozen houses, and Le Vieux Mas is set on a hillside in about an acre of garden, meadow and woodland and so feels remote from all hustle and bustle. It is at the end of a tiny lane, so there is no passing traffic and no artificial light at night, and it is almost totally quiet. Collet de Dèze is a busy village with a post office, a couple of bars and restaurants, bakers and various other shops. Alès, about 40 minutes away, has banks, hypermarkets and all the facilities of a busy town.

Le Vieux Mas is on the edge of the Cévennes National Park, which is famous for its flowers, its wildlife and its fascinating and turbulent human history recounted in Robert Louis Sevenson's "Travels with a donkey in the Cévennes." The area is a walker's paradise and the swimming in the local river is wonderful. The area is popular for all outdoor activities such as birdwatching (the Camargue is just 90 minutes away), cycling, horseriding and canoeing, for which equipment can easily be hired. There are also some very fine caves and prehistoric sites to explore.

For a contrast, it is also close to some of France's most interesting and historic towns and sites, and the coast. The towns of Arles, Avignon, Montpellier and Nîmes, as well as the Pont du Gard, the Mediterranean beaches and the Camargue are all between 1 and 2 hours' drive. More locally, there are many fine walks, rivers and lakes for swimming, and a variety of restaurants, many with very reasonable prices.

About our property (sleeps 6/8)

Le Vieux Mas is a 200 year old farmhouse which has been sympathetically modernised, with a mixture of antique and modern furniture. The house is organised in such a way that couples on their own, families and groups of friends can all immediately feel comfortable and at home. The main rooms are all of well above average size and include the following downstairs accommodation:

A kitchen/dining room with antique country furniture. These are well equipped, with a new full-sized cooker, a large fridge/freezer, electric kettle, coffee maker, lots of cooking utensils, and plenty of china, glasses etc. There is a washing machine and tumble dryer in a cellar below. The cellar also houses a barbecue and some chairs for the garden.

A wisteria-shaded terrace with beautiful views over the surrounding hills is linked to the kitchen/dining room. This has outdoor table and chairs and is splendid for meals at any time of day.

A living room with exposed chestnut beams and a wood burning stove and fireplace. There is a digital TV in this room with most freeview UK channels, stereo and text, and a DVD player. There is also a hi-fi with a tape and CD player. Bookshelves have a wide range of fiction and there are also plenty of local maps and guides. One of the sofas in this room converts to a double bed.

Bedroom 1,with a double bed with a good quality mattress, and also a spare single bed. This room has an en-suite bathroom with modern fittings, including a shower and bidet but not a bath.

Upstairs there is:

Bedroom 2, a newly modernised bedroom with a new double bed with a good quality mattress. This room is open into the chestnut roof beams and has two walls with the stonework exposed. Three corners of the room have tiny fireplaces and chimneys: silk was made here in the 19th century and these were to keep the silk worms warm.

A large, bright new bathroom with both a shower and a bath.

Bedroom 3 with two new single beds and a folding Z bed. This is the room our children use.

There are plenty of duvets, pillow etc but, unless you have requested otherwise, you should provide your own linen and towels. If you prefer to rent these, they are available at £6 per person per week if requested in advance. A cot and other items for small children are available on request.

A telephone/answering machine takes all incoming calls and can also be used to make calls in the local area.

Local Area Details

The area is ideal for all sorts of outdoor activities: walking, swimming, nature, birdwatching, , pony-trekking, mountain-biking, canoeing rafting, gliding etc. You can even hire a donkey and emulate Robert Louis Stevensons "Travels with a donkey in the Cévennes". It is also possible, of course, just to laze around the cool of the house or the garden or meadow.

The Cévennes has many interesting small villages, and a fascinating and turbulent history. There is much to explore and many local museums to help.

There are some charming country restaurants nearby, as well as some more up-market establishments, all offering very good value.

Further afield, the Gorges du Tarn, Pont do Gard, Arles, Avignon, Nimes, the Camargue and the Mediterranean beaches are all easy day trips.

Additional Information

This property caters for disabled people

Property Features

* Pets are allowed
* Children are allowed

Contact Information

Name:	Alan Cranston
Telephone:	+44-0207-354496
Alt Telephone:	--
Fax:	--
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