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Le Mas de Potelières
Potelières, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Le Mas de Potelières
Potelières, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
A Large Family Home Nestled in a Small Village
This lovely farmhouse in the heart of the Cévennes was the antidote to noise and bustle that its owners, a city-dwelling creative editor and her artist husband, needed. A return to the place of his childhood, it's a bright, airy family home surrounded in nature, with luminous stones and a gentle ambience, a place to enjoy the simple life and good company. It's their hideaway to unwind in and make art. Then, in the spring and summer, they open it up to guests.
This villa for rent in France is a generous space with six bedrooms, one of which sleeps five kids on bunks. It also has a decadently large round pool, deck chairs under olive and mulberry trees, an outdoor dining room with barbecue, and a tennis court, making it the ideal escape for a family – or families.
What's really appealing here, however, is the ambience, the soft light filtered through gauzy curtains, the exposed stone walls, the time-worn steps, the cooling paved floor, and the gentle cream palette framed by powder blues. Interiors are characterful, with a range of antique and simple wood furnishings, eclectic objects found on world travels, vibrantly patterned textiles, and crisp white linens.
There are two suites, both with their own bathrooms. Each has light blinds that allow the morning sunshine to filter through, and one has a terrace with views of the opulent 14th-century Château de Potelières next door. The three double bedrooms have solid shutters that close out the daylight, and they share a shower room. The dormitory has five bunk beds and a shower room with a view of the castle. All bedrooms are air conditioned.
Visit our Stories section for an interview with the owner.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Massage services and facials using local organic products, as well as manicures and pedicures, are available but must be booked in advance. There is a tennis court in the grounds, so bring rackets and balls if you have them. The baker passes each morning in a truck, selling fresh bread and pastries.
AROUND
This villa for rent in France is located in Potelières in the Gard. It's a small village between Ardèche and Cévennes, 25 minutes from Uzès and Barjac, and one hour from Nîmes and Avignon.
Its owners provide an extensive list of activities that are great for the whole family, but here's a sample of what they recommend. Try your hand at petanque on one of two courts in the village, one behind the town hall and the other next to the restaurant La Fontaine du Mas. Take a picnic to the banks of the Cèze, 20 minutes' walk from the house. Head to market in town every Thursday morning for great local produce, or venture farther afield to Saint Ambroix (7km away) on Tuesday mornings.
There are countless beautiful villages in the Gard worth visiting, but the owners particularly recommend Barjac, Lussan, and Uzès. Make sure to visit the Bambouseraie en Cévennes. Considered one of France’s most beautiful botanical gardens, it is home to more than 1,000 varieties of bamboo, as well as other trees and plants.
LOCATION
Potelières, Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon, France. Nearest airport: Montpellier Méditerranée (111km). Avignon and Nîmes TGV stations and airports are one hour away.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Spring and summer.
