Le Mas de Potelières

A Large Family Home Nestled in a Small Village

This lovely farmhouse in the heart of the Cévennes 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. 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.

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. 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