Haut Toupian near Goudargues , Gard

TV, DVD, videos, BBC TV, games, library, table tennis, BBQ, loungers/outside eating table, parasols

Fully equipped, oven, fridge, freezer, microwave/grill, dishwasher, double sink, food processor, toaster, electric kettle, full range of crockery and cutlery.

Six restaurants in Goudargues, many more within neighbourhood; full range of shops in Goudargues, plus Wednesday market. Canoeing, horseriding, tennis, hiking. Nimes, Avignon, Orange, Gorges de L'Ardeche, Arles, Cevennes all easy day trips.

Haut Toupian

Location

Our home in the South of France is in the heart of Cote du Rhone country, in the historic and beautiful Department du Gard. It sleeps nine people comfortably and has a swimming pool.

Built on a hillside, it has panoramic views over the beautiful Ceze valley; the river runs quarter of a mile from the house, through vineyards and lavender fields, and woods of pine and oak.

Avignon, Uzes, Nimes, Arles, Aix en Provence, the Cevennes and Luberon mountains, the Gorges de l’Ardeche, the Roman remains at Orange and Vaison la Romaine and the aquaduct at the Pont du Gard are all within an hour’s drive. The Camargue and the Mediterranean are under two hours away.

The house is completely private, with 4,000 square metres of terraced garden, orchard and forest rising up the Serre de Toupian behind.

The nearby charming village of Goudargues, crisscrossed by streams, has toutes commerces, a market on Wednesday, and a pizzaria. Bigger supermarkets and the full range of services are in Bagnols sur Ceze, fifteen minutes away, which also boasts an excellent art gallery. There are dozens of wine producers and many excellent restaurants close by.

There is canoeing, horseriding and tennis in the neighbourhood.

Ryanair operates daily flights to Nimes and Montpellier airports from Stansted/Luton. Buzz flies from Stansted to Marseilles. From June to September there is a direct service from Waterloo International to Avignon/return every Saturday. There are also frequent daily Eurostar/TGV services to both Avignon and Nimes.


The house

On the main floor a large dining room seating twelve with panoramic views leads into the very comfortable living room, which in turn opens into the library.

The kitchen is superbly equipped, including a dishwasher and microwave.

Two double bedrooms, toilet and bathroom (with bath/shower, bidet and washing machine) complete the main floor.

There are three further bedrooms. There is one double bedroom on the ground floor with an en suite bathroom. There are two further bedrooms on the top floor - one very large bedroom with fantastic views and a double bed, plus mattresses, and an adjoining single bedroom. These two bedrooms share a separate shower/toilet room on the main floor, accessed from the garden.

The house is beautifully decorated and luxuriously furnished, with terracotta tiling throughout the main floor. It is well stocked with TV, videos, books and games.

There are electric radiators in every room, and a log burning fire in the living room, as well as permanent hot water.

The house is suitable for renting throughout the year.


The surroundings

The l-shaped pool is on a terrace overlooking the house and the valley.

There are two main areas for sitting and eating out: a paved terrace leading out from the dining room on the main level, and a shaded pergola. Both have garden furniture and there are also loungers for the pool. In addition, there are two lawns for sunbathing.

The terraced garden includes herbs, roses, shrubs and fruit trees; the forest is unspoiled and fascinating to explore – the views from the top of the hill are magnificent. There are lights throughout the terraces and garden.

We are prepared to discuss a reduction in the rent if the numbers in your party are small.

Bed linen and towels, as well as electricity, gas and water costs are included in the rent.

We ask for 25 per cent of the rent at the time of booking and the balance six weeks before the start of your holiday. We also require a separate cheque for £500 as a deposit against damages, which we do not bank, and which will be destroyed if everything is satisfactory on your departure.

Bookings are Saturday to Saturday. In order to check and clean the house we ask tenants to arrive after 4 pm, and to leave by 11 am.

The house is a non smoking property; the terracing does mean some steps, which families with toddlers and those with knee-problems should bear in mind.