|
Inspired by AA Milne, 'Wol's House' is an appropriate name for a home, where you can escape to a wonderfully clean aired haven of peace and tranquility, leaving daily hum drum behind you. Something about Vernazoubres tells you life doesn't have to be complicated.
Chestnuts are in abundance, tumbling from ancient trees that blanket the slopes of the surrounding valleys.
The tap water, from the fresh water spring across the valley, is said to have the same mineral content as Volvic. But, then of course, you might prefer to sample one or two of the thousands of Languedoc wines.
In Summer, outdoor dining and socialising is absolutely encouraged with a shaded external kitchen/bbq and patio area. To cool down, you could stroll across to the L shaped swimming pool; secluded by the tall hedge in which a romantic, love seat, made from 2 large stones, nestles.
In its time, this house has been at the centre of the village social life, with its spacious, double height living room, acres of oak beams and impressive fire place - wonderful for roasting chestnuts in the winter months. If you are not socialising or lounging on the cosy sofas, you can escape to the mezzanine level library area and sink into an arm chair or day bed.
A fully equipped kitchen opens out into a good sized breakfast room where meals can be enjoyed in the company of 'Wol', the wooden owl sculpture.
With 3 double bedrooms, 1 twin bedroom and 4 additional day beds on the mezzanine, you can comfortably sleep a large family. There is a cot, a portable baby chair and even an inflatable baby paddling pool complete with palm trees and butterflies!
Lac Salagou can be reached in 10mins for swimming, fishing, lake side walks or simply messing around in boats.
The extraordinary red layers of the neighbouring Merifons valley is rumoured to be the most diverse geological area in Europe, with dinosaur footprints to boot! Only to be rivalled by the even more amazing dolomites of Moureze.
The Med. is 1 hour's drive away. Cosmopolitan and historical Bezier is 50mins away, along with the tree-lined Canal du Midi. Pezenas houses a fine selection of antique shops and Montpellier provides you with all the culture you could wish for. Lamalou-les-Bains is an attractive spa town, complete with a Casino and a beautifully positioned 9 hole golf course. St. Guilhem le Desert and the Gorge du Diable are well worth the visit - for dramatic scenery, waterfalls, canoeing and picnic spots.
Bedarieux and Clermont L'Herault are your best bet for the nearest large food shops but even closer to home, the smaller towns of Tour-sur-Orb and Bousquet d'Orb have mini supermarkets, wine growers, post offices, bars, restaurants, banks and weekly street markets.
Try 'La Forge' in Bedarieux, 'Le Chateau de Lunas' in Lunas or 'Les Goutailles' in Neffies for a true french culinary experience. Herepian's 'L'Ochre Rouge' is more eclectic.
Just remember to keep watching the road when you pass the dinky shetland ponies alongside the prize winning arab foals either side of the road into town!
|
