Set in the heart of the Cevennes National Park in the Gard Region of the Languedoc-Roussillon, our
sympathetically renovated 200 year old farmhouse is believed to once below to the Chateau. It is set in extensive terraced
natural grounds in complete privacy. It is not overlooked, nor can you see another building (apart from our other stone
mas opposite which is empty).
The house is secluded but not isolated and
only a minute's drive from the main road. There
is a lockable barrier at the top and access is private. Both the buildings you will see belong to us. The stone
mas opposite has yet to be modernised, but meanwhile it is safe and solid with a new roof and green painted shutters
and door.
Mas des Grailles is on three floors.
You enter via the covered terrace which looks onto the garden on one side and the courtyard and old mas on the other.
This terrace has a large table, benches and chairs for outdoor eating and entertaining. On entering the house, the kitchen
and dining area are on your left. The modern fitted kitchen is brightly furnished with stainless steel cooker, ceramic
hob, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, iron, kettle, toaster, mixer, etc. There is a dining table
and seating for 6 plus a high chair.
The living room is situated through a wide
archway and is comfortably furnished with two sofas, leather chairs, side tables and coffee table. It is very cosy in
winter with electric heating throughout and a wonderful log burner for which logs are provided, yet the room is light and
airy and cool for the hot summer months.
There is
a telephone, CD player & discs, TV with Sky & French satellite channels, DVD player with a good selection of DVDs
for adults and children alike.
A large bookcase houses a wide variety of
books (including a big French-English dictionary); games, jigsaw puzzles, etc. We also have a selection of childen's
toys, soft toys as well as a baby bath and travel cot.
You will find many leaflets provided on the local area, flora and fauna, maps, mediaeval villages
to visit, days out and restaurants, etc. The collection is being added to all the time as guests find so many different
things to see and do.
Upstairs there is a bedroom with
king-size bed, good reading lights, spacious chestnut-doored cupboards and a magnificent view onto the far side of the valley.
The large second bedroom has three single beds. Both these rooms have fans if it is hot in
summer and electric blankets and heating for winter.
There
is a modern shower room with wash basin, cupboards and heated towel rail. The separate WC is next door.
On the lower ground floor, which is accessed by outdoor steps is a new ensuite twin-bedded room.
This is a large room with chest of drawers, dressing table and comfortable armchair as well as tea and coffee-making
facilities. Walking through the archway takes you to the modern shower room with summery white and yellow tiles, a good-sized
shower, WC and wash-hand basin.
There
is heating in both the shower room and bedroom. All duvets, pillows, linen,
tea towels and house towels are provided. Outside,
the large "open" terrace is accessed through french windows where you can enjoy watching buzzard overhead as well
as smaller birds using the peanut feeders. The peaceful terrace has sunshine from early morning until late afternoon
so we have our meals out here, sometimes also in winter if it's warm enough. There is a table and parasol,
seating for six, as well as sunloungers and cushions.
On
the other side of the building is the "covered" terrace. This too benefits from a long table and plenty of
padded seating.
There are numerous cherry, apple, damson,
willow and mimosa trees. As an added bonus, a family of wild boar and deer may visit on quiet evenings.
There can be few better endings to a summer's day than sitting with a glass of wine and good
food in perfect peace looking over the valley.
We hope you will come and enjoy it as much as we do!
