Mas des Grailles is situated
in the Cevennes National Park in the Gard region of the Languedoc-Roussillon.
Gard
is named after the river Gardon and is surrounded by the departements of Herault, Lozere, Aveyron, Bouches-du-Rhone, Vaucluse
and Ardeche. The area was settled by the Romans in classical times and the departement was one of the original 83 departements
created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790 and was created from the ancient province of Languedoc.
The town of Ales is the gateway to the Cevennes and a good
base for discovering this still wild and uncultivated area, once a refuge of Les Camisards, persecuted Protestants in the
17th century. Ales was once a centre for silk and then later iron and coal. The town today is geared for tourism and
has an 18th century cathedral and town hall. It also has a fine collection of fossils and minerals as well as 60 metres of former mineshafts open to the public.
The
hills of the Cevennes are well known for their spectacular views, scenic routes and quiet narrow lanes, chestnut groves, valleys
and crystal-clear streams for wonderful swimming.
Portes
is just 15 minutes drive north from the town of Ales towards Genolhac on the D906. Nimes, with its stunning Roman
amphitheatre is only 45 minutes away and other spectacular cities such as Avignon, Montpellier, Uzes, Arles, Le Pont
du Gard (to visit and swim in the river), the Camargue and Orange (well worth a trip to the opera).
The Camargue and Le Grau du Roi at the Mediterranean are
all within 1.5 hours drive.
For shopping, you have the choice of Chamborigaud or La Grand'Combe,
both only 10 minutes away. Chamborigaud has a railway station (trains to Ales and Genolhac with connection to Paris),
post office, two or three grocery shops, an artisanal bakery, gift shop and newsagent, bars, a Logis de France hotel and restaurant
and two or three other restaurants. There is a typical Cevenol market at the weekend.
