On the ground floor the stunning vaulted kitchen and dining room opens onto a walled front courtyard and garden. Guests can take advantage of the secluded pool up above the house with wonderful views of the lush valley.
The house sleeps 16, with 8 double/twin bedrooms and 7 bathrooms.
Features:
The house is furnished to a high standard with a mixture of traditional antiques, and hand-made furniture in Indian hard wood. It is filled with rich silk curtains throughout and fine soft Indian furnishings.
The Prades wing has one double bedroom with en-suite shower room. There is also one double, and one twin-bed room that share a bathroom.
The Lalevade wing has 5 double or twin/triple bedrooms each with its own bath or shower room (3 are en-suite, 2 are sole use but across a corridor). In addition, both mezzanines in the big upstairs hall have beds.
There are 6 rooms for everyone to come together or for individuals to relax on their own. There is a TV and DVD in the main hall/library with Wi-Fi access throughout the house.
Guest of all ages can take advantage of the games room in the vaulted semi underground cellar with table-tennis or enjoy the substantial collection of English language books found in the library, study and hall.
There is an elegant salon facing the garden, next to it is a small dining room, often used for breakfast in winter. This is adjoined to the huge, converted stables with vaulted, kitchen/dining room. There is central heating throughout the property for guest comfort, plus open wood fires in the salon, dining room and hall. Traditional wood burning stoves can be found in the kitchen/dining and hall.
The kitchen is fully equipped for a party of 16 or more including 2 fridge/freezers, 5-hob gas stove and electric fan oven, 2 dishwashers, microwave, toaster, 2 washing machines and one tumble-dryer.
Outside the south-west facing garden offers stunning views up the valley to the mountains. It is an ideal spot to enjoy al-fresco dinning at the teak table and chairs. There is also a secluded courtyard round the corner, looking up at the pigeoneer, good for shady eating in the day, or an evening BBQ.
The pool located above the house and reached by stone steps with outstanding views across the valley. The Pool house provides another shady place for lunch with teak pool side furniture. The pool is child safe with a hard electric cover and a gated access.
Across the village lane, is our large walled (and gated) garden, overlooked by a superb ‘threshing terrace’ that we use for evening drinks. A stream runs through the lower property – this was the watering system for the original farm.
Location:
Mas La Levade is nestled at the start of the Upper Ardeche gorge, where the Massif Central gives way to the Rhône river basin and Provence plain. It is surrounded by wonderful scenery and is an excellent centre for outdoor activities such as kayaking, swimming, hill walking, cycling and tennis. The house is on the edge of a very convenient village with a supermarket and other amenities. There are also very charming villages a short drive up the valley.
For outdoor lovers
Try canoeing or kayaking on the Ardeche (20 minutes to the main base). Or swimming in the crystal clear –but bracing – upper Ardeche as it tumbles down from the mountain into big rocky pools. There is a sandy beach on the Ardeche in the village (gentler water here). Tennis courts too. Endless wonderful hill-walking, including out from the house. Cycling – and sampling – through the nearby Ardeche vineyards and olive groves.
For the Tourist
The Ardeche is famous for its special old, restored villages. Aubenas is a fine old medieval town (good shops and markets too). Avignon and Nimes are just over an hour away, as is the Rhone/Provence valley with all its Roman antiquity (Alba la Romaine is 15 minutes).
For the Gastronome
Good restaurants in Aubenas, Vals, and many villages. The local Ardeche wines are fun and interesting, if not grands crus. Goats cheese, mushrooms, fabulous fruit, and chestnuts are among the local specialties.
There area has plenty of activities to keep you entertained during your visit. You can try walking, swimming in the local river and lakes, Tennis and Tours to Aubenas, Le Puy, Avignon, Uzes and Nimes. There are also many delicious restaurants close by.
Arrival time
4.00 p.m.
Departure time
10.00 a.m.
Changeover day is Saturday. All other changeover days on request.
Pool: Extra £300 per week in June and September and £500 per week in May and October (must be requested at least 2 weeks prior to arrival). Please note that like all heated pools, pool heating and water temperature are reliant on weather and outside temperatures.
