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- About The Experience
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Escape into the French country life of medieval castles, Provencal bastides and mas, and charming small towns. Become part of the town while staying at this wonderful 17th century stone house with a pool and modern décor. Warm in winter and cool in summer, this vacation villa rental in the region of Languedoc Roussillon provides the best of both worlds: village life and peaceful surroundings. Since the area is known for its wines, you can intersperse your walks or day trips with wine tasting in your own vacation rental in the South of France.
- Location Description
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Located right in the town of Caveirac, this charming French villa rental in Languedoc Roussillon is within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, supermarkets, and pharmacy of the town. There are other small villages within walking distance, and there are designated tracks and car-free roads for pedestrians. The city of Nimes is a quick drive away and here you'll find a much larger selection of boutiques, cafes, restaurants and a daily market with fresh produce. Nimes is home to a couple of the best preserved examples of a Roman architecture, including a temple, the Maison Carree, and an amphitheater, which is still used today for a wide range of shows and activities. Originally named La Vallee des Nages, the area is now called La Vaunage. It is the area of fields and hills between Languedoc and Provence, and between the cities of Nimes and Sommieres. The traditions of nearby Camargue, such as bull fights and horseback riding, are found in La Vaunage, as well. It is also renowned for its wines, as there are many vineyards, particularly in the Terroir du Vieux Langlade. The roads in the area are “typically French”, meaning small, narrow, winding, tree-line roads. It is a great area for walking. There are regular buses that go through the villages; the nearest bus stop is two minutes from the property.
Nearby Attractions: Attractions abound in this area for just about every taste, including hiking and biking – there is a biking club in Caveirac which organizes trips. There are numerous cultural festivals of fetes including bull fights throughout the year as well as the the opportunities for activities such as golf, water sports, cycling, walking, and horseback riding. There are also markets, shops, and wine tasting opportunities.
Marseilles: 140 km/87 mi
Avignon: 54 km/33.5 mi
Montpellier: 40 km/25 mi
Nimes Garon Airport: 18 km/11 mi
Nimes Train Station: 9 km/5.5 mi
Nimes: 8 km/5 mi
Caveirac: 100 m/328 ft
- Exterior Description
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(700 m2/7,534)
The villa rental is a lovely 17th century stone house, typical of the area, with high, vaulted ceilings on the ground floor and huge wooden beams in the upstairs ceiling. The vacation rental property is enclosed with high walls and a security gate, opened by code or remote control. There is a cobbled courtyard garden with potted plants, shrubs, olive trees, grapevines, etc. The patio area is very private with a summer kitchen and barbecue area. There are tables, chairs, umbrellas, sun loungers, etc. Paths lined with tiles from the original roof lead to the beautiful swimming pool (45 m2) with jet stream and nighttime lighting. There are security child-proof barriers, as legally required in France. There is private parking available in front of the property or in a large car park at the rear of the property. The caretaker's house is located within the property grounds, but is private from the main house.
- Interior Description
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(230 m2/2,475 ft2)
Main Level: The main entrance leads from the garden into a reception area and beyond, into the fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, an oven, and a freezer. The open-plan dining area and living room are situated beneath impressive original vaulted stone ceilings. The décor is modern and tastefully designed in keeping with the character of the villa. The windows create a light and airy atmosphere. Furnishings include a dining table for eight, comfortable sofas and armchairs. Steps lead down to the utility area with washing machine and dryer and WC. From the living room, steps lead up to a TV room with comfortable sofas, desk, TV, VCR, and DVD player. From the living room, a spiral staircase leads to the upper level.
Upper Level: Up twenty stairs there is a spacious landing with high ceilings and exposed beams. On this level there are two double bedrooms (one with a king-sized bed and one with a standard double bed) and one twin-bedded room. All the bedrooms have built-in closets, dressing tables, and chairs. One of the bedrooms has a balcony with a table and chairs. There are two large bathrooms with double basins, large showers, and heated towel racks. One of the bathrooms also has a tub. The two WCs are separate. Steps lead to the mezzanine/attic level.
Mezzanine Level: Up eight stairs there is a twin-bedded room.
- Features Description
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Extra Services: The following are listed as an aid for trip planning; the services and prices are approximate and cannot be guaranteed by Rentvillas. All extra services are payable locally in cash.
- Chef Service: 20-30 Euros per person
- Maid Service: 10 Euros per hour
- Airport Transfer From Nimes: Free of charge
- Chauffeur/Driver: 20 Euros per person, per trip
- Guided Walks And Tours: Upon request
Please Note:
- Dinner reservations at restaurant in town (open Thursday-Saturday evenings): If interested, request at least one week in advance for the Saturday evening of your arrival. The owners are happy to arrange this for you.
Features and Amenities
- Barbecue
- Outside Area - Private
- Outside Dining
- Swimming Pool - Private
- CD player
- DVD player
- TV - Local Channels Only
- Internet
- Internet - Wireless
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- Clothes Dryer
- Dishwasher
- Microwave
- Oven
- Toaster
- Washing Machine
- Fans Available - Upon Request
- Heating - Whole House
- Portable Baby Crib/Play Pen - Upon Request
- Cook Service Available - Extra Cost
- Housekeeping Available - Extra Cost
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Arrival Times
Please note: Official Arrival Times:
Questions and Answers From Our Clients
(Click the question to view the answer)
Q: Hello - we are staying at the La Maison du Gard in June of 2007. Any descriptions of bedrooms (especially the attic room - hot, ventilated?) would be appreciated. Other comments are also welcomed.
Thanks
A: The master bedroom is large and comfortable, with a king sized (two twins pushed together) bed and small balcony facing the small back street. One of the other bedrooms is small but has a king sized bed and a large window facing the courtyard/pool. The third bedroom has a queen sized bed and a small window onto the courtyard. The loft bedroom is very private, with a door that can shut the area off, and contains a full size bed. There is a skylight in the loft that opens by remote control, so I would imagine that at night it would be comfortable as long as the temperature cools off at night, as it did when we stayed there in September. The linens are very comfortable and well-made. This place is great!!! We would go back in a hearbeat. A few tips: 1. The Rue du Pont, on which the gate is located, is not particularly well-marked and is very narrow. If you are going north on the main road into Caveirac, look for it on your right 1-2 blocks before you get to the fountain in front of the Hotel de Ville. The numbers on the street are not in order, so just keep going until you see a big, blue gate with the proper address. You can't really park in the courtyard, so we parked about 3 blocks away in a public lot. 2. Definitely check out the local restaurant, Chaverdille, which is only open certain nights and lunches. 3. The little fruit and vegetable shop on the main street also sells artisan goat cheese and saucisson and is wonderful. 4. The kitchen is well-supplied, so don't worry about bringing pans, knives, etc. Have a great time!!
A: We stayed in the shoulder season, so we didn't have hot weather. The ceilings did have sky lights to open. Although we are from DC and the summer is humid, talking to the owners, the heat is a dry heat over there, so it is less noticeable. Also, since the entire house is stone, keeping the dorrs and windows closed is actually cooler than opening them. I will say that the property is absolutely beautiful and if you are interested in that area, go for it! The property owners are also extremely nice and accomodating.
Q: Has anyone found a good reference for the town? I could not find anything on Caveirac on the Internet. What is the view from the Villa?
A: Caveirac is a pretty small village, and I have only found it referred to in one guide book describing the scenic route from Nimes to Montpellier - e.g., passing by sleepy little villages like Caveirac. However, in the center of town, like 2 minutes walk from the house, there is a bakery, a tabac, two bars, one restaurant, a fruit and vegetable store, a butcher/deli, two hairdressers and a florist. There is a superstore 5 minutes drive and a little mall close by. The house is actually part of a 16th century chateau, that houses the city hall. We found people quite friendly, and one of the city councillors actually gave us a tour of the chateau. There is a small arena, and we got to see a bull demonstration while we were there. I don't think you'll want to spend all that much time in Caveirac, but it's very close to Nimes and the highway, and we found the location very central for Provence and the Camargue.
As with most old French villages, the houses are generally fully enclosed by walls and shutters, so the main view from the downstairs is of the lovely garden and pool area. These are very private, and you can pick fresh herbs for supper, as well as barbecue and eat outside. From the second floor, you can see part of the village and the arena, plus the small hilly area above, but I wouldn't take the place if external view was all that important. We really enjoyed our time there.
Q: I am wondering how close do the owners live. Is it same building, next door. Are they really close by? thanks Amy Martin
A: Hello Amy, There is a separate smaller coach house on the property where the owners(Ray & Christine) stayed when we rented La Maison du Gard. Ray & Christine were very helpful and friendly, but were also respectful of our privacy. Our experience was that it was a definite plus having them nearby and not a problem. We loved our stay at La Maison du Gard. Harry & Joan Johnson
A: Amy, the owners live on the property in a separate home and La Maison du Gard is a magnificent home i Caverac, a tiny village but close to all things including transport.
You will enjoy.
Cheers
Tony Mitchell
Q: what bus did you take from Nimes? Where did you get it? We are arriving by rail.
A: We were never able to figure out the bus system so didn't use it. My suggestion is to you is to make arrangements with Ray, the owner, to pick you up at the rail station in Nimes. He does charge for this service (I can't remember how much) but he is so accommodating and it is so much easier. In fact, he took us on several day trips to other parts of France. Again, there was a charge but it was worth every penny. Enjoy your time at La Maison du Gard!
A: We did not take a bus... We drove. It would be extremely difficult to explore that area without a car. I would not recommend using bus transportation to get around. Also, there is very little commerce in the town and only one restaurant that is open part of the week. It would be difficult to rely on public transportation.
Ask a Question
Conditions *
Security Deposit
- Upon arrival at the property you are required to pay to the property representative a security deposit payable in cash. The security deposit will be returned to you prior to your departure minus accidental damages to the property. The listed security deposit is: 200 EUR
Additional Expenses
- Final Cleaning Charge (Mandatory): 50 EUR
Other Notes
- Departure Time: 10:00 am
- Cook Services (If Available): must be arranged at least 2 months prior to arrival
- UPON ARRIVAL, RENTERS MUST PROVIDE A PHOTOCOPY OF EACH TRAVELER’S PASSPORT AND SIGN A FORM FOR THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
- Tourist Tax (Payable upon Arrival): 1-5 Euros per person per day
- Non-refundable fee to arrange Extra Services (cook, housekeeping, etc): $30 paid to Rentvillas.com
* These prices and conditions may change based on your arrival date and length of stay. For exact conditions, please click on the View Availability button, enter your dates, and then click on View Pricing and Conditions.
View General Rental Agreement
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Outside the US: +1-805-880-1228
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Sat 10:30-2:30 Pacific Time
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Customer Ratings
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Overall
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Peace and Quiet
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View
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Outside Area
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Living Room
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Kitchen
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Bedrooms
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Bathrooms
Based on 23 Reviews
Customer Reviews
Overall:
The house was awesome. Kitchen was completely equipped. We have rented from RentVillas before. The house itself was really great. It has lots of charm and is cared for lovingly by the owners who live in an adjacent building. They were very helpful. Some people may be put off by having to climb a steep spiral staircase to get to the bedrooms. The owners have an ingenious rope and pulley system for hauling your luggage up and over the balcony railing.
Enjoyed Most:
The vaulted ceilings in the house and the spaciousness of the house.
Enjoyed Least:
We had expected that this house would be more rural, in a small town. The town actually turned out to be larger than expected so we missed that rural countryside feel and there was some amount of noise and no view whatsoever. The town was not charming. It had the feel of a suburb. You have to drive quite a ways to go on day trips to surrounding cities, but you drive through lovely scenery.
Surrounding Area:
Day trip to Avignon.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The house is in a small town. You can walk to the bakery for a breakfast baguette. There is one good restaurant, open on weekends, within walking distance of the house. It was excellent.
Tips or Restaurants:
Just be prepared that you have to be willing to drive a fair amount to get to interesting sites.
Carolyn, September
Show All 23 Reviews
Overall:
Our group of six adults had a wonderful stay at La Maison du Gard. The owners, Ray and Cristine, live next door and were very helpful and friendly.
Enjoyed Most:
Two things stand out about the property: the beautiful house itself and the great location in the small town of Caveirac.
Enjoyed Least:
The spiral staircase!
Surrounding Area:
Caveirac is nestled in the Vaunage, a beautiful little valley full of farms, vineyards and small towns.
Nearby Events or Locales:
There are many small towns around Caveirac, some within an hour's stroll and others an easy bike ride away.
Tips or Restaurants:
The local bistro in Caveirac has great ambiance and food. A good wine list, too!
Jon, September
Show All 23 Reviews
Overall:
Our experience in the property was excellent. The kitchen was well equipped, the outside area and pool was lovely, and there was plenty of space for the six of us.
Enjoyed Most:
The outside eating area, garden, and pool were our favorite spots. The house was convenient to a large supermarket, and close to Nimes and several interesting smaller towns.
Enjoyed Least:
The spiral staircase might make it difficult for some people to get upstairs. Because of the beautiful stone ceilings there were no overhead lights which made it a little dark in the evenings.
Surrounding Area:
The city of Nimes was 10 minutes away and smaller towns had interesting markets as well. Sommieres was a lovely surprise when we traveled away from the direction of Nimes.
Nearby Events or Locales:
The house is in Caveirac which is tiny but it is nice to be able to walk 2 minutes to the bakery or the cafe.
Tips or Restaurants:
We ate in restaurants on day trips away from the property and cooked an evening meal, so really no recommendations.
Directions:
We used a GPS which led us through some of the little back streets of town (very narrow!), rather than leading us up the main street. We figured it out easily enough once we got there.
Check In Out:
The owners were very accommodating and made both check in and check out very easy. They were available as soon as we called and we never had to wait for them.
Lauri, August
Show All 23 Reviews
