The House

Ancien Hotel de la Gare - The Old Station Hotel  - was built in the1880s next to the tiny railway station, which is now also a private house.
The house is an elegant and luxurious maison de maitre, with rooms that blend the grand proportions of 19th century architecture with modern comforts. It’s owned by two artists and is stamped with our personalities. We’ve restored the house and filled it with things we love: our work and the work of our friends, antiques, ceramics, stained glass, books, colour. We’ve shaped it as a living and working environment to suit us: we love art, the garden and landscape around us, the warmth and buzz of entertaining friends and family… and peaceful solitude. We’ve let it to large family groups wanting to come together in the sunshine, and we’ve let it to artists seeking space and stimulus to work.

Living space

There’s a modern fitted kitchen  - with views across the fields – at one end of a spacious room that houses a long oak table that’s perfect for both formal and informal dining. Double doors lead out from here on to the shady terrace, bordered by flowers and an ancient fig tree, that is ideal for leisurely summer lunches overlooking the beautiful garden and pool.
The grand living room, once the hotel’s dining room, is designed to serve many purposes. There’s space enough for entertaining – we love playing cards and silly games here with friends and family – but the huge sofas make it perfect for relaxing with a book, dozing on warm afternoons, or chilling out for the evening with English satellite TV or a DVD.
There is a peaceful reading room, filled with novels, non-fiction and art books, that’s made for escape and time for yourself.

Bedrooms

Upstairs there are 4 double bedrooms, 3 of which have ensuite bath or shower rooms. Each has its own character, colour scheme, carefully selected paintings and antique furniture. For the leaders of the party there is an especially delightful huge bedroom and ensuite bathroom, with glorious views over three aspects of the house.
A bed can also be set up on the studio mezzanine by arrangement.

Flexible work or studio space

Just off the kitchen is a very large double-height studio, flooded with natural light, which we use to run painting and drawing classes. It’s also been used for yoga, recording music, writing workshops and children’s parties. It has a large mezzanine, which can house an additional bed, by arrangement.  Let us know if you’d like to use the studio.

The gardens

We’ve landscaped the 1400m2 gardens to provide colour, texture, scent and shade. We’ve placed tables so there is somewhere to sit and enjoy a drink at any time of day, in sun or shade as you choose. Like the house, there is space to play or to be at peace here.
Mature trees and wisteria lend dappled light in summer. Fig, olive, walnut, plum and palm trees enclose the large lawn and remind you of how close you are to the Mediterranean. Herbs, roses, succulents and shrubs thrive in formal and informal beds.
At the back of the house, and shaded for lunch and evening meals, is a large tiled terrace, bordered with herbs and flowers in pots.

The pool

The pool is completely private, with its own pool house. In accordance with EU law, it is enclosed and safe. It measures 8.5 x 4.5 metres and uses salt which converts to natural chlorine. For those seeking a tan, the pool is in full sun all day, while umbrellas provide shade for those who prefer to read and doze on the poolside terrace between swims.

Nearby

From The Old Station Hotel you can be in the mountains in 20 minutes or by the Mediterranean in an hour. We’re in striking distance of sport, art, architecture, gastronomy and wine.
The house is surrounded by vineyards and sunflower fields, with a range of beautiful country walks from the front gate leading you through farmland and tiny hamlets to stunning views of the Cevennes mountains.
5 minutes away is Lezan, with its charming main street, great little supermarket, two bakers, two bars and even a chi-chi restaurant.
10 minutes and you’re in Anduze, gateway to the Cevennes. This is a lovely little town, full of cafes and little shops, with a very good weekly market on Thursdays and a superb brocante on Sunday morning. A steam train takes children of all ages from Anduze, past the internationally-renowned bamboo plantation (Bambouzerie), onwards up into the mountains.
20 minutes takes you to Ales. This town’s ring road has all you could want in terms of shops and supermarkets. In the centre is a daily covered market selling fantastic local produce, and right next to it is a lovely shady square with restaurants and cafes. Ales is an undiscovered gem.
30 minutes north will find you in the Cevennes. Winding roads lead you up through the stunning valleys, alongside a river you can swim or fish in, into this historic and magical part of France.
30 minutes east takes you to Uzes, market town and jewel of the Uzege.
30 minutes south and you’re in Sommieres, with its medieval square the scene of our favourite Saturday market. Order your oysters – fresh from the Med that morning and 3 euros the dozen – and enjoy them sitting outside a café while you watch the world go by.
40 minutes east and you’re at the Pont du Gard, world heritage site, and the Gorges du Tarn, for canoeing and watersports.
40 minutes south and you’re in Nimes, a stunning Roman town with ampitheatre, temple and beautiful narrow shopping streets with stylish shops.
1 hour south takes you to Montpellier, grand city of the south. Elegant, youthful, alive.
1 hour south also takes you to the beaches on the Mediterranean. There’s something for everyone here: for the stylish, le Grande Motte; for seafood lovers, Bouzigues; for families, Carnon or Grau-du-Roi with its aquarium; for watersports L’Espiguette. And there are private and secluded beaches too.
1 hour south-east takes you to Arles, to Vincent and towards Cezanne and Provence…

Wine

Wines from Languedoc-Rousillon are on the ascendant. There’s no shortage of decent vineyards producing good wine near us, and for those seeking tasting we are 20 minutes away from the appellations of Coteaux de Languedoc, Costieres de Nimes and the best-kept secret of Pic St-Loup. 1 hour takes you into Cotes du Rhone: 1 hr 30 and you’re into Minervois.



For more information see The Area section of this site.

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