The nearest airport is Nimes (1hour 15mins) and the nearest town is Banne. Banne hosts an art festival during the summer and is a meeting point for various guided hikes. The nearest train station is Nimes, but for certain trains Valance TGV or Avignon are sometimes preferable.

Grab a map from the living room and set off into nature. Here on the edge of the Cevennes national park there’s so much to explore - forests, rivers and viaducts, or take a 25minute walk downhill to the medieval village of Banne.  Nearby are the deep caves and grottes of la Cocalliere. Swim in our new 21 metre pool or take a short drive to an idyllic swimming hole, complete with enormous rocks and waterfall.

There are tennis courts in St. Paul le Jeune and les Vans. Biking in the cevennes means miles of unspoilt scenery, wildflowers, wildlife, and few human encounters. The Ardèche river with its famous Pont d'Arc is a short drive away. It is easy to rent canoes and you can spend the day floating down the river or sun bathing on the shores.

The Pont du Gard was built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nîmes (which is almost 50 km long) to cross the Gard river. The Roman architects and hydraulic engineers who designed this bridge, which stands almost 50 m high created a technical as well as an artistic masterpiece.

Uzes is a popular market town. Between Nimes and Avignon, this discreet but oh so elegant town is a rare survival. Market day is Saturday. Don’t miss it!

Visit the beautiful walled city of Avignon, where you can learn about the history of the Papacy in France or to explore its elegant shops. For Lunch head north to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, home to the finest wines of the Rhone valley.