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15th Century Merchant's House, Montagnac, near Pezenas - Sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms
Step back into the 15th Century when you stay in this amazing Town House with fabulous original features! A medieval experience for your vacation.
All modern comforts have been installed but the charm of the house has been kept intact. Kitchen/dining has a magnificient stone vaulted ceiling. Antique furniture and a stone spiral staircase add to the ambience. Two bedrooms each with ensuite bathroom.
The big, sunny, private terrace has views and full afternoon sun.
A medieval experience with all modern comforts!
The Merchant's House has been sympathetically restored, keeping as many original 15th century features as possible, including a stone spiral staircase.
The charm of the house has been kept intact and antique furniture adds to the atmosphere.
Self catering accommodation
The ground floor of The Merchant's House has a superb, elegantly vaulted stone ceiling supported by stone columns at each corner and houses the spacious sitting/dining room and fully equipped kitchen.
Through a doorway, the wide stone spiral staircase has a stairwell of large, expertly cut stones where ancient doorways and windows were rediscovered during the renovation.
On the first floor is a large double-bedded room of 35 sq m with high ceiling and exposed beams, sitting area and French doors opening to a tiny balcony. A 4m x 1.50m Florentine tapestry and 18th century fireplace (non-working) complement the wall of exposed stones featuring a mullioned window. A 'secret passage' (NB: the entrance is narrow) leads to the ensuite shower room with shower, WC and hand washbasin.
There is another large bedroom on the second floor, with a charming 19th century fireplace (non-working) and twin beds. One wall is of exposed stones where the former mullioned windows can be clearly seen. The ensuite bathroom features a big corner bath, shower, WC and hand washbasin.
On the top floor is the private terrace/loggia with superb views over Roman-tiled roofs to the nearby hills. As it receives full afternoon and evening sun, it is an ideal place to lounge in the sun with a cool drink to hand!
A summer kitchen on the terrace, with fridge, sink etc., plus stylish gas barbeque, make al fresco dining easy.
Quality equipment includes a radio/CD/cassette player, washing machine and microwave.
The Area
This region, Languedoc, is France's best kept secret, where you'll find the rural France you've always dreamed of. Sleepy villages of sun-warmed stones and red tiled roofs unspoilt by mass tourism, magnificent scenery ideal for rambles on foot or horseback amongst herb scented hills, with deep gorges tumbling into cool, inviting rivers.
If you can tear yourself away from such over-abundance of nature's generosity, there are many local places of interest nearby. Or an hour's drive takes you to splendid Roman towns such as Avignon, Nîmes, Arles to the east, stunning Carcassonne and the Cathar castles to the west. For a touch of true French sophistication, Montpellier, 40 kms, offers the arts, theatre, shopping, an international airport and train station. The Spanish border is only 1.5 hours' drive.
There are restaurants, supermarkets, shops and excellent weekly street markets in the lively market town of Pézenas, 5 kms, which is also known for its many antique dealers. Swimming at Mediterranean beaches, 35 minutes and Lac Salagou, 10 minutes, which is also fun for fishing and non-motorised water sports.
This is France's largest, up-and-coming wine producing region and there are many opportunities to taste its excellent wines at private domains and cave co-operatives throughout the area.
Brilliant local markets, concerts and festivals year round.
How to get there
Montpellier is the closest airport.
Nimes, Carcassonne, Perpignan and Rodez airports less than an hour's drive, Toulouse and Marseille two hours.
TGV to Montpellier from Paris takes 3.5 hours.
From our guests book:
"….what a wonderful time we had at The Merchant's House. Everything far surpassed our expectations and I can say with complete sincerity that after visiting four countries and taking a Trans-Atlantic cruise, France was by far the highlight of our vacation.
So thank you again for letting out the home to us. We were in awe of its warmth and beauty."
Bradbury family, USA
"We have just returned from our five week vacation in Europe. Montagnac and our stay in the Merchant's House was the highlight of our trip. Many thanks."
Mr Girvan and party, Canada
"The house is beautiful. We have been extremely happy and comfortable here….one week was not enough. The region is rich with history and absolutely stunning."
Mr & Mrs Seright, USA
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