Discover southern France’s mer et montagne during your stay at this contemporary holiday villa in a traditional village close to the historic city of Nîmes. Villa Cezane is an attractive home sleeping up to 6 guests. The open-plan living and dining space is ideal for a sociable group of friends or family with its modern kitchen, dining table and comfortable lounge facing the TV. Sliding doors lead to a decked terrace for relaxing in the sunshine with an evening aperitif. The master bedroom is on the same floor with a king-size double bed, terrace access and en-suite bathroom with a bath and Italian shower. Upstairs there are two further bedrooms, both again with a king-size double, sharing a stylish shower room. All three bedrooms feature a TV and are air-conditioned – décor is minimalist and chic with small touches of bold character. In the summer months there is a square swimming pool ideal for cooling off from the sun alongside a superb summer kitchen with a plancha and decked terrace for dining accompanied by the sound of the cicadas. The terraced grounds also offer boules, a lazy hammock and a kitchen garden where you will usually find courgettes and aubergines ready to pick in late June to early July. In a suburban setting, it’s lovely to be able to stroll a couple of minutes to the charming village centre with its pretty old houses – come across the boulangerie, grocery store and pizzeria en route. Hire bikes during your stay and join the voie verte that runs from the nearby village of Caveirac (4.5km) to historic Sommières passing vineyards, orchards, olive groves and typical landscapes of the Vaunage plain. Look out for the wonderful weekly market in Sommières and its impressive château. You will of course spend time in Nîmes, home to some of the most fantastically preserved Roman sites in France including the amphitheatre, Maison Carrée and Temple of Diana. Le Pont du Gard, a UNESCO World Heritage site, can be reached within a 45-minute drive for canoeing/kayaking, riverside picnics or paddling in the Gard whilst the historic towns of Uzès, Arles and Aigues-Mortes are also not to be missed.   Then there’s the Cévennes mountains for hiking trails, picture-perfect villages and stunning scenery – Anduze and Alès are within a 45-minute drive. Or venture south towards the sandy shores of La Grande-Motte and Le Grau-du-Roi, both appealing Mediterranean seaside resorts on the edge of the Camargue, yet another brilliant day out in the Gard region of southern France. Features: Villa Interiors (175m2) Ground Floor - Living space (70m2) with lounge, dining area and open-plan kitchen, well-equipped including microwave oven, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, wine cabinet and coffee machine. Direct access to an al-fresco dining and lounge terrace - Utility room with fridge, freezer and washing machine - Master bedroom with king-size double bed, direct access to terrace and private bathroom with bath, Italian shower and sink - WC Upper Floor - Bedroom with king-size double bed - Bedroom with king-size double bed - Bathroom with Italian shower and two sinks - WC Outside Grounds - Private swimming pool (5x5m) with salt-water system and security alarm - Poolside terrace with sun loungers (and railed terrace) - Pool house with summer kitchen (sink, fridge, plancha, hob) and WC - Raised terrace - Hammock - Garden (with different levels/steps) - Organic vegetable garden (tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes) - Boules court - Parking for 4 cars Facilities - Wi-Fi - Air-conditioning (bedrooms and lounge space) - Underfloor heating - Large-screen TV and DVD player - TV (all bedrooms) - Nintendo switch - Board games - Toys (Playmobil) - Washing machine Location: Villa Cezane is a short walk from a small village in the Gard, 19km west of historic Nîmes. This is a great base for experiencing southern France’s mer et montagne with Alès (46km), the gateway to the Cévennes, and La Grande-Motte (39km), home to Mediterranean beaches, both within easy reach. In a suburban setting, it’s a short walk to the local bakery, grocery store and pizzeria as well as the heart of the charming old village centre. There is a good sized supermarket on the edge of the village around 1km away and two others within a 10-minute drive. The old railway track between the nearby village of Caveirac (4km) and Sommières (18km) is now a 21km long cycle track passing vineyards, orchards, olive trees and meadows, known as la voie verte de la Vaunage. Historic Sommières enjoys a picturesque riverside setting with a fantastic Saturday morning market and the impressive Château de Sommières. Nîmes is a beautiful town with a rich heritage and some of France’s most wonderfully preserved Roman sites including Maison Carrée and the Nîmes amphitheatre. Take a walk around the famous Jardins de la Fontaine and admire Tour Magne and the Temple de Diane. Another great highlight of the region is the incredible aqueduct, Le Pont Du Gard (43km), a must for history lovers and a lovely spot for canoeing/kayaking or simply picnicking and paddling by the Gard. Market lovers will be enchanted by Uzès twice-weekly market which takes place on the idyllic town square beneath the shady plane trees. It’s an exquisite town to explore with its characterful architecture and southern French ambience. The Cévennes mountain range offers a wealth of outdoor adventures including superb hiking trails or you may prefer to discover the landscapes by steam train – check the timetable for trains running between Anduze (44km) and Saint-Jean-du-Gard. On the edge of Les Alpilles and the Camargue, Arles is another brilliant day out (42km), not only for lovers of Roman history but also art enthusiasts who can follow the footsteps of Van Gogh and visit the many art and photography exhibitions. Aigues-Mortes (35km) is in the Camargue, set within medieval walls that fully surround the historic town. Spend time pottering around the medieval lanes and soaking up the ambience on a café terrace on the main square, Place Saint-Louis. Perhaps combine with a visit to Le Grau-du-Roi (42km) by the Mediterranean coast, an attractive seaside resort with sandy beaches. Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €800 charged to client’s credit card before arrival and refunded two weeks after departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? 4.00 p.m. Departure time? 10.00 a.m. Energy costs included? Yes. Linen & towels included? Yes. Pool towels included? Yes. Pool opening dates? The pool is open approximately early June to late September. Please note that pool opening dates are subject to local weather conditions and pool maintenance requirements and that cooler months may not be suitable for swimming. End of stay cleaning included? Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Changeover day? Saturday. All other changeover days on request. Minimum stay? 7 nights. All other durations on request. Pets welcome? Not allowed. Insurance? Guests are required to be in possession of a valid insurance policy, which covers them for cancellations, loss of personal belongings, personal liability and any accidental damage caused during their stay. Tax? French Visitors Tax included in rental price. Smoking Allowed? Outside only. Other Ts and Cs? Weddings, stag/hen parties and other celebrations are not allowed.