Le Vieux Mas is a 200 year old farmhouse which has been sympathetically modernised. There is plenty of space, with larger than average rooms throughout. The house can sleep from 2 to 8 people, but it is organised in such a way that couples on their own, families and groups of friends can all immediately feel comfortable and at home. Click, for pictures of the interior and exterior of the house.
What is there
Le Vieux Mas is our home in France and it is well furnished, with a mixture of antique and modern furniture. A telephone/answering machine takes incoming calls and can also be used to make calls in the local area.
There are plenty of duvets, pillows, etc., but, unless you have requested otherwise, you should provide your own linen and towels. If you prefer to rent these, they are available at £7.50 per person per week if requested in advance. A cot and other items for young children are available on request.
There are guides at the house to the house, the local and wider area, the local restaurants, walks and wildlife. These guides are very full, and have been praised by many of our guests as providing excellent information which added to the pleasure of their stay in the area.
The main rooms are mostly of well above average size and are described below. You can take a tour of the house starting here or else get the main details below (click links to see rooms).
Downstairs
The central room in the house was completely modernised in 2009, retaining its country feel and bringing the kitchen and dining areas closer together whilst retaining their individual identities. The kitchen has plenty of new work-surface as well as a new gas hob, built-in microwave and oven, a large fridge/freezer and a full-size dishwasher. It is also very well equipped, with an electric kettle, coffee-maker, and various gadgets as well as lots of cooking utensils. For dining, there is a fine round antique table (which seats four comfortably and eight at a squeeze) lit by a fine adjustable pendant light. There is masses of china, glasses and so on, some for everyday, and some slightly more special.
A cellar below has a modern washing machine and tumble-drier.
A living room with exposed chestnut beams and a wood-burning stove and fireplace. There is a flat screen digital TV in this room with the channels provided by Freesat, including HDTV as available. There is also a DVD and CD player. All of these are linked to a hi-fi giving good quality sound as desired. There is a PC with free broadband internet (with a wireless connection if you take your laptop.) The bookshelves have an extensive range of fiction, and there are various games and puzzles. On the shelves there are also plenty of local maps and guides, including those compiled by us (with the help of guests) over many years.
One of the sofas in this room converts into a double bed if needed.
A wisteria-shaded upper upper terrace with beautiful views over the surrounding hills. This has outdoor table and chairs, is linked directly to the kitchen/dining room, and is splendid for meals at any time of the day.
A larger lower terrace with its own table and chairs. This is suitable for just sitting out near the house, but also barbecues and larger gatherings out of doors. There is a table tennis table available for this terrace.
A downstairs bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The double bed has a good quality modern mattress but the rest of the furniture is mainly good quality French and English antiques. This room has a small en suite bathroom with modern fittings (including a shower and bidet but not a bath).
Upstairs
The main bedroom is a wonderful large room with a new king size bed. This room is open into the chestnut roof beams and has two walls with the stonework exposed. Three corners of the room have tiny fireplaces and chimneys; silk was made here in the 19th century, and these were to keep the silk worms warm. The upstairs rooms all have electric heating in case needed out of season.
The second bedroom is smaller but has two standard single beds and good furniture. Our children use this room and it has bookshelves and cupboards with toys and games.
The third upstairs bedroom (so there are four in all) has a double bed and appropriate furniture. Like the second bedroom it is newly restored with a comfortable cottage feel generated by the way the traditional plastering curves into the beams of the ceiling.
The bathroom is large, bright and airy with both a shower and a bath.
The landing has a full-size table football table.
For a tour around the inside or outside of the house, click one of the pictures below.
