If I was going to restore an 18th century village house in the south of France I’d probably want it to look like this one. Maison des Cerises is a gorgeous two-bedroom holiday rental in the village of Saint Marcel de Careiret, a pleasant 20-minute drive north of Uzès. Three floors of elegant limewashed walls and terracotta floors, filled with brocante finds, painted wooden furniture and pretty, soft fabrics make this a perfect relaxing base for exploring the region. Mind you, I could probably just lie on one of the comfy beds all day watching the sun come in through the windows, or better still stretch out under the cherry tree in the secluded herb-scented garden. Then I’d finish my busy day unwinding in the ground floor bathroom’s roll-top bath.
You could always be less lazy and venture out to the village shops, or to a nearby market. The house is owned by German-born Britta Brand, who after 13 years in France has a wealth of knowledge on what’s good to buy locally and in season. She lives with her family in a nearby village so knows the area well and can offer advise on what to see and do. There’s Uzès, Avignon, and the magnificent Pont du Gard for starters, as well as plenty of country walks, bike rides and canoe hire-centres.
Maison des Cerises has two bedrooms, two bathrooms a fully-equipped kitchen with dishwasher, as well as a dining room and living room with television. In the garden you’ll find a barbecue, but if you’re not in the mood for cooking there’s a restaurant nearby. Children are welcome and free WiFi access is available. For more information, visit the website www.maison-des-cerises.com.
Good to know: As well as restoring French farmhouses and undertaking various other artistic projects, Britta makes jewellery – in fact she’s a trained goldsmith. You can take a look at her bespoke ranges here and here.
Montpellier and more 