A house to renovate, with four holiday cottages and 43 hectares of preserved nature,
between the Gard and Lozère areas, in the Cévennes national park
between the Gard and Lozère areas, in the Cévennes national park
Collet-de-Dèze,
LOZERE
languedoc-roussillon
48160
FR
Location
The Mas de Puech estate, perched at an altitude of 600 metres in the very heart of the Cévennes national park, forms part of the Mediterranean agro-pastoral landscape in the Causses and Cévennes sectors, which have been listed as UNESCO world heritage sites since 2011. The estate, which is located in the municipality of Ventalon-en-Cévennes, in the Lozère area, is situated in a withdrawn yet accessible position: Collet-de-Dèze, where everyday services such as shops, schools and healthcare structures can be found, is within approximately twenty minutes’ reach. From the town of Alès, trains put the high-speed TGV train station in Nîmes within around 50 minutes’ reach.
Description
A narrow road winds through the chestnut and evergreen oaks to reach the Mas de Puech, which is a hamlet comprising several south-facing buildings made of shale, overlooking the Cévennes Valley. They display plenty of architectural coherence and their distinctive features are roofs of lauze slates that have been fully renovated or are currently being restored, as well as thick walls that are a testament to the centuries-old roots of Cévennes building traditions. The water supply for the estate comes from a private spring. A former bread over and the remains of a water mill, whose mill pond is still in place, are a reminder of the farming way of life that previously thrived here. Today, the hamlet is connected to fibre optic broadband.
The estate boasts approximately 426 m² of living space, divided between the main house and four furnished, independent cottages that are rented out during the holidays (providing income of around € 15,000). The layout of the cottages ensures privacy for each occupant, with access to several patios overlooking the Cévennes Valley. A swimming pool installed below the main house is accessible for guests at the cottages.
The estate boasts approximately 426 m² of living space, divided between the main house and four furnished, independent cottages that are rented out during the holidays (providing income of around € 15,000). The layout of the cottages ensures privacy for each occupant, with access to several patios overlooking the Cévennes Valley. A swimming pool installed below the main house is accessible for guests at the cottages.
The house
This three-storey edifice has around 226 m² of living space and is connected to the cottage called ‘Le Moulin’ (the mill). It includes a living room also containing a kitchen area and dining area, plus four bedrooms, a bathroom and a separate lavatory. Although the lauze slate roof has been renovated, the house requires a comprehensive interior renovation.
‘Le Moulin’
This cottage has a surface of almost 47 m² and can be reached from the main house or from outside. It is made up of an open-plan kitchen and lounge, two bedrooms, a shower room and a lavatory.
‘Le Grand Gîte’
The two-storey, approximately 78-m² ‘Large Cottage’ includes a vast, around 48-m² living room, with a stone fireplace standing against one of the walls, topped by a mezzanine. The rest of the surface is divided between two bedrooms, a bathroom and a lavatory. Views can be enjoyed from the balcony, while a patio is available to guests on the ground floor. Several cellars and former pigsties, covering approximately 21 m², stand nearby.
‘La Clède’
Its name is the local word for chestnut drying huts, which are emblematic elements of the Cévennes’ heritage. It boasts two storeys and around 43 m² of living space, made up of a fitted kitchen, a lounge, a bedroom and a shower room with a lavatory. There is also an adjoining approximately 18-m² workshop. This cottage overlooks the main house and views of the lauze slate roofs can be enjoyed from two patios.
‘Le studio’
With a surface of around 32 m², this studio apartment’s main advantage is a patio boasting uninterrupted views of the valley. It includes a main room containing a lounge, kitchen area and sleeping area, plus a bathroom and a lavatory. On the ground floor, the cellar also includes a garage.
The outbuildings
They are made up of a utility room, a former barn, a sheep shed and the original drying hut, with a total surface of approximately 218 m².
The vaulted cellars
They stretch out beneath the edifices and boast extensive storage space but could also be put to other purposes after a refurbishment. A local legend has it that during the War of the Camisards, a clergyman on the run found refuge in one of them, hidden deep inside. Whether true or exaggerated over time, this anecdote embeds the estate in the troubled history of Protestantism in the Cévennes.
The land
The 43 hectares that make up the Mas du Puech estate boast remarkable diversity. They are dominated by coppices of chestnut trees, combined with evergreen oaks and walnut trees. Several plots include resinous varieties, such as cedars and Corsican pines, as well as old chestnut orchards. Wooded heath and more carefully landscaped zones have been created around the buildings. Several trees such as cherry, apple and plum provide fruit in summer. A family-focused farming activity could easily be envisaged on the estate.
Our opinion
This bucolic Cévennes hamlet is located in the heart of the Cévennes national park. This location and its protection ensure that the future occupants of the property will enjoy its authentic architectural heritage and the beauty of the unalterable surrounding nature. Whether the peace and quiet of the property, the babble of the streams or the light filtering through the trees, everything in this place encourages a lifestyle balancing contemplation and creativity. It boasts already healthy accommodation activity and its potential for development, whether in touristic, agricultural or simply residential terms, is considerable, if the future owners are willing to renovate the main house with the care it deserves.
Reference 316886
| Land registry surface area | 42 ha 84 a 44 ca |
| Main building floor area | 226 m² |
| Number of bedrooms | 14 |
| Outbuildings floor area | 418 m² |
| including refurbished area | 200 m² |
Information on the risks to which this property is exposed is available on the website: www.georisques.gouv.fr
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NB: The above information is not only the result of our visit to the property; it is also based on information provided by the current owner. It is by no means comprehensive or strictly accurate especially where surface areas and construction dates are concerned. We cannot, therefore, be held liable for any misrepresentation.
