To the north of Uzès, the most extensive private estate in the Gard
with its farmhouse, truffle fields, hunting grounds, gorges and caves
with its farmhouse, truffle fields, hunting grounds, gorges and caves
Uzès,
GARD
languedoc-roussillon
30700
FR
Location
In the Golden Triangle of the Gard, between the Cèze and Gardon valleys, set on a large plateau of 3,800 hectares of Garrigue scrubland classified nature protection area ‘Natura 2000’, with an unobstructed view of the Ardèche mountains, the estate is situated five minutes from a village with all amenities (grocery shop, mini-market, butcher, newsagent, etc.). Uzès is thirty minutes away, Avignon (TGV train station), Nîmes (airport, TGV train station) and the main motorways are less than an hour away.
Description
Only insiders will know how to gain access to the property, by taking small roads through green oak woodlands reaching as far as the eye can see and protecting the estate from prying eyes. A former farm already depicted on the Cassini maps, a refuge for the local Huguenots called ‘the Camisards’ in the 18th century and later a hiding point for members of the Resistance, the farmhouse now watches over an immense expanse of scrubland.
Some of the foundations date back to the end of the 16th century, the first farmers who settled on this Garrigue plateau took advantage of the slightly dominant position near a lake formed by a subsidence of the limestone vault of the plateau. This watering place in the middle of the "desert", as the scrubland is called here, has always been a shelter for many wild animals, naturally attracting the first settlers who found refuge in the countless caves situated nearby, among which the famous Chauvet cave.
This is how humans survived in this area, patiently working a land reputed to be arid until they had created a fertile enclave in the heart of a coppice of holm oaks, kermes oaks, juniper trees, olive trees and other brooms, rockroses and box interspersed with sarsaparilla.
Composed of several buildings, the farmhouse was built around a walled courtyard. It is surrounded by a 15-hectare park, also enclosed, which follows the contours of the undulating terrain, forming here a lake and there an enclosed area for cultivation and breeding.
Once you get a little higher, the relief softens and the estate spreads out over the whole of the vast garrigue plateau in the centre of the Gard, crossing several gorges with the Ardèche mountains, the Rhône valley, the Cévennes and the Uzège in the south as a horizon.
Some of the foundations date back to the end of the 16th century, the first farmers who settled on this Garrigue plateau took advantage of the slightly dominant position near a lake formed by a subsidence of the limestone vault of the plateau. This watering place in the middle of the "desert", as the scrubland is called here, has always been a shelter for many wild animals, naturally attracting the first settlers who found refuge in the countless caves situated nearby, among which the famous Chauvet cave.
This is how humans survived in this area, patiently working a land reputed to be arid until they had created a fertile enclave in the heart of a coppice of holm oaks, kermes oaks, juniper trees, olive trees and other brooms, rockroses and box interspersed with sarsaparilla.
Composed of several buildings, the farmhouse was built around a walled courtyard. It is surrounded by a 15-hectare park, also enclosed, which follows the contours of the undulating terrain, forming here a lake and there an enclosed area for cultivation and breeding.
Once you get a little higher, the relief softens and the estate spreads out over the whole of the vast garrigue plateau in the centre of the Gard, crossing several gorges with the Ardèche mountains, the Rhône valley, the Cévennes and the Uzège in the south as a horizon.
The Mas (Mediterranean farmhouse(s))
Like a hamlet, the Mas is composed of several buildings surrounding a vast courtyard. Those intended for accommodation are developed on two levels (exceptionally three levels for a segment of the main body). The farmhouse offers a total of more than twenty rooms. Currently, they are divided into six suites, eight shower rooms, four kitchens (one in the main building, one outside, and two small kitchens (one in the caretaker's cottage and one in the second main building) and a bar. The main building is a long vaulted structure running east-west. It forms the northern limit of the Mas. Its elevation to the south is marked by a covered gallery and the right angle formed by a wing extending into the courtyard. The second building borders the courtyard to the west and forms the western limit of the Mas. Finally, the third building, which faces the main building, closes off the courtyard to the south and opens onto a separate group of buildings (a garage and a caretaker's dwelling) surrounding a more modest enclosure which forms the south-eastern limit of the Mas. The former farmyard has been replaced by a contemporary enclosure, alternating between lawn compartments surrounding a centuries-old olive tree and a large terrace which now houses a swimming pool (10x4) as well as above-ground pools (jacuzzis and counter-current swimming). The building constructions are of great simplicity. The limestone elevations, simply squared on one side, are barely disturbed by the vaulted foundations supporting the galleries and their straight stairs on the courtyard side. On the outside, the almost austere sobriety of the facades underlines the protective character of the buildings intended to serve as a refuge. The gable roofs with monk and nun tiles have retained their ingenious system whereby the water running down the walls feeds a cistern partially dug into the rock.
Ground floor
The ground floor of the main building comprises vaulted rooms, mainly used for storage, as well as a summer kitchen, a bar and a reception room. The other buildings feature living rooms on the ground floor, several of which have double height sloping ceilings. A particular care has been taken with regard to the interior decoration, combining respect for materials (lime, stone, wood and natural whitewash) and advanced refurbishments. Notably the bathrooms are well designed and neat. In addition, an electrical installation and a high-performance heating system ensure a superior level of comfort.
First floor
As there are numerous double-height rooms on the ground floor, only the main building, the west building and the caretaker's house feature living areas on the first floor. The interior decoration always shows a great concern for comfort and respect for heritage. The layout of an extensive dining room with its open kitchen in the east gable of the main building is particularly spectacular with the creation of a large picture window on the east side offering a dominant view over the garrigues. All the bedrooms enjoy pleasant sunlight with orientation to the four points of the compass.
Second floor
A single bedroom with its shower room and toilet extends over the west gable of the main building. The room enjoys a privileged view of the Ardèche mountains through the windows under the eaves.
The park, the enclosed grounds and the lake
The grounds surrounding the Mas are mostly cleared and planted with truffle oaks. An orchard delimited by dry stone walls to the west of the Mas contains numerous fruit trees. A bowling green has been set up there. A few hundred metres to the south of the farmhouse, slightly below, a sinkhole has formed, revealing the water table where it approaches the natural level of the terrain. This small lake is bordered on its northern shore by three wells. The overhanging slope has been worked by human hands in such a way as to form terraced pieces of land called ‘restanques’ containing walled yards formerly cultivated near the watering place and protected from the ravages of wild boars.
The garrigues, the gorges and the geological curiosities
A truly green desert dominated by holm oak coppices, the estate extends over nearly 400 hectares in the centre of the future Regional Natural Park of the Garrigues, entirely classified nature protection area Natura 2000. Situated on a vast limestone plateau interspersed with dry valleys and deep canyons, the property stretches from north to south as far as the Aiguillon valley, crossing the Merderis gorges. Among the remarkable sights of this territory, the ‘Concluses de Lussan’ constitute a singular mineral jewel composed of gorges dominated by high cliffs, with its "giant's kettle", its gate, its rock arch and its numerous belvederes. The Merderis Gorges also feature many striking rock escarpments. These are sheltered and privileged places for about fifteen protected bird species, including the Egyptian vulture, Bonelli's eagle, the Lesser kestrel and the Little bustard. The property also contains several typical local buildings separate from the Mas, such as a sheep barn overlooking the Concluses, which can be discovered when hiking in the estate.
Our opinion
"It costs too much to shine in the world. How I will love my deep retreat! In order to live happily, live hidden." These verses by the moralist Jean-Pierre Claris de Florian (1755-1794) could describe better than any the jubilation generated by this haven in the middle of a green desert, both protected from contemporary nuisances and close to the most beautiful villages in the Gard Provençal (Lussan, La Roque sur Cèze, Uzès). The countless trails starting from the Mas symbolise that there is a new path here for every day of one’s life. An ambitious and accomplished restoration, yet absolutely faithful to the origins of the property, has made it possible to preserve a number of period elements, simple but precious witnesses of the life of an important Mas situated on the largest plateau of the future Regional Natural Park of the Garrigues.
7 600 000 €
Fees at the Vendor’s expense
Reference 449405
| Land registry surface area | 356 ha 3 a |
| Main building surface area | 850 m2 |
| Number of bedrooms | 10 |
| Outbuilding surface area | 150 m2 |
Share
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.
