French


A view to a thrill S


ome homes have nice views. Others have beautiful views. But this luxury villa in the


Gard department of southern France is literally on another level. On a clear day, you can see the distant Pyrénées from the contemporary property, which sits above a village near the ancient city of Nîmes. Thanks to its southwestern


exposure, the five-bedroom home basks in Mediterranean light from sunrise till sunset, making it the perfect place to entertain and enjoy the good life. It’s the kind of backdrop you can imagine stealing the show in a James Bond movie, though the 180-degree vista of vineyards and villages is more view to a thrill than View to a Kill. A tantalising feature of


this property is that it could easily be divided into two


distinct dwellings, each with parking space at the right level, independent disability-friendly access and a terrace with stunning views. Currently, the main living


space is on the first floor; a large lounge-diner and well equipped kitchen leading onto a covered terrace offering sunshine, shade and plenty of space for alfresco dining. There’s a master suite and second ensuite bedroom on this level as well as a large laundry room. You can either take the


internal or external staircase down to the ground floor where there are a further three ensuite bedrooms and a second open-plan living space with kitchen. This could either belong to an independent apartment or continue to serve as a spare kitchen for the villa so that you can nip in from


16 FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: May/June 2024


property dreams


One stunning villa or two luxury apartments? Ruth Wood falls in love with a flexible property that enjoys spectacular views over the Gard countryside


the terrace and easily whip up refreshments to enjoy beside the pool. There’s a large garage and car


port on this level as well as a wine cellar and utility rooms. Wrapping round the villa on three sides are 1,634m2


of


mature gardens with fruit trees, cypresses and olives, complementing the exotic wood terracing. Almost every room on both floors opens onto the terraces or the garden, bringing a Mediterranean alfresco atmosphere to the whole property. For hot summer days, there’s


air-conditioning throughout the property (reversible in the master bedroom) and for cooler days the property is kept cosy through a mains gas underfloor heating system. Given its far-reaching rural


views and private setting, the villa is surprisingly well


connected. It’s just a short stroll down to the heart of the village where you’ll find an all-year- round bar-restaurant, bakery, bar-tabac and primary school. The vans that visit the square every Friday give you a chance to stock up on cheese and vegetables. Alternatively, you could pop along to the grocery store in the neighbouring village just 3.5km away or to the supermarket and other shops in the larger village 4km away where there’s also a secondary school. Beyond are the many


delights of Gard, including the Mediterranean coast, the city of Nîmes with its Roman amphitheatre, and the famous Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct with another spectacular view! ■


On the market for €1.75m ab-real-estate.com


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