 |
| Chateau de Bussas |
Location: The Cevennes, France
Accommodation type: Rental Property (Chateau)
Board Basis: Self Catering
Price: From £370 per week
Date Visited: September 2013
We initially booked this property for a week after having watched 'A Good Year' and deciding that we'd quite like to live the life of Russell Crowe's character. I forget exactly where I stumbled upon the chateau, but the low price and convenience (short flight straight out of Gatwick to Montpellier) meant that we didn't hesitate to book. Little did we know that a totally remote week away from the rest of the world would be exactly what we needed thanks to incredible amounts of work stress throughout the summer; I honestly have never felt so burned out.
If you know that feeling, then Bussas is exactly the place to escape to. The chateau is about a two hour drive from the airport and a further 20 minute drive off the main road (involving crossing a precarious, rail-less bridge over the river), before you fall upon the property nestled in its own 200 acre estate. The chateau is divided into gites, ranging from one to three bedrooms. We stayed in Four a Pain, the smallest of those offered. The two level gite was basic, made up in a traditional countryside style, but had two bathrooms, all of the kitchen appliances we needed and a comfy bed.
I have never stayed somewhere so quiet and peaceful. Each day we woke up, drove into town to pick up food for lunch and then collapsed by the river where we never once saw another soul. However, if you're inclined to be more active, I can't think of a better location to go on long walks, canoe, mountain bike or whatever else may take your fancy. Liliane and Bernard look after the property, but tactfully give you as much space as you require. They were perfect hosts who seem to live the perfect, placid life; we are incredibly jealous and were reluctant to return to the hectic city. I already fully intend to return to Bussas to restore and reorient in a year's time.
