The Sud-Ardèche is the northern limit of the Mediterranean climate  with its olive trees, evergreen oaks and maritime pines. Les Vans is a typical friendly Southern town where, during the quieter months one is just as likely to hear patois spoken in the cafés and bars as French. They play boules all evening and nurture family feuds with Mediterranean zeal. It has a lively Saturday market……we are a twelve-minute drive from there.

Le Savel is a 17^th century stone farmhouse with various outbuildings which were used for chestnut-drying and silkworm rearing….the main activities along with grapes and olives until about forty years ago. Our nearest village is Seyras. Sadly ‘Chez Sully’ closed its doors several years ago but the patron still runs an ad hoc bar from his sideboard for the benefit of his cronies. After much arm-twisting we did once get him to re-open his doors and prepare a wild-boar dinner for a small group….using the recipe for which he was widely renowned.

The setting of Le Savel is exceptional. At 350 metres altitude and peaceful without being isolated, the property has an uninterrupted panorama to the south….of the Chassezac river and the hills and mountains beyond, its terraced land descending steeply to a stream through vines and olive trees, pine woods and heather.We are directly on the G.R.4 and there are many other walks to enjoy without recourse to car. There is pony-trekking nearby ; mountain bikes for hire ; tennis in Les Vans ; canoeing in the Chassezac and Ardèche rivers ; and we have our own 11m. x 5m. swimming pool. We garden on an organic basis and there is generally produce available from our fruit and vegetable areas. We also have vines and produce our wine. But gardening in competition with wild boar and badgers has its special problems