Shared facilities at our gay accommodation in southern France
The house was built in the early 1800s by one of Napoleon's generals. Italianate in style, with ornate balustrades, columns and carved stonework, the house that is now home to Cinq & Sept was once the head of a large olive-growing estate.
Today, 'La Grande Maison' (as it is known in the village) forms the perfect venue for our gay accommodation. In our second-floor suites, the original 'Encaustic' tiles, in shades of turquoise, burgundy, olive and pink, have all been restored.
On the ground floor, our Pézenas and Neffiès suites feature exposed stonework and wooden beams, along with many other original features.
The garden at Cinq & Sept descends gently on three terraces, each framed by planters filled with lavender.
On the uppermost level, under a huge Loquat tree, is a fountain and grassy area where you're free to chill out with guests.
On the next level down (due to open at the end of the summer) is the lounge and summer kitchen - also shaded. It's here that you may want to retreat each evening with a glass of chilled rosé. Below this level is the pool and sun-bathing areas. A shower and toilet are planned to be added to this area in 2011.
In keeping with Languedoc's hot, dry weather, the garden is stocked with indigenous Mediterranean plants and herbs - providing plenty of colour and scent throughout the year.
What's a holiday without a mid-day dip in a pool? Just a few steps from your suite will be the cool waters of our swimming pool.
Measuring nine by six meters, it features a unique one meter-wide 'sitting ledge' that runs the entire length of the pool. The ledge is submerged just below the water, so you can lie back and sun-bathe and still stay cool. An ultra-efficient 'heat-exchanger' allows us to heat the pool during the spring and autumn seasons (dates to be announced). We also supply beach / pool towels - to free up your luggage space for other things.
Next to the pool is a sun bathing 'plage' - where you can grab a sun lounger and spend a morning bronzing yourself. There will also be a shower / changing room (hopefully in 2011).
Strategically placed just next to the summer kitchen - our lounge, shaded by a pergola, is the perfect place to relax and chat with other gay guests at our guest house.
The lounge area comprises sofas and a coffee table that can be easily be rearranged to create either an intimate space for two, or more of a shared 'party' environment.
Its proximity to the summer kitchen also means our lounge is a good place to have a mid-day snack.
Self-catering accommodation is all well and good - but the last thing you want to do is have to ferry food and drinks between your suite and the garden.
So we've built a 'summer kitchen' for all our guests to use. Under our 'honesty bar' system, you're free to help yourself to drinks, ice creams and snacks from our fridge-freezer - and then just mark down what you've taken each day.
The kitchen will also be stocked with all the crockery, glasses and cutlery that a gay man could possibly need! As well as a selection of wines. There's also a combination microwave-oven/grill allowing you to heat up food and drinks.
We don't offer bed & breakfast in most of our suites, but our 'Chapel Suite' - which doesn't have a kitchen, offers breakfast each morning on our first-floor terrace.
For our other suites, there are two great bakeries in the village, and all suites except the Chapel Suite have kitchens - so preparing a delicious breakfast every morning should be easy.
