Les Martes

This house is located in the hamlet of Le Serret and is several centuries old, like most houses in this area. The front part of the building is our own home, the gîte is located in the back part. The space has been transformed into a luxurious, comfortable holiday home, furnished with attention to detail and materials.

There is a courtyard next to the house. The part in front of the gîte is separated and has its own entrance. Here are a table and patio chairs. Guests can also make free use of the garden in front of the house and enjoy the sun in various places.
A jeu de boules court has been laid out on the second terrace, balls are available.

The guests have complete privacy.
We live in the front part of the building and are available for advice and assistance. We have owned the house for more than thirty years and can give you a lot of information about all kinds of things.

Our location is not suitable for children and people with walking difficulties.
Smoking indoors is prohibited.
The changeover day is Saturday, departure no later than 10:00 am and arrival from 4:00 pm.

Our house is in the center of the 'Parc Naturel des Monts d'Ardèche'. This is the rougher part of the Ardêche, an area of beautiful, protected landscapes and small hamlets, untouched by time. Winding roads wind their way through orchards of peaches and apricots, chestnut forests and impressive Gorges to the ancient volcanic craters on the high plains of the Ardèche. Most of the houses are built in granite and are several centuries old, including our house, which is located in the hamlet of Le Serret, belonging to the municipality of Issamoulenc.

The famous Gorges d'Ardêche are within easy reach, as well as areas such as the Drôme and Provence. There are also nearby villages such as Balazuc (one of the hundred most beautiful villages in France), Vogue, Thines, Largentiére and many others where time has stood still.
And for lovers of more hustle and bustle, how about canoeing in the river Ardèche or a trip to Vallon Pont d'Arc and then along the Gorges d'Ardèche with its magnificent views. A visit to the beautiful cities of Valence, Orange and Avignon with its famous ferry (bridge) is one of the possibilities. You should certainly not miss the weekly markets. They are very lively and an important part of local life. There is a market somewhere almost every day and the flea markets are definitely worth a visit for enthusiasts.

To walk

The landscape in the middle Ardêche is an El Dorado for the sporty walker. It is the perfect area for walking, through chestnut woods and on terraces that have been cultivated for centuries, where you can discover all kinds of insects, butterflies and birds. You often walk on old paths, flanked by beautifully stacked walls. These paths take you to small hamlets, beautiful in their simplicity.
In clear weather you have a magnificent view of the tops of the Vercors and the Alps.
You can choose from walks of different lengths and difficulty, the walks are well signposted. There are plenty of walking guides and maps available in the holiday home, which you can of course use. Several hiking trails from the house or close to home have been translated into Dutch.

Misuse

With the advent of the electric bicycle, especially in the Ardèche, the most beautiful cycle paths have been built at an accelerated pace, often on old railway tracks, so flat. If you have electric bicycles, feel free to bring them with you. You can store them safely with us and we can tell you all about the possibilities to make beautiful trips. Take a look at the site of l'Ardèche à Vélo. This site can also be read in English and already shows many possibilities. The Ardèche is also an ideal environment for the sporty cyclist. The best proof is the “Ardechoise” . An annual cycling event with 15,000 participants who follow dozens of routes throughout the Ardèche department. These routes can also be cycled without a competition element. Cycling in the Ardêche means cycling in a mountainous area. It is a medium mountain range here, with peaks of up to 1400 m.
There is a dense network of well maintained small quiet roads. Many climbs are rewarded with a magnificent view. Kilometers of descents followed by tough climbs on lonely small roads that end up in picturesque villages. In other places gently rising cols up to 1400 m. with the beautiful landscape above as a reward.
We have plenty of maps available, which you can of course use. Thanks to many years of cycling in the Ardêche, this region has become very well known to Martien and he can tell you everything about routes and heights.