A quirky kitchen is the colourful heart of this home in the small town of Gallician, nestled between Provence and Montpellier. To stay here is to take a step back in time in a historic town. Wicker baskets hang from the high beamed ceiling and painted pottery lines the mantelpiece above a wide stone hearth. Flashes of Majorelle blue, arched doorways and enclaves carved into smooth stone walls leave a slightly Moorish flavour. The poolside lounge area is just the spot for an early evening apéritif, or days simply soaking up the sun. This region of France is a hidden gem, oft untravelled but resplendent with scenery; rose-coloured salt flats and ranches in Camargue, medieval streets in Montpellier, lavender fields in Provence, this is an area begging to be toured. And when you've got a base this good to come home to, why go anywhere else?

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