Spacious four bedroom house and garden, outside Montpellier, France

We spent a lovely two months in this home, and are very sad to be leaving. The home is unique, and filled with lovely architectural details such as massive wooden beams and two-foot thick stone walls. It has very large windows that open wide, and allow cool breezes to circulate through the house. The kitchen is large and well equipped, and we loved cooking there with fresh ingredients from the many neighboring markets. Our children loved the loft bedroom and wide open main floor, as well as the large walled garden and excellent pool. We had enough space for our family of five, plus spare rooms for family and friends to visit. The landlords have been very helpful, and have given us lifts, tips and suggestions on many occasions, including tours to local wineries. A car is very nice to have for access to local cities, towns and attractions, but not necessary due to bus and train connections to Montpellier. A bicycle is a great thing to have here, as there is excellent riding to be enjoyed along hundreds of miles of local roads through the surrounding vinyards and villages. Out time in southern France has been excellent for everybody in the family, and this special home is a big part of it.

We are just over two months in this incredibly restored stone winery and already anticipate being sad to leave at the end of our year here. In addition to the beauty of the vistas, the stunning 1850s architecture and superb design and craftsmanship of the renovation, the warm welcome we have received in the neighborhood and at our children's schools (the creche and l'ecole maternelle), this house simply feels like home. We and the children are enjoying the beautiful pool and enormous lawn dotted with olive trees, and the gorgeous weather is feeling like summer through mid-October. How to make a sabbatical stretch beyond the year that we have? Haven't figured it out yet, so we'd encourage others to contact our amazingly gracious and helpful landlords to arrange for your extended stay in the South of France. With all our needs for daily living accommodated in the beautifully appointed home, we are free to shift our pace of life and benefit from the pleasures of the sun-soaked Languedoc-Roussillon region and the neighboring thriving city of Montpellier. With nearby supermarkets, the organic produce vendor and boulangeries in town, and wineries all around, we're able to try our hand at French cuisine. Every day here is peaceful, although the town offers many activities for children and adults (http://www.ville-lunelviel.fr/associations.php), and the fabulous amenities and universities of Montpellier are 20 minutes away with outstanding public transport (currently the fastest growing city in Europe). Living near the Mediterranean couldn't be any better!