Alright, let’s dive right in—with the number of overseas enquires lately for family-friendly villas in the South of France, I’m going to try to pack in as much info as possible about this one. I know a lot of you folks abroad are asking what life is really like here in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, so let’s walk through it, and I’ll add what you need to know, straight from years of working with expats and international buyers.
This villa sits in Les Rives de l’Ardèche—a really sought-after private domain just at the edge of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, in the Ardèche region of southern France. The address is Les Rives de l'Ardèche 233/26, 07150 Vallon-Pont-d'Arc for you to plug into your map apps. This isn’t the touristy, crowded Côte d’Azur—think more local, more nature, more authenticity, and honestly, way better value for what you get, especially for a family or group looking for a proper detached house.
About the villa: Number one, it’s totally detached and about 127m², so you’ve got real space, not a crammed holiday cottage. The plot itself is 734m², with a landscaped garden (I’ve seen it myself—it’s got real potential for those who want easy outside living, BBQs, maybe a pet running around, or just privacy for a sunlounger). The house is already in good condition—nothing major needed, so you won’t be spending your holidays dealing with endless renovation headaches.
It’s got 5 bedrooms—rare to find at this price—and 2 bathrooms, plus a usable pool (7x4m, with a heat pump new as of 2024), so swimming season is long here. Four bedrooms have aircon, which makes a real difference because summer temperatures can get up there (around 30-35°C in July and August, but you do get cool evenings thanks to the countryside location). Winters are mild, with hardly ever any snow—usually just cool, sunny days. If you’re thinking of full-time living, it’s a great year-round climate.
Let me run you through the layout—because if you’re planning on hosting, or looking at this as an investment for rental, layout matters. Downstairs, you’ll get a real sense of space: entrance hall, guest loo, big living room with a working fireplace (good for cooler months), kitchen (all the basics: oven, dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer). The living room has big glass doors straight out to the terrace and pool—great for keeping an eye on kids or just mixing indoor/outdoor living, which honestly is what life here is all about.
Also on the ground floor, there’s a sleeping wing—really good for guests or older family members, with 2 double bedrooms, each opening onto the garden, and a shared bathroom (full bath, shower, washbasin, WC). Upstairs, you’ve got 3 more double bedrooms, plus a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The upstairs loggia is my personal favourite place in the house—catch the breeze and take in the valley views.
Here’s a snapshot of *key property features*—and if anyone needs specs or more details, just message me:
- Detached on 734m² plot
- Private heated pool (7x4m, with roman steps + safety cover)
- Landscaped garden, architect-designed
- 5 bedrooms
- 2 bathrooms
- Four bedrooms with air conditioning
- Central heating
- Spacious living/dining room with fireplace
- Full kitchen appliances, inc. dishwasher and oven
- Dedicated carport + second parking space
- EV charging point
- Separate storage outbuilding
- 9 solar panels (lower your yearly energy bills)
- Sold furnished (inventory negotiable)
- Covered terrace + various outdoor seating spots
The property is in good shape—not a fixer-upper and no nasty surprises that I’ve seen. Of course, no home is ever ‘perfect’: maybe you’ll want to update decor, swap out some fittings, or put your own stamp on it, but you won’t need to do a total overhaul.
*Community amenities* include:
- Large communal pool
- Tennis courts
- Children’s playground
- Secure, gated environment—very well maintained
For those of you only starting to look at France: Vallon-Pont-d’Arc is one of those towns that mixes real, working-French atmosphere with just enough tourism to keep things busy in summer, but not so much that you lose authenticity. Gorgeous weekly markets (regional cheeses, honey, local wine—bring a basket!), bakeries, some great family-run restaurants, plus supermarkets and all the basics you’ll want.
In terms of *what you can do here*, the options are endless. The Ardèche river is within walking distance, so you can kayak or canoe right underneath the famous Pont d’Arc (a natural stone arch—google it). Hiking and cycling in the nearby nature reserves, climbing, horse riding, and swimming are big draws. The Chauvet Cave (UNESCO, world-famous ancient cave paintings) is right here. For the kids, there’s a ton—playgrounds, adventure parks, safe spots on the river for paddling. In spring and autumn, it’s quieter and makes a peaceful, authentic base for working remotely or really becoming a part of the community.
If you’re thinking villa lifestyle—it’s mostly outdoor living: coffees under the trees, long lunches, evening swims. You get the privacy of your own garden, but also the security of a gated community that keeps things relaxed and neighbourly but not intrusive. It’s not a ‘party area’, it’s more relaxed, family-oriented, with a mix of international owners and locals.
Buying here as a foreigner is straightforward compared to bigger cities—lots of people buy to live here full time, others rent out to tourists when they’re away (there’s good demand in summer/shoulder seasons, but don’t expect full occupancy year round, be realistic).
So, if you want more details, floorplans, or a video tour—let me know. With a price of €439,500 plus buyer’s costs, for a 5-bedroom villa in a top spot in the South of France, this is one you’ll want to see. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can—apologies if my replies are sometimes slow, with the amount of buyer interest from abroad these days! But I do try my best to keep up. Let me know if you want to organise a viewing or discuss your buying situation.
