Gîte Chez Mary

The five of us were very comfortable at Chez Mary for our three weeks in September 2025. The gîte has plenty of room, attractive furnishings, and everything needed to settle in for a short visit or a longer stay. We liked having communal spaces to eat together, indoors or on the terrace, as well as quieter corners for reading. All of us slept well in the very comfortable beds, with peaceful nights and no light pollution. The Wi-Fi was also excellent for video calls when work came up. The views from every window are spectacular, taking in the mountains, the nearby lake, the valley, and Chorges below. The setting is hard to beat. There’s so much to do nearby that you could keep busy for months. Footpaths start right at the house and head into the mountains through alpine meadows with panoramic views. The cycling routes offer climbs at different levels. Our favorite ride was from Chorges to Embron, and you can take the local train back, which made it possible to linger over lunch there without worrying about cycling back up the hills. Ski slopes are a short drive away in winter. We also learned there’s white water rafting nearby, though we didn’t have time to try it on this trip. Our highlight was going to Lac de Serre-Ponçon most mornings for breakfast and a swim. It’s a stunning spot, with crystal-clear blue water, and we often had the whole lake to ourselves. Chorges has places to eat, lovely boulangeries for breakfast, a weekly market, and a large Intermarché supermarket with plenty of good food and wine for cooking. We also drove to Gap for dinner a few times, especially enjoying our meal at Le Bouchon. It was a wonderful holiday. Thanks to our hosts, and their beautiful dog Griff, for making us feel so at home.