Our life at our hotel Chateau de Montcaud has only just begun, and yet, after two years on the edge of the Provence, at the entrance to the Val de la Cèze, this special corner of the Gard department in Languedoc in the south of France, we already look back on many experiences – at least as far as the weather is concerned.

The Good News

Without batting an eyelid, I am happy to say that the sun really does shine a lot. Also, it is hard not to rave about the mild temperatures that the region is known for year-round, especially if, like us, you come from the more northern spheres of the European continent.

Blessing in Disguise

And though we are blessed with many hours of sunshine, we have to mention its partner in crime, one that is not always felt with as much pleasure: the big wind, the mistral. A cool airflow from the north gains speed travelling through the lower parts of the Cevennes, and is known to sweep across the plains with considerable force. However, what is even more impressive than the wind’s intensity, is its ability to conjure up a cloudless sky and bright sunshine within a very short time, and in turn casting the entire region in its infamous light. This occurrence will have even the most cynical visitor wrapped around the finger, with the magic of the experience burnt into memory.

When it Rains, it Pours

However forceful, the Mistral is not always able to drive away the clouds. And, under the right circumstances, even here in the beautiful South, strong rains may last several days. Fifteen years ago, one such „episode Cevenole“ was responsible for a big flood by the river Cèze. This also affected parts of the chateau’s park, and consequently, part of the property was declared to lie within a danger of flooding zone. Even though a surveyor has confirmed that this is not actually the case, one of our planned construction projects has been rendered impossible. But that’s a story for another day. 

Dog Days of Summer

Sunny periods are known to last a long time during summer season in the Provence. Unfortunately, if they are as long and as intense as last year, they may well bring on the threat of a dangerous drought. In August 2017, forest fires raged throughout southern Europe and in our immediate vicinity, as the region was declared to be suffering from an extreme heatwave.

A Winter’s Tale

We waited in vain for the redemptive autumn rains last year, and did not experience an actual „episode Cevenole“, which would have revived the vegetation after the hard summer. However, in the winter we enjoyed a different kind of precipitation: snow fell all around the Chateau de Montcaud, and set the property in a fairytale landscape, covered with the proverbial icing-sugar. Though the white splendour did not last long, it posed as a backdrop for some wonderful pictures, as can be seen above in the gallery above.

Sunny Outlook

And now we are entering the next period of warmth and sunshine. February saw the mercury rise above 20 degrees for the first time this year, allowing a glimpse of the glory of spring in the South of France. Which, without a doubt, will be followed by a fantastic summer 2018 – and this, at least from our point of view, not only on a metereological level.