Sabine & Mathijs - this is us

We are 2 people with big hearts and lots of passion; lovers of good food, interesting places and exciting travel.


Long before we even met, we had each fallen in love with the Gard region and dreamed of running our own guesthouse. Life brought us together and so, together, we began to pursue our dream.


After working for 15 years in management in a world renowned hotel group, we were able to realise that dream with this magnificent property in the middle of this unique region at the foot of the Cévennes.


We are very proud to welcome you to share it with us - L'Orangerie de Cardet.


A little bit of history...

  • The story of the Orangerie de Cardet

    The estate, comprising of the main house, the orangery and the stables also once housed a silk worm enterprise. It is thought that the buildings date back more than 4 hundred years to when the Valette d'Anduze family built the castle.

  • The meaning behind the names

    As a tribute to the estate's origins, we named our rooms and apartments after the trees which were once grown in the orangery. Once exclusive to princes the trees gradually spread to form part of the native flora of the region. 

  • The Orangery

    During the 17th century, it became very fashionable throughout Europe to collect and grow exotic varieties of trees and plants. These would have included orange and other citrus, pomegranate, fig, laurel, pistachio and olive. Hence the names of our rooms and apartements.

Cardet, our home

Before the 14th century the village, then known as "Saint Saturnin de Coiran", was spread out over the surrounding hills.


The 17th century saw the planting of mulberry trees and the breeding of silkworms. Later as in much of France, hemp was grown.
The hemp was 'carded' to be turned into paper, rope or fabric. It is thought that this is the origin of the name Cardet.


The village which now stands grew up around the castle on the banks of the Gardon d'Anduze at the begining of the 19th century.