Today, you’re in for a special treat. While we were on our Viking River cruise in France, we visited a little town called Viviers on one of our outings. Our tour guide, Gigi, had a friend who lived there in the town and she surprised us that afternoon before we went back to the ship and stopped at this friend’s house and announced that we were all invited in for a personal tour. What a surprise that was! I was thrilled of course. Who doesn’t want to get a peek inside a real French townhome? I sure did and all of us loved it. Frances, the homeowner, warmly invited us all in for a personal tour of her home.
Here’s Frances at her front door and there were about 20 of us on the bus on the tour and she invited us all in to roam around her house at our leisure and in the backyard she was serving cake and refreshments for all of us. One of the best treats I’ve ever had was getting to see a home in person. Frances is an English born lady and she married a French man (I think). He later died and she now lives alone in the house, but she did say she had grandchildren that come and visit. I’m sure they love this house, it has so many nooks and crannies to explore.
Inside the foyer. You can see there are lots of stone accents and plaster walls, stone stairs, different types of floor coverings throughout. She told us that the house isn’t that old, but was built in the 1600’s. Ha! That’s very old for us, right? It was a charming, homey real life home and you can see the care and details she has around her home. It looks so inviting and liveable. I asked her if I could share the pics on my blog and she said yes, so I’m happy to be able to share it with all of you.
I won’t try to narrate all the pictures, but enjoy the tour. The house has 3 levels and lots of nooks, crannies and rooms. It’s a huge home with a backyard too, so we’ll get there after the home tour.
Stone stairs
Mark heading up the stairs. I had a ball looking around this home and taking all the pics. I tried to capture the feel.
The homeowner’s bathroom, large and spacious with a soaking tub.
A look at those famous shutters of France from the inside. Real working shutters that open and close.
Notice the bee fabric.
Looking at two floors and where they meet. Tile and wood.
Beautiful artwork throughout.
Loved the stone floors and steps.
Looking back down all the floors.
The house just keeps going and going.
More shutters.
The kitchen.
The backyard terrace was a magical space. She served us cake and beverages and we all enjoyed getting to enjoy the backyard for awhile.
This huge stone wall backed up to a church, I think it was.
It was so nice of her to invite us in for a visit.
Cake and beverages for all. So nice!
The back door came off the kitchen. I imagine the homeowner gets lots of exercise in this house with all the stairs.
Mark and I perched on these adirondack chairs in the far corner.
Everyone enjoyed being here for a bit.
I didn’t introduce you yet to anyone we met on the cruise, but these 2 ladies were such fun to hang out with. Meet Susan and Martha. Susan (on the left) lives in Marietta, so we had that in common right off the bat. She and Martha are sister-in-laws (Susan married Martha’s brother). Martha lives outside Boston and they both lost their husbands in the last few years and now they travel together when time allows. I met Susan as soon as we landed in Nice, so we were on the pre-excursion with them and got to know them a bit then and then on the cruise, we sat together most meals. They were such a pleasure to get to know. Susan and I are staying in touch and will definitely get together again soon. I hope she’s reading this, she subscribed to my blog after I told them what I do.
Frances, the homeowner, told us a lot about her house.
We also met her pet turtles who live in the garden.
What a charming garden space it was!
Frances then told us she has a secret tunnel, so of course we wanted to see that. She led us down stone stairs in the backyard and through the secret tunnel that led back into the house. I bet her grandchildren love this part.
Back inside the house from the tunnel. The little girl in me loved this part!
Real skeleton keys for the door.
Just look at those keys!
Touring Frances’s home was truly a dreamy experience and I’m so glad we got to see it.
The street in front of Frances’s house.
I love seeing all the different colored shutters.
A view on the way back to the ship.
Back to the ship for the evening. I hope you enjoyed this tour of a French home as much as I did. It was such a wonderful experience and I’m grateful we got it. Seeing inside a real French home is a dream come true. Maybe it looks like you expected or maybe it doesn’t, but one thing struck me. It’s comfortable, homey, and welcoming and you can tell a real person lives there with lots of beautiful and precious things collected over the years. I’m so glad she let me share her home!
Rhoda!! This is Susan Hadley! Yes!! Martha and I so enjoyed meeting you and your husband on this fabulous trip to the south of France.
You are a delight and I will definitely stay in touch!
Hi, Susan, we will definitely have to plan a day to get together soon!
Most of your pictures aren’t showing up but it might just be my iPad. I loved the few I could see!
I loved this; my husband worked in Frankfurt for 2 years and lived in a village outside of town. There were many houses like this; they remind me to cherish my things and not to buy throw away things! What a joy it must have been to tour this house and meet this lady!
Wow!! I anguish about matching patterns and this is house is so happy, I need to relax. I love it all. I wish there was a video and I could hear you say “real working shutters that open and close!!!” I am also so entertained by those details. And I love seeing what one wears on a cruise like that. I know you show packing lists but in my mind it all comes together more formally some kinda way. Phew, I think I can relax now. I love this whole post so much, thank you to Frances!!!
Rhoda, this would have been a dream come true for me too! Thank you for taking us along!
Thank you for sharing these lovely pics! What a charming home and such a treat for you all to tour.
What is the age of the home? When was it built?
I did have that in the post. Frances, the homeowner, said the house isn’t that old, built in the 1600’s. Ha! We got a laugh over that one.
Sounds like a real treat. What excursion were you on when this happened?
We were on the Viking Rhone River cruise from Avignon to Lyon.
Rhoda, Thanks for sharing these pictures. Touring a French home would have been a highlight for me except all the stairs. Did the house have any views out the windows. Difficult to tell with the shutters closed. I noticed fans so probably didn’t have AC. The owner dressed with style which I think the French women are born with style. Loved all the art work on the walls.
Hi, Marcia, from what I saw, this was a townhome so it appeared windows on the front and back of the house. Those working shutters were on the front of the house facing the street. Such a neat place to visit!
Just beautiful. So much to look at. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful, wonderful post! LOVED it!! This is what a home should “be like” – in terms of warm, inviting, personal!! Know it was a highlight of your trip! Thank you for sharing – and thanks to your hostess also!
What a wonderful and unexpected treat! How lucky was your group to be able to see first hand how a French household is styled and the historic building as lived in today. Viking cruises are the best and I cannot wait to take another one. I have enjoyed the posts on your travels, thank you for sharing.
What a treat for you, and us! Thank you for all these pictures of such a beautiful home.
Rho,
What a treat to be able to visit something from the 1600’s. That place is amazing! How many square feet do you think that the house has?
Thank you so much for sharing dear friend.
Judy
Hey, Judy, it was a big house with 3 levels so I’d say at least 3K s.f. if not more.
Your post is so lovely. It just made me smile because we did the same cruise in July 2024 and just so happens Frances was our tour guide in Viviers. What a special treat that you got to visit her home! I remember her as being a very good guide and making Viviers come alive!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi, Liz, that’s so nice! I didn’t realize Frances was a tour guide too, but we sure were happily surprised to get to tour her home.