What makes this gay guesthouse in rural southern France such a hidden gem?
What’s it like to run your own gay guesthouse in the south of France?
Mark
The south of France is famed for its beautiful countryside. It captivated London couple Greg Taylor and Alex Charles, who relocated to Roujan in the 2000s to open their dream project: a gay guesthouse called Cinq & Sept. The rural resort now attracts guests from far and wide. During the summer months, it offers a balmy escape close to local vineyards and not far from the nearest beach.
GayCities caught up with Greg to find out more.
How long have you been running Cinq & Sept?
Pack your bags, we’re going on an adventure
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We bought the property in 2008, renovated it, and opened it as a gay guesthouse in 2010. So this is currently our 16th season.
Meeting and relocating to France
When and how did you meet?
We met in 1997 in London, where we were both living and working in advertising. We got our ‘civil partnership’ in 2004.
Back in London, Alex was a senior account director, I was a copywriter and then a strategic planner. We decided to escape from London, and in 2003 we sold our house, chucked in our jobs, and packed the car with all we could take, plus a dog, and headed down to the South of France for a new adventure.
We initially set up and ran a small web-design agency, working with small, local companies such as winemakers and property developers.
In 2008, we fell in love with a huge ‘ruin’ that was 200 years old and packed with gorgeous original features such as stone columns, terracotta ballustrades, exposed stone walls, and original ‘encaustic’ floor tiles. We only had enough to buy the building, and so decided to turn it into a business (a gay gueshouse) in order to be able to borrow the money to renovate it.
“Our architect was a crook”
What were the biggest challenges in launching Cinq & Sept?
The renovations took 18 months and were fraught with problems. Our architect was a crook. Builders disappeared with up-front cash. Lots of unforeseen surprises increased the budget. And we were late finishing, with guests arriving in the summer of 2010 to a not-quite-finished guesthouse.
Is it pretty much exclusively a gay resort?
Yes, it’s exclusively gay. Some lesbians stayed many years ago, but since then, it’s been just men who come. Most are couples, but we get a good number of single travelers too, especially in spring and autumn. Most are from North America and northern Europe, aged 35-65.
How many rooms do you have?
We have 10 ‘suites’, each a self-contained apartment with a kitchen and bathroom, ranging from 30m2 to 90m2. One of the suites has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We’re open from April to the end of December. And then from January to the end of March, we take 1-3 month longterm bookings that are like renting an AirBNB. Perfect for people who want to escape, look for a house, write a book or work remotely in the sun.
Roujan
Can you tell us about the location of the hotel and the surrounding region?
Cinq & Sept is set in the heart of the charming village of Roujan, in the Languedoc region of southern France. Just a short drive from the Mediterranean coast, the hotel offers the perfect blend of relaxed village life and easy access to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the south of France. Narrow medieval streets, friendly cafés, and a traditional market create an authentic French atmosphere right on your doorstep, while the surrounding countryside is dotted with vineyards, olive groves, and historic villages.
The region around Cinq & Sept is rich with opportunities for discovery. To the south, the golden beaches of the Mediterranean are only half an hour away, inviting you to swim, sunbathe, or enjoy fresh seafood by the sea.
To the north rise the dramatic hills of the Haut-Languedoc Natural Park, where you’ll find stunning hiking trails, crystal-clear rivers, and hidden medieval castles. The historic towns of Pézenas, Béziers, and Montpellier are all nearby.
Wine lovers will find themselves in paradise here, as the Languedoc is one of France’s most exciting wine regions. Many local domaines welcome visitors for tastings, where you can sample everything from crisp whites to bold reds.
Tantric and hiking retreats
You also seem to host a number of retreats. Can you tell us a little about those?
Our spring and autumn retreats are a fantastic way to learn new skills and meet new people. We’ve tracked down some amazing instructors to lead each of our retreats – all experts in their field. Each retreat begins with a group dinner, and a group breakfast is included each morning. Guests also have time each day to explore the region, relax by the pool, or unwind in our jacuzzi.
Our current lineup includes.
- Hike & Dip Retreat. This consists of four guided walks through diverse and stunning terrains—mountain, vineyard, lake, and coast. Each end with an optional refreshing swim in nature. Participants enjoy scenic picnics, a group dinner to kick off the week, and plenty of time to unwind in the pool or jacuzzi. Dogs are welcome!
- Learn to Massage Retreat. This is a four-day immersive training in myofascial release and trigger point therapy led by Pierre, the hotel’s skilled masseur.
- Tantric Energy Retreat. Led by Joey Tabone, journey into your inner energy through guided yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, touch, and massage—all designed to awaken and harness your Tantric potential.
- Naked Yoga Retreat: Led by Ian Rose, this four-day body-positive yoga retreat focuses on connection through movement and touch.
Weekly events
Running a guesthouse is a non-stop job: What aspect of running Cinq & Sept do you enjoy the most?
Seeing guests have a fantastic time – whether it’s de-stressing from their stressful work-lives, or having a blast with other guests they’ve met. One thing we want to mention, and which is central to what we do, is all the weekly events we hold here for guests. They include a weekly brunch, a catamaran cruise, two pool parties, a Gourmet Pizza Night, group kayaking, and a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. They’re what bring the guests together and make their stay really memorable.
Cinq Et Sept is the perfect getaway if you…
Want to relax in a beautiful, up-market, very social ‘house-party’ environment with like-minded gay men.
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