We first visited this area about 25 years ago. Having started a new job, I was short of cash,
so we were lucky enough to rent a house owned by a work colleague.
We then started to look for Gites in the area, so we could be there when our friends were using their house.
We had also made friends with others that have holiday homes or live locally.
Believe me, we must have tried most of the Gites around this area, and sorry to say they usually have problems unless they are expensive.
The biggest problem is sofa’s that convert to beds. They usually seem to be well worn and have a tendency to swallow you up as you sit in them.
And how many beds have we tried to sleep in that are so ancient, that you end up sleeping in the middle as there is no support.
In one Gite, we took the mattress off the bed in the spare bedroom to try and make one bed that was comfy, didn’t work!
Gites are also ’summer houses’ so travelling out of season means they are often impossible to keep warm, most have a wood burner if you’re lucky,
which is novel for a start, but not so much fun cleaning out & lighting, plus of course you need a supply of wood, often not provided.
They are often modified from old farm buildings, which can mean you need the lights on permanently as the windows are small,
they are usually in out of the way places, which may be fantastically quiet, but can highlight other problems.
Amongst those we have experienced are mice - very annoying when running around in the loft above you when you're in bed,
toads squeezing through damp stone walls and even bats flying round the bedroom ceiling!
Then there is French decor. They rarely have carpets, just wooden floors.
Kitchen units often consist of a worktop with space below covered by a curtain, easy pickings for the mice!
They also seem to have a habit of using wallpaper up the wall, over the ceiling and down the opposite wall, sometimes on the doors too!
Not too bad you would think, except they always seem to choose a pattern that is usually small and flowery?
Having said all of that, there are some lovely Gites out there. The best are usually expensive, or if they are reasonably priced,
are soon found and become impossible to book unless you do it years in advance.
Even then, you have to watch out for the term ’satellite TV’ as it often means FRENCH satellite TV. Believe me, you don’t need French TV,
even if you speak French, it seems to make no sense, worse, they still appear to be watching the equivalent of Benny Hill & It’s A Knock Out,
just without Benny Hill or Eddie Waring!!
When we started our search for our own holiday home, avoiding as much as possible from the above was a priority.
We also didn’t want a building project in the middle of nowhere.
It can get a bit wearing when everytime you want some bread or to sit in a bar and have a drink, you have to drive five miles.
French Estate Agents think the English want an old barn with no facilities with the exception of fifteen acres of land!
Having experienced two thirds of an acre at my parents’ house, I knew that land was exactly what we didn’t want,
although we still have a small, overgrown garden.
It took three years of house hunting on at least two trips a year before we found our house in the exact village we had hoped.
We did make offers on three other houses over that period, oddly all were number 5(?), but for various reasons they all fell through.
The house was in good condition when we bought it in September 2014. In France it is normal to remove all the light fittings and most other items with the exception of the bath, sink and toilet. There was a small section of worktop in the kitchen containing the kitchen sink and a gas hob.
We have fitted out the kitchen and replaced the kitchen units. On recent trips we have fitted a new fan oven, a new dishwasher,
and most recently a butchers block to provide extra workspace.
It is unusual that there are carpets in the lounge and bedrooms, the bedroom carpets have been replaced,
so the bedrooms are fully furnished. Both bedrooms sleep two people.
There is full gas central heating, luxury, and the boiler has been told it has to speak English!
Unfortunately the original proved to be broken beyond repair when we bought, so we had to have a new boiler in December 2014.
Happily it is so far working well, keeping the place cosy, even during visits in December and February.
All the rooms have been decorated since we took on the house, I have now replaced all the light fittings.
The house had been re-wired before we bought it, so the electrics are in good order.
It also has smoke & Co2 detectors, a legal requirement in France.
We have enjoyed the process of setting up the house, it is an unusual situation, as when you buy a house,
you normally have many items to furnish and equip it with.
This has been a situation where we have had to buy most things, so almost everything is new. It does involve a lot of price comparison,
some things are cheaper in France, some a lot more expensive. It’s surprising how much we have taken over in the back of my car!
The main house is now finished, with new gates and shutters for the main bedroom fitted at the beginning of 2016.
We commenced work on the studio apartment behind the main house in November 2016.
This provides full access for disabled visitors as well as further guest accommodation.
See the 'Project' page for the latest updates.
This is our holiday home, not a rental property. It is something we would like to share with family and friends,
so if they wish to experience a little of life in a French village it is there.
We have to charge something to cover the costs of water, gas and electricity. These are cheaper than in the UK, but still have to be paid for!
There is another charge called ’Tax Foncierge’ which is similar to Council Tax except it also includes the TV licence,
which we still have to pay for even though we don’t get French TV!
If you want to visit, please do so and enjoy. The main thing we ask is that you leave the place as you find it, and lock it back up securely.
If you experience any problems whilst you are there, you can always give me a call, just remember, France is normally 1 hour ahead of the UK,
so no calls at 10pm!!
Rural areas of France are like England was about 50 years ago. Our friends who live a few miles away never lock their house or car,
indeed they leave the car keys in the ignition, as do many locals!
I wouldn’t encourage you to do that, but most things can be left safely,
anyway, the French won’t steal a UK car, the steering wheel is on the wrong side!
so we were lucky enough to rent a house owned by a work colleague.
We then started to look for Gites in the area, so we could be there when our friends were using their house.
We had also made friends with others that have holiday homes or live locally.
Believe me, we must have tried most of the Gites around this area, and sorry to say they usually have problems unless they are expensive.
The biggest problem is sofa’s that convert to beds. They usually seem to be well worn and have a tendency to swallow you up as you sit in them.
And how many beds have we tried to sleep in that are so ancient, that you end up sleeping in the middle as there is no support.
In one Gite, we took the mattress off the bed in the spare bedroom to try and make one bed that was comfy, didn’t work!
Gites are also ’summer houses’ so travelling out of season means they are often impossible to keep warm, most have a wood burner if you’re lucky,
which is novel for a start, but not so much fun cleaning out & lighting, plus of course you need a supply of wood, often not provided.
They are often modified from old farm buildings, which can mean you need the lights on permanently as the windows are small,
they are usually in out of the way places, which may be fantastically quiet, but can highlight other problems.
Amongst those we have experienced are mice - very annoying when running around in the loft above you when you're in bed,
toads squeezing through damp stone walls and even bats flying round the bedroom ceiling!
Then there is French decor. They rarely have carpets, just wooden floors.
Kitchen units often consist of a worktop with space below covered by a curtain, easy pickings for the mice!
They also seem to have a habit of using wallpaper up the wall, over the ceiling and down the opposite wall, sometimes on the doors too!
Not too bad you would think, except they always seem to choose a pattern that is usually small and flowery?
Having said all of that, there are some lovely Gites out there. The best are usually expensive, or if they are reasonably priced,
are soon found and become impossible to book unless you do it years in advance.
Even then, you have to watch out for the term ’satellite TV’ as it often means FRENCH satellite TV. Believe me, you don’t need French TV,
even if you speak French, it seems to make no sense, worse, they still appear to be watching the equivalent of Benny Hill & It’s A Knock Out,
just without Benny Hill or Eddie Waring!!
When we started our search for our own holiday home, avoiding as much as possible from the above was a priority.
We also didn’t want a building project in the middle of nowhere.
It can get a bit wearing when everytime you want some bread or to sit in a bar and have a drink, you have to drive five miles.
French Estate Agents think the English want an old barn with no facilities with the exception of fifteen acres of land!
Having experienced two thirds of an acre at my parents’ house, I knew that land was exactly what we didn’t want,
although we still have a small, overgrown garden.
It took three years of house hunting on at least two trips a year before we found our house in the exact village we had hoped.
We did make offers on three other houses over that period, oddly all were number 5(?), but for various reasons they all fell through.
The house was in good condition when we bought it in September 2014. In France it is normal to remove all the light fittings and most other items with the exception of the bath, sink and toilet. There was a small section of worktop in the kitchen containing the kitchen sink and a gas hob.
We have fitted out the kitchen and replaced the kitchen units. On recent trips we have fitted a new fan oven, a new dishwasher,
and most recently a butchers block to provide extra workspace.
It is unusual that there are carpets in the lounge and bedrooms, the bedroom carpets have been replaced,
so the bedrooms are fully furnished. Both bedrooms sleep two people.
There is full gas central heating, luxury, and the boiler has been told it has to speak English!
Unfortunately the original proved to be broken beyond repair when we bought, so we had to have a new boiler in December 2014.
Happily it is so far working well, keeping the place cosy, even during visits in December and February.
All the rooms have been decorated since we took on the house, I have now replaced all the light fittings.
The house had been re-wired before we bought it, so the electrics are in good order.
It also has smoke & Co2 detectors, a legal requirement in France.
We have enjoyed the process of setting up the house, it is an unusual situation, as when you buy a house,
you normally have many items to furnish and equip it with.
This has been a situation where we have had to buy most things, so almost everything is new. It does involve a lot of price comparison,
some things are cheaper in France, some a lot more expensive. It’s surprising how much we have taken over in the back of my car!
The main house is now finished, with new gates and shutters for the main bedroom fitted at the beginning of 2016.
We commenced work on the studio apartment behind the main house in November 2016.
This provides full access for disabled visitors as well as further guest accommodation.
See the 'Project' page for the latest updates.
This is our holiday home, not a rental property. It is something we would like to share with family and friends,
so if they wish to experience a little of life in a French village it is there.
We have to charge something to cover the costs of water, gas and electricity. These are cheaper than in the UK, but still have to be paid for!
There is another charge called ’Tax Foncierge’ which is similar to Council Tax except it also includes the TV licence,
which we still have to pay for even though we don’t get French TV!
If you want to visit, please do so and enjoy. The main thing we ask is that you leave the place as you find it, and lock it back up securely.
If you experience any problems whilst you are there, you can always give me a call, just remember, France is normally 1 hour ahead of the UK,
so no calls at 10pm!!
Rural areas of France are like England was about 50 years ago. Our friends who live a few miles away never lock their house or car,
indeed they leave the car keys in the ignition, as do many locals!
I wouldn’t encourage you to do that, but most things can be left safely,
anyway, the French won’t steal a UK car, the steering wheel is on the wrong side!
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