A Furnished House in Murol (Auvergne) France
Channel: slobomotion
Date: 29/09/2012

This three-story house was only built in 1905 so is considered unexceptional, but Mme Mathieu was married here and raised at least two children in this home, so it is a place with a feeling of love and security in it, and of course, it is very well appointed.  It is set up to sleep six but there is an additional bed for a seventh person and babies, children and pets are welcome here and would likely be safe and very happy, especially in the huge garden and terrace areas, and there is private secure parking.  As far as pets go, you usually just have to check with the landlord and they might only ask for a small supplement or security deposit and give you their blessing.  You just have to control your pet and be reasonable; ditto with your kids!  As an American, I've had to learn about how windows, doors, locks, tools, appliances and gadgets (including TVs and phones) work here in Europe, but it's been interesting!

There are, of course, vacation villages and residences in France (such as PIERRES & VACANCES) and we have tried them and were usually satisfied (MAEVA is another name which comes to mind) but it's kind of fun to rent from individuals.  A local tourism office can surely help you, but many of these places (private landlords) do have some information online.  You must speak fluent French, however, and understand the laws and banking doodads to do this, however.  Contact might be fairly slow and involve some regular first class mail.  It also involves telephone contact.  I can help you set this up if need be.

A couple of families with offspring could share in the cost of this place, which was 305 euros for the week but just a few weeks earlier was double that for the high Summer season.  Mme Mathieu, who is based in Clermont-Ferrand these days, does not bother renting this place in the winter as it's too costly to heat it.  She said that at one point recently, the interior temperature went to 20 below, Celsius, and some of the paint fell off some of her walls!

Auvergne is a paradise for sports enthusiasts, both Summer and Winter variety.  Altitude is high here and you should speak to a doctor.  This is pretty much smack dab in the center of France and an ancient range of volcanoes make this a challenging terrain, full of hot springs and spas (and once in awhile, seismic activity).  If you just want to relax and take a "cure," you can surely do it here.  Many of the spas, some of them gorgeous Belle Epoque places, allow daily visitors by appointment, and you can get beauty care, massages, lovely hydrotherapy, and more.  Vichy and Perrier waters come from this region.  

Murol was an important fortified site with a huge castle.  A group of post-Impressionist artists was based here and many arts people stayed or settled in the area.  Riding, hang gliding, hot air ballooning, biking, all water sports, hunting and fishing, hiking, climbing, and appreciation of nature, history and geology are some of the activities which come to mind here.  Food and supply prices were high in Murol but everything was within walking distance, even though this is a tiny village without "full services."  They are well set up for visitors and you can really relax and slow down here.

The top floor is set up with a vanity and sink area, a TV, books, and tea and drinks materials on hand.  It is a beauty study area.

The lack of a bathtub is a typical feature of French residences, and even in a hotel upon our return to Paris, the tub did not work -- only the shower.  You get used to it.  

I could have prepared fancy pastries in this kitchen, it was so well appointed, and there were current magazines, (in French only), toys, first aid and baby materials, and the bedding and linens were new.  We opted to take our own towels instead of renting hers, and paid her to clean after we left the place, but often, we've chosen to save the money and clean ourselves.  Just be aware that Europeans have different, often very strict and old-fashioned ideas about cleaning!  You will be charged a "vacation tax" and will have to pay a deposit, which is usually preferred in the form of a French check which is ideally never cashed.  Many places in France are not set up for credit cards or "plastic."

I could have used an additional week in Murol.  I would have liked to ride a skyway/tramway nearby, see the local art museum, and revisit Mont-Dore, a famous old spa town full of White Russian charm.  The people in Auvergne tend to be very helpful, even to strangers.  It is in their interest, as the terrain is harsh and they are kind of "anti-Establishment" in temperment, preferring to mess with The Man and hash things out face to face with others, directly.  You will find the foods of this region extraordinary.  It might seem a bit strange to get excited about the famous lentils of this region, but they really are the best on Earth, for example.

copyright 2012 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. all rights reserved LISA, INC. (EURL) cutecatfaith.com