Typical Auvergnat farmhouse, in Cantal in Auvergne, converted and renovated in the ‘90s; magnificent view over the Puys de Cantal; 10 minutes from the village of Marchal with an excellent bakery/grocery store; 20 minutes from small market town of Champs-sur-Tarentaine and larger town of Bort-les-Orgues with several supermarkets etc.
Magnificent walking country all around set in the magnificent scenery of the Park des Volcans; equestrian centres, fishing, water sport and adventure parks nearby, all within easy reach.Spacious lounge/dining room, with kitchen alcove, upstairs and downstairs bathrooms/WC; one double-bedroom downstairs en suite, two double bedrooms, (one of which doubles as extra sitting-room/playroom) one twin-bedded room and one single room upstairs with shared bathroom and WC. Wood-burning stove in living room, electric heaters in all bedrooms, washing machine, dishwasher. Gas/electric oven, microwave, Barbecues available in both front and back gardens.
Cantal is one of the departments of the Auvergne, in the middle of the Massif Central, and includes the National Park of the Volcanoes. Le Mas is in the national park, within view of several of the Puys de Cantal and the Massif de Sancy. The Dordogne River rises about 20 km north of the house and the first dam/barrage/lake on the Dordogne is 10 km south-west above Bort les Orgues. The whole region is set in mountains, much less high than the Alps or the Pyrenees, but more manageable for exploring, walking and scenic drives as a result. The summers are usually bright and sunny though the area rarely suffers from drought and so is usually green.
The spectacular Chateau de Val is on the side of the lake near Bort-les-Orgues, about 8 km from the house. The house is set in magnificent walking country with water sport and equestrian facilities nearby, both on the Dordogne lake and on smaller lakes nearer to the house, including a small sailing centre/base at Lac de la Lastioule, about 5 km. from the house. The area also has many impressive Romanesque churches, well worth a visit. There are weekly rural markets at Champs-sur-Tarentaine and Bort les Orgues. Vulcania theme park is about 60 km to the North. There are many village 'fetes 'patronales' in the surrounding villages throughout the summer. The nearest village, Marchal has it's midsummer 'Fete de St Jean' on the nearest Saturday to 22 June and its 'Fete Patronale' on 15 August. The area is well-known for its local 'Cuisine Auvergnate' and especially for its cheeses.
Facilities: internet access, WI-FI, satellite TV, DVD, video, telephone, clothes dryer, dishwasher, gas/electric cooker, microwave, fridge, freezer, washing machine. Bed-linen and towels not provided except by special arrangement and a £50 supplement per week.
