The image shows an elderly couple posing for a selfie, with the woman on the left and the man on the right, both smiling and wearing glasses.
The image depicts a cozy living room with red walls, two floral-patterned chairs, a fireplace, and a mirror, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a kitchen with green cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a wooden island, featuring a dining area with a table and chairs.
The image depicts a living room with a red accent wall, white couch, and patterned furniture, featuring a rug and wooden floor, with a window and door in the background.
The image depicts a cozy room with green walls, featuring a brown leather armchair, bookshelves, a desk, and a window, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
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new host  

Collaborative family projects and French culture in Bas-en-Basset, France

Availability

  2025 

 Min stay requested: at least 2 weeks

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    We are active and happy Senior Citizens of Australia living in France renovating a 19th century manor house in rural France.
    We speak English and are gradually learning the French language as we go. We also have basic Italian language. We have made our living quarters in the manor house very comfortable and our garden is a treat. We are very engaged socially with our French neighbours and community, and enjoy visiting local villages and fetes.
    What we need help with are the remaining light DIY tasks. There are light gardening tasks that may be enjoyable to undertake. It will be our pleasure to bring you into our home and enjoy the mutual benefits of sharing our historical house which has become our home.
    We can share with you our DIY knowledge, our cooking experiences, and introduce you to rural French life.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    Interests

    Politics / Social justice
    Events & social
    Culture
    Movies & TV
    Animals
    Cooking & food
    Gardening
    Languages
    Photography
    Plant care
    Music
    History
    DIY & crafts
    Art & design
    Books
    Architecture
    Nature
    Outdoor activities
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    We engage with our neighbours for dinners and drinks socially, we enjoy our ‘language learning’ group of around 12 people to learn each others language, we enjoy the weekly social gathering at the local Association-cafe, we visit the lovely tapas bar, the local (very social) bar/cafe, the 5 local (walking distance) restaurants and Boulangerie. There are many places in the town to meet with other townsfolk and travellers. Everything in our town is accessible by walking. We enjoy the numerous local villages and fetes and markets. Also there are numerous and varied Chateaux in surrounding areas, even though we are in town centre of 7,000 population without its own chateau. Our garden is around 1000 square metres and surrounded by high walls, part of which was built in the 14th century.
    It is best for our Volunteers to have their own vehicle as public transport is limited. There is a swimming pool in the town, there is a GoCart business 20 mins drive, there is a golf course 20 mins drive, there is a water ski lake 20 mins drive……and many park activities.
    Although we are active and healthy we miss the noise and activity of family, and so our Volunteers will be made welcome and be in their own bedroom with en-suite shower room, but join us in our large family home. There is a family size tv in the smaller living room with numerous channels and Netflix subscription.

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    We would like assistance with light DIY projects, possibly some occasional gardening, possibly some occasional house help. Any tasks will be helpful for us, and we would be working alongside our volunteer(s) most of the time. Our current help include some painting, some cupboard building, but generally just joining us with our day to day tasks, including house help and kitchen duties occasionally if necessary.

  • Languages spoken

    English: Fluent
    Italian: Intermediate
    French: Beginner

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    We can offer either a two single-bed room with its own ensuite shower room, or we can offer a double-bed room with its own ensuite shower room.
    We cook simple plain food with meat and vegetables, but enjoy new recipes. For breakfast we generally have a very light Mediterranean or egg meal breakfast. We will cook the meals but will be happy for our Volunteers to do the meals occasionally if they would like to do that.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    Own transport necessary as although our 7000 person township offers all necessary amenities there is very limited public transport in or out of rural France.
    Go carts, water skiing, golf club, swimming pool, sporting facilities, gymnasiums, library, museum, numerous interesting villages to bicycle ride or drive to. There is also a local aero club with landing strip. There are weekly Hot Air Balloon trips taking off at a nearby township. The train station to Paris is a one hour drive and the TGV to Paris takes one hour. We can arrange a very inexpensive small apartment in Paris for accommodation.
    We do not permit smoking or drugs on the property.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

Host ref number: 347566146698

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Photos

The image depicts a cozy living room with red walls, two floral-patterned chairs, a fireplace, and a mirror, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image depicts a kitchen with green cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a wooden island, featuring a dining area with a table and chairs.
The image depicts a living room with a red accent wall, white couch, and patterned furniture, featuring a rug and wooden floor, with a window and door in the background.
The image depicts a cozy room with green walls, featuring a brown leather armchair, bookshelves, a desk, and a window, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere.
The image shows an elderly couple posing for a selfie, with the woman on the left and the man on the right, both smiling and wearing glasses.

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