ACCOMODATION

A large room in a beautiful 16th century house in the small village of Leigné-sur-Usseau in the Loire Valley is available for residents. The room is furnished and has a large desk in front of a window overlooking the village church. Downstairs there is a shared kitchen-dining area and bathroom with shower. There is also a well-stocked library, leading into the “ballroom”, where the people of Leigné-sur-Usseau got married for many generations.

The bedroom is large, with a desk large enough for a writer or an artist of small forms, but if you plan to do larger work, it would be best to come in the warmer months (between April and October) to make use of the many outdoor/semi-outdoor spaces and buildings on the property and in the neighborhood. There are a number of lovely gardens, porch areas, and the (unheated) ballroom with ample space to spread out work and experiment.

As a resident you are welcome to work in the Maison's vast library of 5000 books. The library is filled with books in many languages (English, French, German, Latin, Greek) and on many subjects (philosophy, art, literature, history, sociology, gardens, anthropology).

Leigné-sur-Usseau is a beautiful rural village half-way between Paris and Bordeaux. The train from Paris to Châtellerault (the nearest town) takes between 1 ½ to 3 hours and it is best to plan ahead when purchasing tickets. Once in Leigné-sur-Usseau, you can take long walks or bicycle rides over country roads and through the woods. Please note: this is a small rural village, with no local stores, cafés, restaurants, or other outposts of civilization. Be prepared to commune with nature, your work, and your hosts. While Horst and Francine may take you on trips to nearby sites and will happily take you along when they run errands in Châtellerault, if you will want to frequently go further afield, you may want to rent a car (which can be done for about 20€ per day).

The basic cost for accommodation is 20€ a day, plus approximately 15€ extra if eating meals from the common share (you can also bring your own food – breakfast and lunch are self-catering whilst there is the opportunity for evening meals to be taken with the hosts). Costings are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. There is also the opportunity to help out in the garden, vineyard or with renovations at the Maison, which can help to reduce a resident's costs.