Le Ballon Bleu
Our 'treehouse' studio
It earned that nickname when the main house was still under construction and we used the studio as a temporary home. We used to sit on the balcony before the balustrade was put up, legs dangling over the edge of the platform, watching the birds who, obviously, mistook this wooden house for a new tree. There are many birds in this part of the Auvergne. It's no coincidence that the area has been assigned the status of a European ‛Natura 2000' bird habitat. There is a special observation site for migratory birds about a mile from our home.
Ballooning
Our house is named Le Ballon Bleu because we fly our own (mostly) blue hot-air balloon, with space in the basket for just two passengers. Studio guests can book such an exclusive flight with us during their holiday - champagne baptism included.
All-in-one apartment
The studio is an apartment of about 30 square metres. It comprises a sleeping area and settee with a decently sized double bed, a couch where you can sit with a book and ample storage space; the kitchen has a table where you can sit to eat while looking at the view of the landscape. The compact kitchen is fully equipped: fridge with three-star freezer compartment, four-burner gas stove, oven and dishwasher. The bathroom comes with a thermostatic shower, toilet, washbasin and a full-sized washing machine. There is a lot of space to store your personal things, too.
The studio is built under the same roof as the main house, but is completely separated and has its own entry by means of a broad outdoor stairway and balcony. Guests can park at the foot of ‛their' stairs. Like the house, the studio has excellent insulation and central heating, making it a comfortable place to stay even during the coldest winters. It is available all year round.
Our clients can browse the web and send e-mails, using their own laptop or tablet and our wireless network (wifi). In our rural area the bandwidth is not great though, as we still don't have fiber. Don't count on zoom teleconferencing or streaming movies. Normal web use is decent though.
Mobile reception is passable depending on where you are. Think Mr. Bean. Go somewhere high, stand on one leg, pull your left ear and hold your phone out with your right hand and it might just work. Not quite kidding btw. You may be allright in our gite as it's on the first floor and height helps. If your phone subscription allows a good quantity of data and you get good reception, using your phone for 4G internet access may be faster than wifi and a copper line. That is still true in many rural places.
Give us a call if you have any questions:
+33 (0)4 73 85 31 57, or +33 (0)6 25 06 24 38
or e-mail us at leballonbleu@orange.fr (cut and paste the link, as it is not active, to avoid spam!). We speak English (as well as French and Dutch).
Rates
400 euros per week during the high season (July/August), and 350 euros/week the rest of the year. Energy is included; tourist tax must be paid separately (we don't know the rates for 2025 yet). Bedlinen and towels may be rented separately at 20 euros for a 2-person set. The final cleaning is obligatory and costs 25 euro.
We ask for a security payment of 150 euros. Bookings are per full week, from Saturday around 15:00 till Saturday around 10:00.
Half-week bookings are now also possible, from Saturday to Wednesday or Wednesday to Saturday, mostly outside the high season. Handy if you want to do a balloonflight.
Some limitations
We love animals but our half dozen cats have decided that other pets are not welcome. Donkeys are no great lovers of strange dogs either, and we have had some bad experiences with dogs killing some of our free-ranging chickens. So please don't bring your pets.
Our house and the studio are absolute non-smoking areas. Many people come to this area for their health and to enjoy the clean air, and the studio has been furnished to accept guests with allergies or asthma.
As the studio is on the first floor with an outside stairway, it is obviousy not suitable for people with limited mobility.
Finally, we must emphasize that this is truly a studio for two. If you bring a baby, though, you can borrow a baby-bed for free if you can't bring your own.
