Welcome to Chez Caro

Chez Caro is an Auvergnat farmhouse situated down a quiet country lane in the hamlet of Lessal near to the village of Mourjou about 4 kms away.   The owners house, a converted barn, is in the grounds of the farm house, while the immediate surroundings are old farm buildings, woods and fields where local farmers graze their cattle.

The house is spacious, attractively decorated and generously supplied with everything needed for a relaxing holiday, including guide books and suggestions for local outings.   There is free wifi but it is not as fast as we would wish.

Alongside the barn is an 11m swimming pool shared by both the gîte and the owner.   From the poolside there are wide views across the valley to the countryside surrounding Lessal.   It is the perfect place to relax and get away from it all.   If you have children it is wonderful to be able to let them run free, explore the woods and get back to nature.   It is a very safe environment.

For information on prices etc go to Booking.

August obviously gets booked early but if you aren't constrained by school holidays the weather in June, July and September is lovely, while Spring and Autumn are beautiful - but maybe not for using the pool.

The Countryside

The countryside surrounding Lessal is a delightful mix of undulating fields and forest with granite farm buildings dotting the landscape.   The area is known as La Châtaigneraie (the Chestnut Grove) which takes its name from the numerous sweet chestnut trees, which were originally imported in the Middle Ages to provide a staple food source.   Over the centuries, the chestnut tree has contributed significantly to the support of rural life and is celebrated each year at the Foire de la Châtaigne in Mourjou.   Dense ancient forests of chestnut, oak, beech, pine, and precipitous river gorges suddenly give way to soft, rolling pastures to form some of the most beautiful scenery in France.   Deer and boar occasionally roam the surrounding fields and woods and you may see them if you are lucky.

Although the countryside is stunning, there is so much more to see and do.   Conques , a delightful medieval town and one of the most beautiful halts on the UNESCO World Heritage route of the Compostela pilgrimages.   Similar medieval sites will be found within an easy drive from here that include Salers, Estaing, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Najac and Belcastel.

The nearby rivers provide plenty of opportunities for swimming, fishing, paddle boarding and canoeing.   The valley area is very popular with cyclists.   There are beautiful walks in the immediate area but if you want to go further afield then the mountain range of the Monts de Cantal and the upland plateau of the Aubrac are within easy driving distance.

The Weather

The weather during the summer months is generally sunny with temperatures reaching the low- to mid-30's in July .   In August the thermometer may even reach the high 30's.   Periods of really hot weather are often punctuated by thunderstorms, sometimes with spectacular lightning displays and torrential rain.   But these storms don't last for long and the days which follow are again calm and sunny.   Although the temperatures can be high the atmosphere is rarely humid.

The days in late autumn are less predictable than in the summer months.   However, you can be sure of spells of warm sunny weather and you will still be able to enjoy meals outside.   The third weekend in October sees the celebration of the chestnut at the Foire de la Châtaigne at Mourjou, nearby.   Thousands of people come to this street fair and market which gains in popularity each year, so you would be well advised to reserve your accommodation in our gîte well in advance.

The winter time opens up a whole new field of activities; alpine skiing, snow-boarding, cross-country skiing, ski-touring and trekking the high uplands on snow shoes.   Snow conditions suitable for these activities start to develop mid-December and they are still possible up to the end of April.   The most reliable time for winter sports is the end of January and throughout February.   It is an hour's easy drive to the ski resort, but if the weather isn't perfect for skiing, booking a holiday at Lessal is a great way to be sure you have a good holiday anyway.

Perhaps one of the best times of the year is the end of April and the beginning of May.   The trees are coming into full flower and leaf, everything is fresh and new and the days are bright and warm.