Bringing home owners and house sitters together
Beautiful barn conversion with 2 cats in South Burgundy
France, Vendenesse-lès-Charolles, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Pets
- Cat(s)
Two cats. Sugar and Spice.
Dates
- 31 Oct 2025 to 21 Dec 2025 (2 sitters have applied for these dates)
About this assignment
We are looking for special people to sit our well heated, converted barn. You will be people who love the countryside, enjoy peace and quiet and will care for the house and animals and leave it all for us as we leave it for you.
We need sitters from 31st October 2025 to 21st December 2025.
Yes, it's very soon, but our lovely sitters have had a medical emergency so are unable to come.
What responsibilities are required of the house sitter
We have two friendly cats who love lots of cuddles.
Apart from that, caring for the house and garden and undertaking any D-I-Y that may arise.
What are the good features of the property and location
It is in Burgundy - closest town Charolles. A beautiful rural setting in a small hamlet. The house, which has been totally renovated - no nasty 'corners' or flowery wallpaper! - has 3 double bedrooms (1 ensuite), an airy living room with a wood burning stove and large sliding glass doors onto a manageable garden.
Off the living room is the kitchen with an induction hob, built in oven, microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer and washing machine.
All three bedrooms are double, one on the ground floor with adjacent bathroom plus a ground floor toilet.
Upstairs there are two double bedrooms, one with ensuite bathroom.
Fully stocked with crockery, pots and pans etc., plus TV etc. Towels, bedlinen all provided. Outside the living room there is a manageable garden - ideal for a quiet read! Friendly French neighbours and some really lovely multi national inhabitants in the area, many of whom meet up for a coffee - or something stronger! - on Tuesdays, which is market day in La Clayette, about 29 minutes away. Charolles is a delightful town with canals and a river running through it. Market day is Wednesday. Not far from Macon, Cluny and a little further afield, Beaune, Dijon, Lyon and Geneva.
What does the house sitter need to consider before applying for this assignment
The town is 10 minutes away, with all shops, supermarkets, market etc. and the village of Vendenesse, a 5 minute drive or 10 minute walk with a post office, bar and well -stocked convenience store. Many good restaurants around if you don't want to cook. It is France, after all!
We ask that you look after the property and animals as if they were your own, in return for a peaceful stay in a lovely part of the world. We’re looking for sitters who can deal with the usual ‘problems’ which occur in homes, can be adaptable and creative in finding solutions and enjoy being self sufficient. We would be grateful to return to a tidy, cared-for garden. However, there will still be lots of time to explore the surrounding area, with Lyon, Dijon, Macon and Beaune all in striking distance.
The fibre phone/Internet/TV contract includes all regular calls to landlines internationally, plus mobiles in N America.
You will definitely need to have a car for transport - this is the French countryside, so no easy bus service or taxis.
Can I bring my own pets?
No, sorry.
Last updated:
23 October 2025
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Testimonials
Beautiful Saint Racho
We just came back from our 7 week house-sit in Saint Racho. How much did we love it, very very much!!! A lovely and beautiful house with everything you need in a house. The location is outstanding, what a stunning views. Every day we made long walks which was good for our condition, no road was flat, all were going up or downhill. Very nice neighbors for a daily chat in French! The 3 cats are so sweet and they kept us warm in the evening, sleeping on our lap. Mike and Carol gave good instructions regarding the medicine Diesel needs. They showed us around in town where to find the vet, the boulangerie, their favorite restaurants, the market, the hairdresser ánd the Tuesday morning café where we met their friends weekly. Very welcoming, good company and good wine to drink. We kept in contact with Mike and Carol regularly and when we had some questions, they were instant in reach by whats-app. So, we like to thank M&C for having confidence in us taking care of their house and cats. Thank you! Warren & Maria, the Netherlands
Warren & Maria, Netherlands, 5 Jan 2024
The Brionnais
We had the very great fortune to house sit at Les Gauthiers from the last week of October of 2022 until the end of March 2023. Les Gauthiers sits within the Brionnias a beautifully romantic series of valleys between the beaujolais villages to the south and the great houses of Burgundy to the North. There is easy access to the North and Paris by train via Macon and to the south Lyon via La Clayette. Carol and Mike are warm and generous hosts. Their welcoming character pervades the house and gardens. The house has a singular charm: the traditions of wood and stone make this a comfortable stay matched by gardens with their purpose to create a sense of ease and calm. Truly a magnificent stay if you are lucky enough to be able to experience the house, gardens and surrounding hills. Great walking circuits from 3km to 18 km start at the front door. There is much cycling to be done and meals a plenty to be taken in a sunny courtyard or out on a grassy terrace of the house overlooking the village of San Racho. La Clayette an easy 5 km walk along country lanes is the local town with a main line railway link, three very good and reasonably priced restaurants, supermarkets and one of the best patisseries in the region. Carol and Mike’s three cats Sugar, Diesel and Spice are easy to care for and the hens a delight to maintain. There is local wild life in abundance. The house has many amenities including a good kitchen from which to cook any meal you might wish, a library of some size, importantly a modest wine cellar and two wood burners to warm and cheer your evenings. We had warm sunny evenings in October, mild weather through Christmas and the New Year, heavy ground frosts in January with temperatures below freezing and snow in February. The surrounding hills have history, architecture and archeology to keep the most ardent enthusiast entertained for many years. And then there is the wine. Trish and Martin
Patricia , New Zealand, 31 May 2023
Bliss in Bourgogne
We spent a couple of wintery months in Mike and Carol's charming and characterful farmhouse up in the Brionnais hills. The area is sometimes called Little Switzerland and it really looked so when it obligingly snowed for a couple of days. The cats and hens behaved themselves and we had regular helpful communication with the owners. It was a real pleasure and highly recommended when they call for house sitters the next time.
Jonathan, United Kingdom, 16 Apr 2022
Wonderful couple, community and home and pets!
I house and pet sat in this exceptionally beautiful spot for 6 weeks over the winter in 2014 and was immediately impressed with how connected the hamlet and community of St. Racho are. The homeowners are a delight in every way, and I now consider them dear friends. I was immediately welcomed into the local and expat community and found the area to be one of great natural beauty and impressive history, with homeowners who were conscientious, caring stewards of the land. I would return to this house in a heartbeat and genuinely miss all the wonderful residents of the area!
Mary, 17 September, 2016
St. Racho House Sit
I can't speak highly enough about Carol and Mike, the home owners in St. Racho. We were met and made to feel immediately at home. They showed us around, left instructions, and contacts, if we needed assistance, and were always within an e-mail contact. The house sit consisted of taking care of the three sweet cats, and maintaining the garden and home. It was a wonderful sit, in a lovely location, so much so, that we returned for a repeat sit, and hope to go again.
Margaret, Canada, 17 Sep 2016