FAQ

FAQ

Q: Is there Internet at La Muse?

A: All the rooms have WIFI Internet access. The only room which has a sketchy track record with some computers in terms of reception is Clio, but it does have a desk immediately outside it for this purpose if needed. There is also a strong signal in the library, the terrace, the studio and kitchen.

Q: What’s the best way to get to Labastide Esparbairenque?

A: Please refer to the Getting Here section of our website. If you have any further questions after reading the page then please email us.

Q: What is the situation with local transportation?

A: La Muse is isolated. There is no public transportation to our village. Taxis make the drive to and from Carcassonne for about 40-65 Euro one way. If you count in stops to shop etc. this adds up to be a lot more.

We strongly recommend that all residents have access to a car, either by renting one or emailing us about the ride package.

Rentals vary, but usually cost about 650 Euro per month. Depending on the time of year and the size of car this could be more or less. Some Muser feedback regarding transportation options:

“As far as needs for local transportation: I think as a couple, it has served us well and works economically to hire a car for the duration; particularly as we don’t have as easy access to Carcassonne airport, but have to fly into Toulouse. But for individuals, unless they really want the freedom of getting out several times a week, having a rental/hire car is unnecessary. The ride package provides access to all the places on the hit list for those new to the area (Lastours, the Cite) as well as the essentials for shopping each week. I think the ride package is great value for money and saves the hassle of petrol - very expensive, tolls and having to navigate mountain roads in a foreign country.”

During the school year there is bus that makes round trips from Carcassonne to Mas Cabardes, a nearby village. It’s a 45-minute downhill hike from Labastide Esparbairenque to Mas Cabardes; longer and uphill coming home. The hours of the bus to Carcassonne are roughly 7 AM and 1 PM (this schedule varies, so make sure to verify; you also need to call in advance to reserve a seat!) Return trips to Mas Cabardes are around noon and 6.

NOTE: We describe the bus service only for those who may need additional trips to town. Most people get anxious without consistent, reliable transportation for groceries or other errands. We are very reluctant to accept applicants who do not plan to avail of the ride package or rent a car. We do not feel comfortable leaving people to walk uphill in the rain (worst case scenario) on a narrow, winding mountain road, with groceries. We also do not think it fair for people to ask those who’ve paid for the ride service or a rental car to get groceries for them, or to ask those who’ve rented a car for rides. People have come here to rough it and enjoyed hiking everywhere, but it would be unwise for us to assume that you are that kind of person. In over ten years of doing this we’ve met two such people; one of them a US marine who fought in Afghanistan before coming to La Muse.

We reiterate, most people are not happy here without access to a car during their stay. Your comfort and our safety are to an extent our responsibility while you’re here. Again, we are very cautious to accept applicants who do have access to a car.

Q: Are there services in Labastide Esparbairenque?

A: There is a bread truck/car that comes to the village three days a week; a grocery truck comes once a week, and sells everything from potatoes to toothpaste; a butcher comes once a week, and a green grocer, once a week. The quality of the products sold by these trucks is very good. They announce their arrival by blasting their horn through the village, and then return to the main parking lot or nearby to park and open for business. It’s the social highlight of any day in Labastide, so come with a smile and a “Bonjour” for our neighbors.

Mas Cabardes, a nearby village, has a small shop that’s open for two hours every morning and every evening.

The nearest restaurant, the Sire de Cabaret in Roquefere (the next village) is excellent. It’s a five-minute drive, or a 20-minute walk downhill…again, longer on the way home. There is also a cafe, Le Fenial, with a lovely terrace that sells artisanal products as well as ice creams and coffees and has hosted many La Muse readings.

Q: Where are the nearest medical facilities?

A: We recommend that anyone with an emergency go to the emergency room at the Clinique Montreal, in Carcassonne, a 30-minute drive from the house. There is a doctor’s office in Conques-sur-Orbiel with a very capable, friendly group of doctors, many of whom speak English. The nearest pharmacy is also in Conques. There is a doctor who makes house calls from Conques, a 20-minute drive from the house. Please let us know about any health and safety worries. Your well-being is our concern, and we will help you assess whether or not this is the right place for you.

Q: Is La Muse wheelchair accessible, or accessible to people with disabilities?

A: Our village is tucked into mountains and valleys and it’s hard to find even ground anywhere. Steps and steep hills characterize the village and our property. People with disabilities or limited mobility would not find the house easy to navigate, and we are not wheelchair accessible. Two of the rooms access the kitchen, library and terrace via one flight of stairs. The other three rooms have two flights to tackle. Access from the terrace to the street is via a sloping, stone stairway. Once through our gate, there’s quite a steep sidewalk to get to the main road.

Q: Do you have yoga mats?

Yes, we have yoga mats, straps, blocks as well as Mexican blankets. So, let us know if you want to reserve a mat during your stay! We will ask that you wash it before you go.

Q: Are there any organized activities or outings?

A: We can put residents in touch with a hiking guide, and a watercolor painting instructor who takes residents on hikes to give an outdoor watercolor painting course, and cooking courses, from simple bread or pasta-making to more elevated cuisine. We can also schedule massages, alternative therapies, and body work.

Q: Should I bring sheets and towels?

A: We provide them. You wash them. Those of you who swim at the lake or picnic down by the river, please DO NOT plan to use our white bath towels for such outings. Bring your own for such use.

Q: Should I buy toilet paper and kitchen roll?

We provide toilet paper and there are kitchen towels, although a lot of people buy their own kitchen roll.

Q: Are there laundry facilities at the house?

A: Residents are invited to use our washing machine and laundry line once a week, on the weekends. We charge 3 Euro per load. (This is intentionally steep to discourage overuse. You are welcome to share the machine with other residents to cut down on use.) Bring your own liquid soap. We do not use a dryer.

Q: Is there a printer at the house?

A: Yes, a photo printer, and because of this we ask residents to print large amounts of text in Carcassonne. There’s a photocopy store right beside the main post office in Carcassonne. If you have something you really need to print out, such as a boarding pass, or a few pages of an itinerary or poem then you can email us the document while you’re here and we’ll get it to you asap. The cost is 25 cents a page, the same as the store in Carcassonne.

Q: Do I need a converter, adaptor or transformer for my laptop?

A: To our knowledge, most laptops convert automatically, but you will need a plug adaptor for France. Please bring your own, they are very difficult to find here. Buy one that will fit into a round fixture so it will work with our surge protectors. We have surge protectors for all residents. Ask for a “universal converter,” that way you can use it all around the world.

Q: Are there modern kitchen amenities?

A: We have an automatic-drip coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster, refrigerator, an excellent industrial cooker, etc. Real foodies will want to bring their own knives.

Q: How do the meals work?

A: People cook for themselves. Residents are assigned shelves and refrigerator space in the kitchen. We have found that people usually get together once or twice a week for a communal meal, and we host a gathering of some kind most weeks.

Q: Is La Muse a social environment?

A: Yes, though that depends, to some extent, on a retreat’s particular group dynamic. The social vibe at the house is generally toned down because people work hard while they’re here. We do ask people to wrap it up at 10 PM. Most months our non-profit organizes some kind of activity (usually an art show and concert) but we do not do this every month.

Q: Can I bring my dog/cat/bird/pet?

A: Sorry, no pets.

Q: Can I bring my family/friends/significant others?

A: Spouses/partners are welcome at La Muse only if they are also residents at the house on a retreat, focused on a project. We do not welcome your visitors. We work with the owners of two neighboring cottages, which are available to writers and artists who would like to travel with family (no pets) or significant others, or who want to come for a shorter stay or anticipate visitors during their stay. Writers and artists in these houses are invited to use the La Muse library, terrace and printing facilities for work; their spouses are invited to join in on any meals organized by La Muse during their stay. Spouses may get bored; make sure yours knows there are no services, no televisions, no cafes, no shops. However, La Muse is an ideal spot for someone who loves to read, hike, cook, knit and take day trips.

Q: Do I need bug spray?

A: July has its fair share of mosquitoes, but oddly they only seem to bother a certain people. Otherwise, it’s not buggy. Anti-mosquito diffusers are available in grocery stores; they are very effective, more so than bug spray. One diffuser lasts for one month, generally. If mosquitoes make you miserable and you’re coming in July or August, buy one on your way up the mountain.

Q: What should I bring, in terms of clothes?

A: The house is in the mountains, in the South of France, so weather is unpredictable. Bring clothes for layering, and comfortable hiking or walking shoes. Please bring slippers or flipflops to wear inside instead of walking bare feet. You’ll be more comfortable this way; even in the summer the floors feel cool because they’re mostly stone. And, no matter when you come, bring one cozy sweater. We get cool nights, even in summer.

Q: Anything else recommended that residents bring?

A: One guest suggested we recommend binoculars for bird watching and another, a flashlight (and batteries for it) for night walks.

Q: What’s the weather like?

A: We are unable to predict the weather with any accuracy. There are four distinct seasons. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but both seasons can be surprisingly unseasonable, with balmy winter days and chilly summer days, as seems to be the case all over the world these days. Generally, summer and winter are what you’d expect them to be. Fall and spring are dry and warm with chilly nights. We find the climate temperate in all seasons—never hot or cold. That said, everything’s relative. We come from Ireland and New England in the States. It’s certainly warmer here than in either of those places!

For the hot months, we recommend opening the windows at night to let the cool air in, and closing them during the hottest periods of the day. Each room has a fan. We do not have air-conditioning, nor do we need it with cool mountain air. Even if you’re coming in July or August, however, do bring a fleece or warm sweater in case you happen to come during a cool spell. Our village does not permit lighting fires between May and October, so if it happens to be chilly the only way to warm up is to wear layers. Unlikely, but possible.

In the fall, winter and spring, even when the weather is still quite mild (which it should be, but isn’t always), we heat with a combination of wood-burning stoves and central heating, which we keep set at 20 – 22 degrees Celsius in the winter and 18 degrees in the fall and spring (cooler at night when people are snuggled under their sheep shearling comforters). The stoves add a great deal of heat and comfort to the house; there is one in the dining room, one in the library and one in Calliope (a bedroom with a private salon). Calliope is the only room with a wood-burning stove, and would be well worth the extra money to those who wish to work in a private space during the winter.

Residents keep the stoves lit themselves, though we and barters pitch in. Because this is an old stone house with old single-paned windows, some people find it chilly regardless of two sources of heat, even when it’s not particularly cold outside (sitting at a desk for hours writing away doesn’t exactly heat the body up). Bring cozy sweaters and house slippers. Many people choose to work in the library during the winter because the heat from the wood burning stove is so lovely.

We supply beautiful, thick, artisanal sheep fleece comforters, as well as cotton and feather duvets and have a plentiful supply of Mexican blankets.

Q: What is the age range at La Muse?

A: Based on our past residents, we’ve accepted people in their early-twenties and late-seventies, though we don’t have a bookend in either direction. Acceptance is merit-based and has nothing to do with age.

Q: What’s life like in Labastide?

A: It’s a step back in time. Many of our French neighbors are either laborers or subsistence farmers; others are professionals who work for the local and regional French government offices. There are about forty or fifty year-round residents. In the last five years, there’s been an influx of foreigners (English, Belgian, German, Irish, and American) buying houses in the village who spend chunks of the year there. Most of them are writers or translators. The village is very, very quiet for most of the year, though from mid-July to the end of August its population nearly triples. It’s absolutely beautiful year-round, in every kind of weather.

Q: What will be my expenses?

A: This is a very difficult question to answer. Expenses will depend on an individual’s personal spending habit, especially in regards to appetite and how one chooses to get around. Food probably costs about the same as it does back home, with the exception of French specialty items, which are less expensive because freshly baked breads, pastries, pate, cheese and wine are staples in France. It’s generally 6 Euro to wash a weeks’ worth of laundry (two loads). If you plan to call home you can always use skype as an app. because we have WiFi, so saving on that charge or use your computer, during non “quiet hours.” Allow for at least one restaurant outing (50 Euro for a four or five course meal with wine.)

So, add up your current food budget, your choice of transportation (please see above), a “fun-budget” to allow for meals out, extra treats from the grocery store, perhaps artisanal regional products etc, and you’ll have an idea.

Q: Should I bring foreign currency or travelers’ checks?

A: Because of some issues with counterfeit, it can take two weeks or more to change dollars or travelers’ checks into Euros. And you need a French bank account to change the currency. The best solution is to pay by credit card and/or to use debit cards to get cash when you get here in a large amount so that you’re not charged each time. Check with your bank for exchange rates and foreign transaction fees. Make sure they know you’ll be taking out money in a foreign country so that they don’t block your account.

Q: I am a visual artist coming to La Muse. What supplies, if any, do you have in your studios? Should I bring everything I need for my project?

A: Artists shouldn’t hope to find anything in the studios. Though there is usually a bit of white spirit or some acrylic paints around, we can’t guarantee you’ll find what you need and do not catalogue what’s there.

There are inexpensive, good quality art supply stores in Carcassonne where we bring artists on their arrival date to buy supplies if needed. You can buy everything you need there. Please come with an organized list so other residents don’t spend hours waiting while you hem and haw over what you’re going to focus on and what to buy.

Q: What if I don’t work 8 hours a day?

A: This is a recommendation, as a vigorous schedule really pays off. This does not mean you have to write for 8 hours. It means one has to respect these hours as periods of time when work is being done. That said, taking a day to hike, swim or relax also really pays off and a daily 1/2 hour to hour walk really helps to clear your head.

Everyone has his/her process; some work better very early in the morning (Auden etc.), some very late at night (Dostoyevsky etc.) and then there are all the times in between. Some work straight for a week, some for three hours a day. We trust residents to take their work seriously. We don’t chain people to their desks but we expect them to respect others’ projects, the goal they set before they came, the quiet hours and other structures in place to foster an environment conducive to work.

Contact us now about availability!