Le Clos De La Muse

The gardens were gorgeous, and we had breakfast out there in the morning. There was so much homemade food, marmalades, breads, muffins, meats, cheeses and hard-boiled eggs. I wanted to try everything and definitely ate too much. You can tell it was made with love. We had the place to ourselves, so we got to see all the differently themed rooms. Each had its own look, and the bathrooms were modern and individually decorated. The house is full of unusual things, from owls to African sculptures and paintings. Sylvie welcomed us with champagne and snacks, then showed us around. She’s a charming host. La Clos de la Muse was one of the best experiences of our lives. It’s a real gem, and the drive through the French countryside to get there is beautiful. I felt lucky to find it before many other Americans had. The town is easy to explore on foot in about 15 minutes. You can visit the glove factory and the belt and handbag factory. They make products for several big fashion houses, so you can buy lovely artisan pieces without a brand name stamped on them. There are also good places nearby to try local food. Limoges is about 20 minutes away, with the JM Weston shoes outlet. The shoes are the same ones sold on the Champs Elysee, but much cheaper, not lower-quality outlet versions like in America. The St. Junien area has a lot of history and is known as the only so-called Communist Party ruled place in France. People here have been part of the party locally for a long time. They share stories about the town’s past and present, too.

There were six of us visiting in September, and we had a wonderful evening. The welcome was lovely and dinner was excellent. Outstanding! Thank you, Sylvie and Jimmy, you were the best.

Everything was taken care of, and the people were so welcoming. We had a perfect stay right in the middle of Saint-Junien. We’d definitely book again when we’re back in the area. Highly recommended!

Such lovely people, and a very nice house. The bed and breakfast was perfect, highly recommend.