2014 EUROPE by Rail 6 - Mas Baumel

My Aunt and Uncle were both teachers in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. She taught kindergarten and he was the head of the art department at Slippery Rock State College (now University). Being in the art department, on occasion, Uncle earned a sabbatical to Europe to study art. In their visits to numerous countries, France was a stand-out.

So upon retirement they purchased a 350+ year old stone house standing on a 50-acre plot. Stone house is putting it mildly. It is a three story, four fireplace, two staircase, 3-1/2 bath, rustic but well-embellished edifice.

Off the highway, you take a gravel drive down to the concrete bridge and over the now rushing river. As you enter you see a little sign that says Mas Baumel. That is the name of the property. Uncle doesn't know of any translation to English. I tried to find one also and came up with nothing. It's just the name.

Continuing up the driveway to your right is a stone pump house. To the left is a green grass prairie where goats and sheep graze part of the year. Ahead is the stately stone house with an uphill wooded area behind it.

The structure needs some work--repainting of French blue doors and shutters, lath and plaster wall work, kitchen tile repair, more. But these imperfections add to its charm. It is inevitable that updates continue forever on a "grand old lady" like this. Its thick walls give it a solid structure and it will continue to be a warm and welcome home for future centuries to come.

You approach the house by turning left and driving under a grape arbor and into the parking area. On either side is a well-used stone staircase. The one on the left goes up to an open air veranda just outside kitchen doors. Up the right stairs is the bright yellow front door and a large covered veranda. There is also a door here to a separate and private bedroom and bath (ours for a few days.)


The private bedroom annex is spacious and includes a king-size bed, table and chairs, fireplace, and renovated (all the bathrooms have been updated) full bath with oversize shower. Hot water is plentiful. There are two large windows with shutters that overlook the side yard on one side and the grape arbor and prairie down to the river on the other side.

An aside ... I have to say the toilet paper in this bathroom was the absolute best  I ever used in my whole life. One sheet was about 1-1/2 times longer and wider than we have in the US and it was maybe 4-ply. You only needed one sheet for just about any potty duty!!

As you leave our room, you go down a few steps to the bright yellow front door. Upon entering, there is a seldom used study to the right. Now its use is mostly storage, including the wine stash. There is also a fireplace and stairs to the second floor here.

To the left you see a half bath. Except for the original stone sink and French tile back splash, the rest is modernized.

Next comes the living room with a third fireplace and heavy dark wood ceiling beams. It is filled with stacks and shelves of books, photos, sculpture and other works of art. Comfortable seating surrounds the hearth. Lots of odd little niches in the wall to highlight artistic favorites.

Beyond that comes the impressive dining room with yet another fireplace. The long table seats maybe 14 comfortably. The chairs are a mix-n-match purchased from yard sales and antique shops. Walls are a little less decorated, to allow the food served there to be the "art."

Last on this floor is the quaint kitchen where we spent most of our time. It has the original blue and gray French tiles and the original stone sink. There is a gas stove and a little 13"x13"x13" oven (but no microwave). French doors stretch the space out onto the open air veranda. This is where most meals are eaten, but not for us. Rain kept us inside and cozy.

The second story includes another guest bedroom compete with luxurious white duvet, another full bath, and a kind of mixed use TV room. Also, there is a huge master suite with lots of closet space and natural light.

From the master was a little hidden secret. Go through a door and look down the stair case to find a bathroom back on the first floor. It has a double stone sink and a extra long bathtub. The tub could fit Mike's 6'2" frame into it easily. There is a second exit at that level leading back into the dining room.  An unusual set-up, but a private and mysterious addition to the master suit

Outdoors on a sub-level, we found a two-space carport and little "caves." These were actually where the livestock was housed at the time the structure was first built. A half door remains where horses could stick out their heads to smell the country air. These areas are now used for laundry, storage and utilities.

Our impressive tour came to an end and we could see why it was love at first sight for Aunt and Uncle. It seemed destined to be theirs, when they viewed the "estate" as they first spied it through the trees while driving down the highway on the opposite side of the river.