For this second blog article, I decided to take you an hour from the castles of the Loire, to the rolling plains of Poitou which conceal many nuggets of Nature, Heritage and Terroir... Direction Monthoiron and Sénillé-Saint-Sauveur.
This time, I am not alone. I embark on my wanderings Arthur, my youngest son aged 4, and his grandmother. Are you following us?
The Monthoiron estate, a children’s paradise
At the bend of a tree-lined bend, on a small country road, appears an immense gate which one can easily imagine protecting many wonders... And in fact, when Pauline opens the gates for us, I discover at the end of the alley a old stately home with the appearance of a bourgeois house. But very quickly, my gaze is caught by the tower classified as a Historic Monument which stands proudly on my right.
About twenty meters high, this intriguing example of military architecture only began to reveal its secrets very recently! Pauline Étienne, responsible for welcoming visitors, explains to me that the renowned historian Nicolas Faucherre swept aside in 1990 the idea that it was an ordinary medieval tower by proving that its construction dates from the First French Renaissance. After decades of research, the scientific community validated in 2010 the hypothesis according to which the fortress tower of Monthoiron constitutes one of the rare examples of the genius of Leonardo DeVinci as an architect.
Thanks to a puzzle trail illustrated by the characters from the comic strip “ Leonard Genie », the youngest discover as a family the history of the site and its famous designer. By listening to Pauline, I understand that Leonardo's Treasure is akin to a real Da Vinci Code for children! During our conversation, Arthur and his grandmother watch attentively the film projected on the dome inside the tower. Well cool, they learn what links Leonardo da Vinci and Monthoiron
NEW 2020
But today, we came to preview the new thing in the field: Karmanor's Secret. Our affable hostess tells me that this is the first attraction suitable for toddlers in the department (from 3 years old).
Thanks to a meeting with a German association which creates LEGO® brick models, the owner of the castle had the idea of transforming the existing flora and fauna course into a life-size treasure hunt.
Equipped with a tour booklet and a pencil, we enter the undergrowth behind the castle. 10 observation stages await us, each punctuated by an explanatory panel at child height. I read the riddles while Arthur locates the animals using the photos on the panels.
For about 45 minutes, my son runs looking for camouflaged figurines in the forest. Sometimes he stops, thinks, then goes galloping along the path again. Passionate about insects, he confesses: “ My favorite is the ladybug model! ».
At the end of the journey, we piece together the clues to obtain the magic formula that will save the forest and open the treasure chest. My little 4-year-old's eyes widen at the sight of the gold coins... made of chocolate!
A second, more complex reading grid is proposed for adults aged 5 and over.
The Monthoiron estate is the ideal destination to disconnect during a pleasant day in the countryside. You can plan one attraction in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The place provides its comfortable terrace for picnicking, as well as deckchairs which encourage taking a nap in the park.
Alice in Wonderland by Sénillé
About ten kilometers from Monthoiron, the town of Sénillé-Saint-Sauveur is renowned for the quality of its producers (oil, snails, meat, jams, cheeses, etc.). I suggest we stop at La Fabric' d'Alice. Because, for some time now, I have spotted packets of pasta stamped like this at the tourist office and it intrigues me.
The hostess, Alice Guilly, welcomes us to her small direct sales shop on the farm, adjoining her workshop. The dynamic young woman tells me that her husband took over the family business in 2011, after a first professional experience in the banking sector. Driven by the desire for a common project, the couple decided to enrich the cereal structure with a dry pasta manufacturing workshop. Nicolas has been growing durum wheat, Alice has been transforming it into a finished product for almost four years.
From our fields to your plate…
I learn that Alice's Fabric the cereals are first entrusted to a flour miller from Poitou, who brings them back to Sénillé every week in the form of flour. The latter is stored in a cold room, then used plain or mixed with flavorings (curry, garlic, squid ink, etc.) by Alice.
First stage : the press to give shape to the pasta. These range from twists to penne pasta, including soup pasta and even tractor-shaped pasta, which are sure to be a favorite with toddlers!
Second step : the dryer, set to a temperature of 40°C for 19 hours.
Third and final step: the bagging machine for packaging.
The pasta is then delivered to collective catering and to points of sale 100% short circuits (producer stores and independent grocery stores in Vienne and neighboring departments).
Rich in all these details on artisanal manufacturing, I select shapes and flavors pasta that the whole family will enjoy. Arthur has already grabbed the tractor-shaped ones! I opt for basil twists (tasted just before writing this article: delicious!), porcini bells and squid ink shells.
On the way back, I observe Arthur “the happy one” in the rearview mirror. Delighted by this day of discoveries, he fell asleep in his car seat, a packet of Tractor pasta in one hand, and a Monthoiron pine cone in the other.
See you next week for new adventures…
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