As a child, thanks to my farmer grandparents, I had the chance to spend each of my summers on the farm. Collecting the still warm eggs in the henhouse, feeding the soft rabbits, picking ripe strawberries, helping the adults harvest the potatoes... So many unforgettable experiences, synonymous with freedom and carefreeness.
So I hope that my sons, Hugo and Arthur, will also forge their memories like “ Back to earth ". For this, I regularly organize visits and farming stays for the whole family.
Today, I'm taking you for a breath of fresh air in the countryside because I decided to share with you five good deals Agritourism gleaned in recent months…
1
Stay in a farm inn
Welcome to rural paradise! The one who holds the keys is named Marie-France.
In its Blonnerie Manor, she invites you to sleep in an old dovecote, to drink organic apple juice from the farm for breakfast or to enjoy dishes from Poitou on very, very short circuits.
In Vellèches, my two sons loved playing with Nouky, the house dog, admiring the peacock cartwheeling in the courtyard, fishing on the property and above all being moved by the lambs who had just been born!
Networks Welcome to the farm et Gîtes de France
2
Applaud the dramatized visit to an animal site
For 20 years, the company Glob'Trott makes stories in an old flour mill. During the summer, the artists roll out the green carpet for children for dramatized visits to their animal site. It is said that a puss in boots takes visitors to meet the donkeys, chickens and other characters on the farm. But shush, I won’t reveal more about the tales and legends of Lésigny-sur-Creuse…
A great opportunity in any case to discover a “permacultural” vegetable garden as well as the original residence of a troop in a rural environment.
3
Sleep in the heart of an artisanal oil mill
Historically, Vienne is a leading department for the production of walnut oil. Today, only a few oil mills continue the tradition. That of the Lépine family in Availles-en-Châtellerault is one of them. Joffrey took up the torch of an activity initiated by his ancestors in 1810.
If you opt for a green holiday, the forty-year-old will show you his walnut grove and explain all the stages of processing: collection, washing, drying, grading and breaking…
christened Le Pressoir , the rustic and warm cottage on the farm can accommodate up to 10 people. As for motorhome owners from all over the world, they are amazed each time they wake up in the heart of nature, at the foot of the walnut trees. So bucolic!
Networks Gîtes de France et FrancePassion
4
Visit an Acadian farm
Made up of around sixty farms built by the local lord in 1773, the Acadian line extends twenty kilometers, from Monthoiron to La Puye. It is here that many exiles settled after leaving their lands in New Brunswick. Some of these houses made of adobe walls are still standing: this is the case in Archigny where one of them was transformed into a Acadian Farm Museum.
I highly recommend stopping there in July or August. Dressed in traditional clothing, the guide is inexhaustible on the history, the equipment, the habits and customs. The visitor follows her through the house, the barn, the stable and to the vegetable garden. A fascinating immersion into the life of these peasants from the 18rd century!
5
Sourcing directly from producers
Do you want to take the time to meet local breeders, market gardeners and wine growers, and enjoy fresh farm produce? I advise you to set off on the paths of Grand Châtellerault to stock up on supplies in the direct sales stores.
Many producers open their doors to the public and offer a wide choice of high-quality food.
Among my good addresses:
- The Old Bellefonds farm
- The White Cross farm in Saint-Gervais-les-Trois-Clochers
- Le Pré Joly in Saint-Gervais-les-Trois-Clochers
- Marie's Shop in Velleches (photo above)
- Availles Gourmandises
- Hazels in Thuré
- The Petitsigne cheese factory (based in Sénillé-Saint-Sauveur) welcomes gourmets to its boutique in Oyré
Put on your boots, take a deep breath, open your eyes: open air destination, Grand Châtellerault destination!
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