To wait until the summer holidays, I offered a surprise weekend to my tribe. Arthur (5 years old), Hugo (16 years old) and their dad love going green. So I put together a nature trip for them that rhymes with micro-adventure.
On this spring Friday, we left just after school, heading Creuse Valley in Grand Châtellerault, just 30 minutes from us. A destination on the borders of Poitou, Touraine and Berry: so close, and yet still unknown to boys...
Friday evening: the weekend begins!
We start with a stop at a restaurant in Lésigny-sur-Creuse, it is The Age of Time, a restaurant renowned for its regional and traditional inspired cuisine. Seeing the terrace overlooking a vast green space, we decide to book for the same evening. Arthur can gallop around the lawn while waiting for the dishes, and the older ones can enjoy the tranquility of this village between woods and rivers.
But right now, it's time to head back to our base for the night. Nestled between the forests of Groie and La Guerche, the guest rooms At Elsa and Gildas offer a 360-degree panorama of the lush surrounding countryside. Hugo and my darling are speechless while Arthur has already taken over the hammock! In this hamlet in the commune of Mairé, calm and relaxation are the key words. Elsa tells us that, in September, all you have to do is go out into the garden to listen to the bellowing of the deer. I take note, certain that the experience would delight the siblings.
Once the luggage has been left in the cozy family suite, we return to Lésigny for dinner. HAS The Age of Time, the welcome is warm and the cuisine is seasonal. I enjoy a terrine, sweetbreads and a “homemade” red fruit tart. Children will long remember their ice cream sundae topped with a generous cloud of whipped cream... A delicious, fuss-free experience, everything we're looking for.
Saturday morning: truant hike
After a peaceful night and a hearty breakfast enriched with Elsa's jams, the family is ready for the morning hike. On the advice of our adorable hostess, I adapt the route according to the tastes and abilities of my curious adventurers.
Make way for a superb circuit of character, The Queen's Ford, conjugated to part of The Orchid Walk. Motivated by the encounter with remarkable flowers, my poet in short pants sets off for his first long walk!
We have an appointment with Maryvonne Goffre, very active in “Mieux Vivre à Mairé”. “ Informed by an enthusiast that the population of wild orchids is particularly large and varied in the town, the members of the association decided to learn and then deepen their knowledge through contact with the French Society of Orchidophilia. Until giving birth to a seasonal circuit from March to July, a period during which the flowering of the 27 species listed in Mayor. »
Madame Goffre also explains to Hugo and Arthur that these species are protected, regionally or nationally. It is therefore forbidden to pick them, at the risk of seeing them disappear. Specialists come from all over France to admire them! A teacher, this dynamic retired teacher advises my sons to observe them and then photograph them, in order to then compare them to the little one's photos. leaflet available free of charge at the town hall, in book boxes and shops.
« Germanic and living in symbiosis with a mushroom, the wild orchid flowers every year and has a lifespan of several decades. Open your eyes wide over the five kilometers of walk, the queens of the fields are often discovered along the edges of the paths.
Town Hall Square, maps and panels present all circuits departing from Mairé. We review one last time that of our hike of the day before heading towards the marked trail.
Between the Creuse and its bucolic banks, the picturesque hilly landscapes, the breathtaking views over the valley, the private castles, the remains of vineyard huts, the crossing of the charming Gué de la Reine stream and the flower fountain, the exit keeps all its promises! Without forgetting the famous wild orchids: the boys find goat orchids, hanging man orchids and their favorite, the little bee ophrys.
A refreshment stop is a must at L'Auberge du Vieux Port, the village's friendly bar, tobacco shop and press.
Seven kilometers on foot wears out the shoes… But not the canoes! The Mayor of Mairé, when we met him by chance, gave us an idea for our next visit: “The old port has a launching slipway. Remember to bring your inflatable kayaks and paddle boards ! » Hugo is already planning... For now, we are enjoying the place by tasting charcuterie and cheese from Au Marché Lésignois, comfortably installed on the banks of the Creuse.
Saturday afternoon: swimming in white water
The post-picnic program brings joy to the family. At the foot of its bridge, Lésigny-sur-Creuse has a leisure area, with games for children, volleyball court, picnic tables and a small sandy beach supervised in July and August.
The first aid station kit is as croquignolette as you want! This corner of nature nicknamed “The end of the bridge” has a taste of rediscovered freedom. Wild swimming in the river, far from the crowded seaside resorts on the coast, feels like a luxury. The holy grail of simple pleasures.
New cocoon for this Saturday evening’s accommodation: Ladder Turret. This elegant neo-Gothic tufa stone residence houses guest rooms in Lésigny. Ours is the family suite with a view of the flower garden! A welcome bonus for my darling and me: access to the hot tub which ends this sporting day in style.
Sunday: clown theater and flea market
The next morning, Dominique welcomes us in his charming dining room with “homemade” pancakes and yogurts, brioche, jams and regional cheeses… A real feast! Then we walk to the Glob Trott company residence.
The latter is installed in the former Lésigny flour mill. Industrial building, permaculture garden and animal site constitute an original spectacle location in a rural environment. Arthur marvels at the songs, stories and dances of the characters. Hugo, his father and I find our childhood soul in this green theater.
After a final snack based on local products and bread from the town bakery, we got on bicycles lent by our hosts to satisfy my Chinese cravings. Direction the entrance to Mairé. I finally discover The Rivals Barn, a flea market managed by Christel Zanotto and open on weekends in the afternoon. To access the pretty building, we take a majestic path. On site, antiques, retro trinkets, vintage linens catch my eye. I leave with a rattan mirror to hang in the master bedroom. What a beautiful memory of this joyful family getaway this will make!
Because it is already time to take the road back… With two perspectives offered by the Mayor of Mairé: “Monday July 11, 2022 in the morning, a hike-sketch, and Wednesday August 24, a concert evening at the Rocreuse castle."
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