The crowing of the cock at dawn, bare feet in the grass, the smell of hay, the blush of ripening apricots. Holidays on the farm awaken all the senses! This summer, thanks to the Gîtes de France, Bienvenue à la Ferme and Accueil Paysan networks, you can reconnect with the land and share the daily life of many farmers. In a tent, gîte or B&B, create new family memories and put a sparkle in the kids’ eyes.
A little nest in Haut-Doubs
Barely in their 30s, Pauline and Rémi share their dream and their little piece of the world lost in the middle of the great Jura pine forests. They look after 80 dairy sheep in their sheepfold in the Combe de l'Ours, in the middle of the fields half an hour's drive from Salins-les-Bains. From the bright, wooded family room, you can hear the bleating and the tinkling of bells. Yoghurts, faisselles and homemade crottins take pride of place at breakfast. Milking takes place twice a day and children who ask for it are entitled to a few drops of the warm milk straight from the cow!
An intro to permaculture in Saint Jeannet
At the foot of the Baous (limestone crowns that dominate the hinterland of Nice), terraces shelter an abundant mishmash of shrubs, vegetables and flowers. At first glance it looks a bit cluttered, but far from it. Since 2002, Isabella Sallusti has been practising permaculture, a way of working the land respectfully by cultivating the synergies between plants and other living organisms. Herbs flourish in vegetable patches near the natural pond, and bees buzz about. Guests in the three tents rest in their deckchairs, practice yoga or peel courgettes and grill them on a plancha in front of their lodge. The charming village of Saint-Jeannet is a 10-minute walk away.
Strawberry hunting in Normandy
Awaken your picking instinct! From the Gîtes de France approved guest rooms or gîte of their Ferme du Grand Parc, the raspberry and blackcurrant bushes of Anne and Olivier François-Chauvin are accessible by foot. As integrative farmers, the couple also grows corn, wheat, rapeseed and beans on their 175 hectares between Caen and Bayeux. The stone manor farm, typical of the Bessin region, sometimes welcomes riders: the riding route ‘La chevauchée de Guillaume’ passes behind the orchards. You can run or walk your dog here too. The beach of Ver-sur-Mer is seven kilometres away as the crow flies.
The lakes near Nantes
The scent of wild mint floats over the Mazerolles marsh, 650 hectares bordered by the Erdre between meadows and ponds. "Breeding is the key to managing wetlands," explains Emmanuel Rialland. He pampers over 200 wagyu cattle, a precious and placid Japanese breed. Two kotas, Finnish-inspired wooden huts, allow visitors to immerse themselves in the domain, also home to frogs and white egrets. A boat carries guests there, along with an evening meal and breakfast. It’s an adventure 15km north of Nantes.
By Aliette de Crozet
When you're curious and a gourmand, walking around France is a good idea.
