You know, those rare holiday places that make you feel fully relaxed? I’ve found a peaceful place to stop off for a few nights, right in the middle of France. Maison L’aventure is located around half an hour from Châteauroux and about an hour from the city of Bourges.
We booked a trip to the South of France. We already had our final destination sorted, and we needed somewhere to stop off for a few nights to break up the trip. You can drive across France in about 12 hours, but it’s an epic drive to do non-stop. We’ve got two little ones under five, so we decided to have a two-night stop-off on the way out.
Staying somewhere for two nights rather than just one gives you the chance to properly get into holiday mode. Your body and mind start to click that, yep, you can actually start to relax.
The Content Wolf Travel Rating Score 57/60
- Service – 10
- Uniqueness – 9
- Location – 8
- Comfort – 10
- Cleanliness – 10
- Facilities – 10
The perfect stop off mid-way through France
When we arrived at Maison L’aventure, we had been driving since 4 am in the morning. It’s safe to say we were pretty tired. But as soon as we scaled the long country road leading to their property, we felt like we’d begun to escape from the outside world. It’s hidden away in the French countryside, nestled in between dense forest and miles of fields. On the way in we had to drive a little slowly as we saw a few rather large hares dart across the road. For us, this was a very good sign.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a canine version of a house manager. The owner’s gorgeous brown collie ran up to our car on a mission; it felt like she was guiding us onto the property and hinting at where to park! I’m a huge dog fan, so this is the perfect welcome for me. Paul greeted us and took us straight to see the goats. The kids were thrilled to see a herd of friendly goats running towards us. We fed them and met the chickens, too!
A peaceful escape in the French countryside
Upon setting foot on the grounds, I knew I’d found a special place. I spend a lot of time researching and choosing lovely places, but you never really know what they’re going to be like until you see them in the flesh. The exterior of the property is simply stunning. There’s a large barn-type house with an indoor/outdoor bar adorned with fairy lights and rustic decor.
They’ve also got a play area for the kids, a decent-sized refreshing pool (and sun loungers), and a boules court. We enjoyed a few family games during our stay! It’s a wonderful place for kids, thanks to all the animals on site, including very friendly donkeys, goats, and chickens. The owners were kind enough to let the kids sit and ride on the donkeys.
The accommodation
Maison L’aventure is essential a bed and breakfast. There are a few different rooms you can book. However, we need a fair bit of space for our little ones, so we opted to stay in their cabin. It’s located on the ground in the garden not too far from the rooms in the main house. I think, generally, log cabins are relaxing because, for some reason, the wood makes you feel like you’re in nature.
Our cabin was charming and clean, and it had everything we needed. Most importantly, the beds were really comfortable. Often, with cabins, holiday properties will opt for lower-quality beds, which kind of spoils the whole experience. But Maison L’aventure have properly kitted out this lovely little cabin with high-quality bedding and furniture. We stayed for just two nights, but I could have easily stayed much longer. We just felt so calm and happy here. We woke up to the birds singing in the morning and a beautiful sunrise.
The food
You know what we needed after being in the car for ten+ hours? Our meals are taken care of. The last thing I wanted to do was to have to try and cook or trek to a local shop for food. Thank goodness Maison L’aventure offers a full board-type service. You can book in meals ahead of time, so you don’t have to worry about anything when you arrive.
The breakfast was absolutely brilliant. I’m a fussy breakfast guest because I often need more than just pastry and cereal. I always look for places that offer eggs and some kind of protein. I was thrilled to discover they had everything! Delicious local bread, cheese and meat. They were even happy to whip up an omelette for us too. Plus, they served all the usual stuff, including cereal, fruit and pastries.
We were really impressed. For dinner, we had fresh fish, mash and cucumber in a tasty dressing one night and a beef stew the other night. We also enjoyed a homemade soup and tiramisu for pudding.
The facilities
I was really impressed with the facilities here. It’s a great place to come and relax with family and friends. They got a boules court, a swimming pool, a play area for the kids and an al fresco bar. Plus, there are all the animals on the site that you can go and see, including donkeys, goats, chickens and the family’s lovely dogs.
The location
Look, this is a place to stop off at. It’s in an absolutely serene spot in the middle of the French countryside. But you do need a car if you want to go out and about. It’s only about 30 minutes from Châteauroux. Plus, Bourges is around an hour away. The location is ideal if you want pure peace and quiet but not if you like the hustle and bustle of somewhere busy.
