Family Longère in peace and quiet

Let yourself be transported to a world of tranquility and romance. Pouligny is a delightful destination: The farmhouse boasts five bedrooms, each with its own floral motif, two elegant living areas with fully equipped kitchens, and a new wellness area.

Add to that the spacious veranda overlooking the expansive surroundings and the estate (and the neighbor's swimming pool)… There's no better base for exploring the tranquil nature, fine wines, and rich culture of the Loire Valley!

This longère, or long-gabled farmhouse dating back to 1780, recently underwent a complete makeover. The owners, captivated by the house's charm and authenticity, have expertly restored it into a beautiful piece of character. With a mix of precious furnishings, bright spaces, and modern comforts, the property exudes contemporary elegance and the grandeur of yesteryear.

The farmhouse comprises two gîtes (Gîte Annick and Gîte Madeleine), which are interconnected but can also be separated modularly. This creates an ideal holiday home for families or groups of friends who enjoy spending time together but occasionally want the privacy of their own family. The farmhouse is always rented as a whole (both gites together).

From these rooms, you can step directly into the spacious veranda: a delightful spot with a fantastic view of the picturesque surroundings and ideal for spotting local wildlife, including deer, foxes, pheasants, and partridges.

In summer, you can enjoy the sun on one of the terraces or the refreshing shade under the old chestnut and walnut trees.

The large above-ground pool guarantees hours of wonderful water fun for all ages.

After a long walk, canoe trip, or bike ride, you can pamper yourself in the infrared cabin or hot tub. Afterwards, relax by the fire in one of the cozy lounges with a book, a fun board game, or a delicious glass of local wine (Sancerre, Pouilly Fumé, Bourgogne, etc.). For those who fancy a bit of music, there's a piano in the lounge! Enjoyment is key here, whatever the season!

Both gîtes have their own kitchen and living room. Both kitchens are equipped with all modern conveniences, including a dishwasher, fridge-freezer, microwave, Senseo coffee machine, and more.

There are five inviting bedrooms, each with its own floral motif. These motifs are reflected in the hand-painted tiles, calligraphy, and paintings custom-created by our resident artist, Celeste Van Langenhove. The farmhouse also features a mezzanine, four new bathrooms, and two separate toilets. The original ceiling beams and the custom artistic decoration contribute to the romantic atmosphere and set the tone for a relaxed yet stylish stay.

Two bedrooms are located on the ground floor. Both are accessible for guests with reduced mobility. One (the Poppy Room) has an en-suite shower room with a sink. The other (the Angel Trumpet Room) is adjacent to the ground-floor bathroom/wellness area with a walk-in shower, whirlpool tub, and infrared sauna.

Our holiday home is situated in a wonderfully peaceful area, not yet overrun by tourists, yet brimming with culture, nature, and gastronomy, with plenty of opportunities for sporting activities.

Here is a brief summary of some of the sights.

CULTURE

LA CHARITÉ-SUR-LOIRE, PRIORY IN A BOOK CITY (+/- 15km)

The impressive priory buildings and the enormous church with its 12th-century tower once seated 5,000 people and have been fragmented and fragmented into the town center over the centuries: there are even houses in the nave. These days, it's mainly a bookworm's haunt, as evidenced by the number of secondhand bookshops: La Charité is officially a book city. Those with a sweet tooth will also find plenty to enjoy: sweets with personality (charitois and charitoise) are sold in the shadow of the church porch (Confiserie du prieuré). The tourist office (5, Place Sainte-Croix) offers a walking tour with explanations about the priory and the theme of "the book."

BOURGES, SPRING CITY OF FRANCE (approximately 35 km)

Bourges is an elegant and romantic city proud of its impressive cathedral (a UNESCO World Heritage site), its verdant marshes, the original palace designed by Jacques Cœur in the 15th century, and the noble appearance of its mansions and gardens, juxtaposed with the simplicity of the religious buildings near the city walls.

"The Spring of Bourges," featuring hundreds of artists, sets the entire city in motion to music. Throughout the summer, more than 100 performances are held in the gardens and squares, while the Nuits Lumière (free sound and light shows from sunset) reveal the secrets of a rich heritage…

NEVERS, CITY OF ART AND HISTORY (+/- 35km)

Situated on a hill, a few kilometers from the confluence of the Allier and Loire rivers, this capital of the Nivernais region has been renowned for its beautiful earthenware, faience, and spun glass since the 17th century. The Cathedral of St. Cyr-et-Ste-Julitte, the Ducal Palace, and the belfry bear witness to its glorious past, when the Counts of Nevers held power. Saint Bernadette Soubirous died here in 1879, and her body, exhumed intact three times, now rests in a glass shrine in the chapel of the Espace Bernadette.

VÉZELAY, START OF THE PILGRIMAGE ROUTE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLE

During the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the people of Vézelay hosted some 10,000 pilgrims. The climb to the magnificent Basilica of Sainte-Madeleine is like a spiritual initiation: this centuries-old Christian spiritual center has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Throughout the centuries, artists and writers have found inspiration here, and the spirit of Romanesque art still resonates…

APREMONT-SUR-ALLIER, AN OLD PICTURE BOOK COMES TO LIFE

Comfortably nestled in a meander of the Allier River, this medieval village is indeed one of the "most beautiful villages in France."

Along the pristine banks, at the foot of the castle (with its magnificent 5-hectare flower garden), time has stood still: half-timbered houses in pink ochre hues line the single main street, slate-tiled roofs, walls hidden behind greenery at every corner, perfectly trimmed hedges, and beautiful flower-filled terraces. In the castle stables, a collection of 19th-century carriages is exhibited in the Musée des Calèches.

NOIRLAC ABBEY, PRESERVING THE RICH OF MONASTERY

This Cistercian abbey on the banks of the Cher River is one of the best-preserved and most complete monasteries in France. It tells the story of nine centuries of turbulent history and currently houses the Cultural Centre for Contemporary Art, which organizes cultural and artistic events for a wide audience.

CASTLES OF THE LOIRE, PROUD WITNESSES ALONG A LEGENDARY RIVER

Following the river's course, you'll discover the castles of the Loire: Renaissance buildings, medieval fortresses, all the built heritage along the Loire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kings, artists, and famous authors have made good choices. Embraced by the Loire's charm, many chose to build their homes on its banks. Each of these monuments has its own rich history.

LA BORNE, POTTERY ELEVATED TO AN ART FORM

The presence of rich clay is at the origin of the pottery tradition in Berry, and this has been the case since the beginning of our era. La Borne is an old pottery village with a long ceramics history: for several hundred years, traditional French stoneware was produced there, fired in enormous wood-fired kilns.

Recently, pottery has been revived:

In the Pottery Museum, the La Borne Ceramics Centre, and the free workshops of local artists, you can discover the craftsmanship of the region's potters. Interested in a sculpting or pottery-throwing course?

CHÂTEAU DE MEILLANT, MAGICAL CASTLE

Sheltered and far from civilization, nestled between forests and marshes, Charles Chaumont d’Amboise built this Renaissance-style castle. The current owners, the Marquis and Marchioness of Mortemart, are direct descendants of him.

The beautifully furnished rooms, with their wide carved fireplaces and walls covered in Cordoba leather, still reflect the grandeur of successive generations of nobles. In the old cellars, life in France through the centuries has been recreated in miniature, a kind of Madurodam of the past.

GUÉDELON, CASTLE BUILDING IN A MEDIEVAL MODEL

Building a castle using the construction techniques and materials of the 13th century: 50 workers began this project in 1997 and hope to complete it in 2025. Medieval manuscripts and drawings are being tested against reality.

Experimenting with a treadmill and a cross-arched vault, while thousands of tiles and roof tiles are fired in a wood-fired kiln: little by little, the medieval techniques reveal their secrets.

ROUTE DE JACQUES COEUR, 30 CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

The historic Jacques Coeur route crisscrosses the region and includes 10 private castles, an abbey, six towns or public monuments, as well as 14 museums and nearby attractions. With the "Pass Privilège de Jacques Coeur," inquisitive visitors enjoy reduced rates everywhere. The route can be followed not only by car but also by bike, and even the youngest visitors can unravel riddles along the way like true treasure hunters. From Pouligny, the route can be explored in various loops. …AND ALSO…

Aubigny-sur-Nère (Scottish footprint of the Stuarts)

Musée de la Loire (in Cosne-sur-Loire)

Musée des métiers (in Argent-sur-Sauldre)

Musée du Berry (in Bourges)

castle of Nohant

castle of Valençay

Mehun-sur-Yèvre,

…

THE LOIRE BY CYCLE, A UNIQUE CYCLING ROUTE

Designed to reduce air pollution, this 800 km interregional route crosses six departments, including the Cher (40 km long). Along France's longest river, Europe's last wild river, through a valley teeming with cultural and natural treasures, and passing through charming villages, you'll discover an exceptional natural area, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as a "living cultural landscape." Vast, deserted beaches, immense sandbanks, or "boires" (dead banks) that dry up in summer are home to terns, grebes, ospreys, grey herons, beavers, and Loire fish…

PILGRIMAGE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELLE

There are timeless paths, trodden and worn by thousands of walkers for over 1,000 years: pilgrimages on foot, hundreds of kilometers across France, began in the 11th century. There are four historically recognized routes to Santiago de Compostela: the Via Lemovicensis, which starts in Vézelay and goes via La-Charité-sur-Loire to Bourges, passing through the Pouligny estate.

The routes to Compostela are marked with the scallop shell logo, a yellow and blue logo (European Cultural Route), or a double red and yellow line if it is a section of the GR route. The itinerary "Sentiers vers St. Jacques-de-Compostella via Vézelay" is published by the French Federation of Pedestrian Hiking.

WATER SPORTS ON THE LOIRE

The Loire Valley looks completely different from the water. Kayaking and canoeing are perfect for this: let yourself be gently carried along by the current past pristine islands with their white sandy beaches, and watch for ducks, wading birds, songbirds, and birds of prey, as well as beaver families and other river creatures.

Whether you're on your own or with the whole family, departures and arrivals from La Charité are possible year-round, and even daily in summer.

You can book half-day or full-day excursions, as well as three-day excursions, which include bivouacs on an island. Safe and unforgettable!

GASTRONOMY

Delicious wines in picturesque old towns:

SANCERRE

Ancient Roman settlement perched on a hill with stunning views over the surrounding vineyards of the famous Sancerre wines.

POUILLY-SUR-LOIRE

With its characteristic Pouilly Fumé: a delicious white wine for the connoisseur, situated on the banks of the Loire.

MENNETOU-SALON

The Mennetou-Salon wine region covers 450 hectares and produces white, red, and rosé wines.

SHOPPING

"Avaricum" Shopping Center

32 boutiques in a brand-new shopping center in the heart of Bourges, with 350 parking spaces available: ready to be discovered.

8, Avenue Peterborough, Bourges

Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 AM-7:30 PM

Arômes du Vieux Bourges

This imposing building with its window display bears witness to a prestigious history dating back to the Middle Ages… The aromas of spiced pastries, ginger, cherries, cinnamon… fill this shop.

11, Place Gordaine, Bourges

Atout Fruit

A bar serving fruit juices with warm colors to discover or rediscover the 83 flavors of MONIN syrups. Established in Bourges since 1912, this store constantly reinvents the flavors of its syrups, making them bold, imaginative, and delicious.

10, Rue de Sarrebourg, Bourges