GETAWAYS • Loir-et-Cher
A weekend at Repère Sauvage is immersive, generous, and full of soul. Set on 42 hectares of forest, meadows, and ponds in the Perche Vendômois, the countryside retreat balances comfort and escapism for families, couples, and anyone seeking a deeper connection to nature.
There are 16 rooms in the 19th-century manor and 20 eco-built lodges scattered through the trees. The lodges, set on stilts and insulated with straw, blend discreetly into the landscape while offering warm interiors and sweeping views. Inside the manor, interior designer Gwenaëlle Girard has created a universe of bold textures, sculptural light, and generous colors, from the curved fireplace to the velvet-lined library.
Meals are shared at the restaurant or around long tables in the salon, where chef Arnaud Domette (who grew up just down the road) cooks with care: river fish, Touraine poultry, foraged herbs, garden vegetables. On Sundays, local families gather for lunch, and the atmosphere feels more like a celebration than a service.
For those traveling with children, Repère Sauvage is kid-friendly without sacrificing style. The on-site club (30 € for a full day), guided by nature educators and artists, offers outdoor adventures, creative workshops, and time to just be wild. There’s also a forest playground, a mini-farm, and a pool for everyone. And while the little ones play, parents can unwind in the sauna, sip a Loire wine at the bar, or curl up in the library with a view of the pond. –Victoire Loup
→ Repère Sauvage (La Ville-aux-Clercs) • Domaine du Fort Girard • from 200 € per night, fall wknd • Book.