"Mon Jardin Nourricier" gîte in the mountains

Welcome to our nature gîte "Mon jardin nourricier" at 850 m altitude near the Markstein and Petit Ballon, in the mountains (Vosges, Alsace, Haut-Rhin), between forest and pastures. The perfect place to rest or hike! Wildlife is visible around the house. Nearby farms offer local produce. Allow 15 minutes by car for traditional shops. Our cottage is equipped with dry toilets. It is not safe for young children and babies. The space Located in the former hayloft of our dwelling house, our cottage is an independent accommodation and therefore has a separate entrance from our large vegetable garden. Access to the cottage is via a dirt road of about 500 m, quite drivable if you drive slowly. A few days before your arrival, we will send you a detailed access plan with photos to show you the route to follow whether you are coming from the village (classic access) or a variant if you are coming from the mountain (via the Markstein). It's important to rely on this access plan and not GPS which, for the most part, won't lead you to us. This will prevent you from getting lost! The 36 m2 accommodation is ideal for 2 people. It is equipped with all the essentials to make your stay enjoyable. Please note, the nearest grocery store is about ten kilometers away, so plan ahead. Bed linens are provided. In summer, you have an outdoor space, with garden table and chairs in our large vegetable garden, where we grow many vegetables. The accommodation is equipped with a dry toilet with stainless steel bucket (see photos of the bathroom). It's very easy to use, hygienic and odorless. All you have to do is take the bucket out once it's full in front of the cottage, we take care of composting and disinfecting the bucket. You have, in the cottage, a clean bucket in advance for the change in order to be totally autonomous. The change is made on average every 2 or 3 days under normal conditions of use. Our cottage is not safe for young children and babies, so for safety and liability reasons we prefer not to host them. Guest access Located in the mountains, in the Vosges Natural Park (Alsace), at the bottom of the Florival Valley (Guebwiller Valley), close to Markstein, Petit-Ballon and not too far from Grand Ballon. From the village of Linthal, count 5 km of winding forest road then 500 m of track. This dirt road is drivable 3/4 of the year, but sometimes to be done on foot in winter, we can however transport you from the top of the road with your luggage on arrival and departure, if conditions require it. Upon arrival, you'll be able to park in the yard. When you arrive at our house, you will access the cottage by a path and a gate entering the vegetable garden, then a wooden walkway. The entrance to the accommodation and the accommodation itself are independent of our home, but in the same house. Other things to note If you want to be in nature, in peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, our cottage is perfect for you! If, on the other hand, you want to have the amenities of the city available (restaurant on the doorstep, shops right next door, never a Wi-Fi outage...), our cottage will not be suitable. Our location in the mountains and away from the hamlet makes access a little more complicated than elsewhere, but if you follow our directions carefully, there will be no problem. We are also available to assist when needed. It's an idyllic setting, but it's worth it, there are a few 'constraints' to accept! Please note the presence of pets on site. Remember to let us know if you're afraid of dogs (we have 2 friendly female dogs: Maya, 11 years old, and Sweety, a 2-year-old golden retriever). Our cats come and go around the house. They are not allowed to enter the cottage, do not invite them… and if by any chance, one of them ventures there anyway, kindly invite them to leave. Our horses and ponies (Kenzo, Myrtille and Noisette) are at home from November to May… and from June to October they graze meadows elsewhere in the mountains. Our only chicken (Ramassette) is discreet, except when she has laid an egg! The rabbits are quieter and will not bother you. Where there are animals, there are flies in summer… we provide you with a repellent device, a fly swatter and a blue lamp. However, be careful not to leave food out in the open… and to use the dry toilet properly (recommendations given in the welcome booklet). Our cottage is not safe for young children and babies, so for safety and liability reasons, we prefer not to accommodate them.