This chalet, entirely built in wood both inside and outside and labelled “Gîte de France 4 épis”, is nestled in a green setting by a private pond. Come discover the magic of a place where the fauna and flora surrounds you with tranquillity and serenity. This house will be your living space for a time: just enough to let yourself be seduced by the charm and the peace of this place in the company of 2 mini ponies and many birds. With all modern conveniences for the entire family and ideal for the fishermen of “trophy fishes”, a welcoming ecogîte suitable for 6 to 8 persons and accessible to disabled persons. In a warm atmosphere, you will boast of a large living area with wood stove, a well fitted kitchen, 3 double bedrooms and a shower room. The scent of the wood gives to this place a particular, harmonious, cosy and warm atmosphere. Quietness and authenticity will be added to the pleasure of staying in such a unique place. Labelled “Gîte de France 4 épis” – Fishing gîte – rated 4-star ecological gîte by the prefecture This is the first gîte of Poitou-Charente that obtained the European Ecolabel for its contribution in using renewable energies, the saving of energy and water, the reduction of waste and the improving of the local environment. Refuge LPO (League for the Protection of Birds) And if we narrated its story: there is an enchanting place by a pond where Mother Nature waits for you, a place where it feels good to recharge your batteries. It is an exceptional site in the middle of nature for a very peaceful stay, a permanent return to the roots through the seasons both in winter and summer and an isolated countryside in a romantic and heavenly setting with peaceful tones. It is in the heart of a Natura 2000 protected zone. From the chalet, you can observe the fauna and flora and enjoy life by the pond. It is a place where the singing of the birds and the rustling of the trees invite to daydream. There are many areas where you can relax or read: a resting escape away from people and noise. Amber and Anala, our 2 Shetland mini ponies will follow you with great pleasure in your nice strolls along the many hiking paths. Charm and authenticity of a place that is ideal for relaxation and escape, an invitation to well-being, serenity and change of scenery. Pleasure and relaxation all the time in the middle of nature. It is a haven of peace in the heart of La Gâtine for nature holidays, to slow down the daily rhythm and peacefully enjoy the pleasures of life. Appreciate the charm of this place, have the ecoattitude. If you want a getaway, stimulate your senses, here is what “La Clé des Champs” offers you in order to give character to your next holidays. Fishing: in the heart of an abundant and lush nature, the fishing lovers will be delighted with many trophy fishes. It is a real haven for big game fishing: many big carps, grass carps, roaches, largemouth basses, tenches, perches, zanders, sturgeons, common rudds, etc. (compulsory no-kill fishing). A small boat with life jacket is at your disposal for a small ride or a fishing trip on the pond. You can rent fishing equipment on site. For persons who are passionate about sport fishing, a few km away, there is a second 34 acre pond that boasts of 15 fishing spots and that is an exceptional fishing zone: carps from 10 to 25 kg, sturgeons from 10 to 30 kg, pikes from 0.50 to 1.20 m, perches, tenches, roaches, etc. Hiking in La Gâtine You can have pleasant and delightful strolls to discover the abundant nature that invites you to continue on your path. You can also go hiking on the tracks that are surrounded by a landscape from La Gâtine to discover many testament of the past that mark out the territory. It is both a discovery leisure activity and a physical exercise. You can sometimes meet interesting inhabitants, persons who perfectly know the rich heritage and who know how to show you the local roofs and their products. That is what the hikers, delighted by the marvels they see and smell, tell us. In La Gâtine, the hiking paths are accessible for everyone even if some of them are harder and need a physical effort that is still a pleasure. We almost took all these paths: the difference in height of level is supportable and the distances are bearable thanks to shortcuts that are identified on the map. There are more than 20 tracks from 6 to 20 km in the surrounding communes including some of them that lead to the GR 364. There are many detailed maps and explanatory documents for the pleasure of the walkers. One thing is certain: the wooded countryside of La Gâtine offers a perfect environment for hikers who want to use the soles of their shoes. By bike from La Gâtine on the roads of Deux-Sèvres and Vendée Leisure biking, cycle touring or mountain biking: everything is possible in the nature of the region. Our landscape and heritage are endlessly varied and have a lot of charm when you discover it by bike. In family or with friends, biking is an extraordinary way to discover the area. In addition to combining form and health, it is economic and ecological. Biking is accessible for everyone and is considerably practiced in our regions. There are many meetings (cycling gets people closer). We noticed this summer that we were even more numerous on the tranquil paths, away from the road, where the natural heritage is rich and the inhabitants are closer to show you what they know better: the country and its local products and culture. Luckily, the opportunities to get on your bike are abundant. Judge for yourself: We took many paths in La Gâtine, the Marais Poitevin, the Vendée and the hinterland with medieval richness. There are more than 30 itineraries and loops where you can go biking in serenity. After the Marais Poitevin that is flat and where it is easy to drive, we travelled along a new path link from the Thouet Valley until the itineraries of the Vendée by the cycling road (Sources de Gâtine, Le Beugnon, La Chapelle-Thireuil and Saint-Hilaire-de-Voust) which is more challenging. The ground is steeper, the slopes are more inclined but after each bend, you will enjoy a wooded hedge and a new landscape and your efforts will be rewarded. In La Gâtine, in the different areas and 40 to 70 km away, the landscapes are very different, there are many protected paths and you will have the opportunity to meet our neighbours from many European countries that come biking here. Thanks to this silent and non-polluter means of transport you access inaccessible areas while preserving the environment. So get on your bikes and go on the itineraries selected for their landscape interest in a preserved natural setting: it is so good to get away. On a horse or a pony In La Gâtine or the wooded countryside of the Vendée An instructive approach for environment and countryside education It is a horse area with both draft horses and riding horses - Discovery farm - Horse riding classes and working in horse school - Horse riding tourism and rides on discovery paths We get to know these professionals, these horse lovers that make possible and pass on the pleasure of the close relationship between the man and the horse. They are 5 in a perimeter of 5 to 15 km. We discovered the draft horse universe, learned its use and the ancestral professions practiced with it. We treated them and practiced grooming of the Breton draft horse that weighs 900 kg: “a docile monster”. We worked at the forge and we shod a horse before its work. It has been a real pleasure to practice carriage horse riding on marked-out tracks and to know better the farm work of yesteryear. This universe is still too unknown and is very enriching in terms of culture and history. You can mix working in horse school and classes for all levels. Finally, the great pleasure of riding and the contact with the horse, the pony and the nature. Hiking in the forest, in La Gâtine, in the Marais Poitevin and the Vendée countryside. There is no better way to enjoy our rural landscapes, to practice green tourism and to meet stags, wild boars, coypus, rabbits, squirrels and many birds.