'Canvas under the stars'. That's the direct translation of La Toile Sous Les Étoiles and an appropriate one given the dark skies that this rural part of East Limousin affords. When the sun sets and only the campfires flicker at this brand new glamping retreat, the Milky Way dazzles with its full display. Even the furtherest stars seem to wink at you.
Created by British ex-pats Nigel and Olivia Stanton, who first fell in love with the region on holidays of their own, this comfortable take on camping offers an enchanting mix of luxury and ol' fashioned outdoor fun. In a wildflower meadow, flanked by mature trees, mown pathways weave their way between the six different bell tents, each pitched on a flat wooden deck where garden chairs call out for you to sit down in the sun with a good book. Inside, the bell tents are bunting-clad beauties – think vintage chests, oak-framed beds and marble-topped cabinets – where the tiniest touches show real attention to detail. An up-cycled pastis bottle has been turned into a bedside lamp, freshly picked flowers fill a vase and complimentary tea and coffee await. There's no denying this is camping done right.
The same thoughtfulness has been given to the rest of the space. Walk past the swimming pool to old farm buildings, where you'll find bathroom facilities and a kitchen, which, though plush, still have a wonderful sense of place. The charmingly rustic washing-up sinks, for example, are made out of deep wooden buckets, while the stone ablutions barn feature exposed corrugated iron along the walls. The kitchen, well equipped for the maximum of 20 guests the site allows, has a range oven, wood-fired bread (or pizza) oven and a private fridge for every bell tent.
While such facilities make for easy living, it's the all-round setting of La Toile Sous Les Étoiles that makes it so special. It's easy to see how Olivia and Nigel so quickly fell in love with the place. The young orchard overlooked by ivy-dotted barns, the old farm tracks to stroll along and the reliably brilliant weather. Why wouldn't you want to live here? Throw in the convenient amenities of Auzances, the local town a 5-minute drive away, and the vast regional park – Parc Naturel Régional de Millevaches – a half hour drive beyond that and there's everything you could want for. Not that it's all needed. Some days are better spent doing absolutely nothing but lazing beside the pool.
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The Owner Says
We are Nigel and Olivia Stanton, who have recently bought a property in France with a big vision of a new future! We have spent many years living and working in the Oxfordshire area in England. Since we married in 1991, every year we have spent holidays camping, caravanning, boating, motorhoming and self-catering, mainly in the UK but also in France. We have learnt to live in bijou spaces without compromising on creature comforts.
Over the past couple of years life has dealt us a new set of cards – Nigel was offered redundancy after 26 years in the same company, family responsibilities have lessened and it’s time to escape the daily commute and to realise a long held dream to open a campsite! We began the search for a suitable property and considered all sorts of options along the way, finally deciding upon the Glamping route.
Now we are transforming our new property into a peaceful holiday destination for you, your family and friends to enjoy the countryside, with nature all around and rediscovering a simple but comfortable way of life.
In May 2018 we opened our small, exclusive, Glamping site on the Limousin/Auvergne border – a beautifully rural area in the centre of France with great transport links by road and air (Limoges airport is an easy 2 hours away and is served with low price flights all year round. Clermont Ferrand airport is just over an hour a way and flights from the UK run during the summer months).
We will be taking bookings from those needing just one tent, a number of families holidaying together, or even group bookings for the whole site (special birthday, anniversary celebrations, corporate events maybe?). Dogs accepted by prior arrangement.
WHAT WE OFFER...Bespoke designed cream canvas bell tents – only 6 in total, with a maximum of 20 guests on site at any one time. They are well-spaced (minimum 30m apart), and are 6m in diameter for upto 4 people and 5m in diameter for 2 people – tents are sited on wooden bases and have comfortable outdoor furniture
Forget about airbeds and think about comfortable mattresses on proper vintage French bedsteads made up with carefully chosen crisp linens ready for your arrival. There is a dresser in which you will find ample crockery, cutlery, utensils, pots and pans - just what you might have at home. Complimentary tea & coffee, basic cooking essentials such as salt, pepper, oil plus washing up liquid and lavatory paper are all provided. Each tent is ‘carpeted’ with traditional coir matting
Lighting is powered by the sun and candles. Low energy LED lighting is installed in each tent powered by a solar panel for convenience and candlepower for ambiance. The solar powered unit also has USB ports for charging your 'gadgets'.
Cooking on gas or an open fire. Options of a gas ring for that morning cup of coffee and a Kadai Fire bowl, which can be used for barbeques, heating food in the tripod suspended cooking pot, or on a specially designed pan. Alternatively, to sit round in the evening, toasting marshmallows.
Your own mains powered fridge. A mains powered fridge for each tent is provided (housed in the old pig sty!) There are also mains sockets for charging electronic stuff. There will also be cool boxes in the tents for the morning milk.
Luxuriously appointed shower rooms – Exclusively yours for or the duration of your stay within a centuries old converted barn
Beautiful Swimming Pool surrounded by decking and more comfortable furniture. (The pool has a fence around it for safety reasons).
A ‘Guest Barn’ kitted out for our guests’ use, fully equipped to cater for up to 20 guests, complete with a range cooker and a huge banqueting table and is adjacent to our original bread oven, in which we will cook you handmade pizzas on pizza nights.
A communal fire pit/barbeque area where everyone can get together for socialising and marshmallow roasting.
Star-gazing nights - the light pollution here is some of the lowest experienced in Europe – the picture on our Home Page was taken in the garden on the night we bought the house!
Reviews
Add Your ReviewA little bit of paradise (although the hospitality's better)
Wish we could have stayed for months
AMAZING place!!
Lovely relaxing stay in rural tranquility
Space to discover
Welcome and friendly
Beautiful
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Pitches
4 bell tents sleeping up to 4 people and 2 bell tents exclusively for couples.
Who's In
Glamping only. Max 20 guests on site at any one time. No campervans, caravans or own tents. Dogs and big groups welcome by prior arrangement.
Facilities
All tents are set on wooden decking to ensure a flat, stable base. Proper beds and mattresses, with all bedding and linen provided. Storage chests for clothing and personal items. Low energy LED lighting available alongside candles and, of course, campfires. Options of a gas ring for morning cuppas (complimentary tea and coffee provided) or a Kadai fire bowl, which can be used for BBQs, heating food in the suspended tripod pot or on a specially designed pan. There are cool-boxes in each tent for your morning milk, with a proper, mains-powered fridge in 'the old pig sty' barn. A second barn houses a dining and cooking area, with a range cooker, bread/pizza oven, cooking utensils, pots, pans and crockery, plus gadget charging points. Private, luxury shower rooms in a third, centuries-old barn. Swimming pool, surrounded by decking and furniture. Communal firepit and BBQ area. Bathroom and pool towels both provided.
Nearby
It's 20 miles to Aubusson, world famous for its tapestries. Splash out on a beautiful (and usually pricey) work of art and tour the local galleries. There are plenty of lovely restaurants and shops to visit, too, as well as the main museum. For something more active, drive just under an hour to Lac de Vassivière, the biggest lake in Limousin situated in the north of the Regional Nature Park of Millevaches. Ride bikes around the perimeter, go sailing, kayaking or swimming in the lake itself, or simply enjoy lounging on one of the numerous beaches along its shore. Similarly, Sioule-Loisirs (27 miles; 00334 7385 5287) is a great multi-activity base in the heart of the Sioule Gorges. They offer rental of canoes, kayaks and electric mountain bikes and it's great for families who fancy a spot of adventure.
Food & Drink
It's a 5 minute drive into Auzances, where there's a handful of small restaurants and cafés (including a pizzeria). Plus, all the basic essentials – three bakeries, a butcher's, a pharmacy, a bank, a post office, a furniture shop... a lawn mower store! For groceries, head to the big Intermarché supermarket just on the other side of the village.
Open
May–late September.
The Damage
From £65 per night.
Getting There
Be warned, La Toile Sous Les Etoiles' address is misleading... especially if using a SatNav! It's best to head for the nearest town: Auzances (‘postcode’ 23700). The campsite is around 4km from the town centre. From Auzances follow the D988 towards Dontreix/Pontamur/Clermont Ferrand. After the downhill sweeping bends coming out of the town, you'll cross 2 bridges. After the second, take the second left (the D4A1 towards Vergheas). Follow this road for 2km, passing through the hamlet of Les Vernades, and continue up the hill and around a sharp right hand, then a left hand, bend. Just beyond these bends, you'll see a crossroads sign. Straight ahead you will see 2 entrances in front of you. Take the right hand of these, into a Toile Sous Les Etoiles' car parking area.
Public Transport
It's 50 minutes to Montlucon, where you'll find the main railway hub. It's an hour to Clermont Ferrand Airport and 2 to Limoges Airport. By car, Caen is the nearest ferry port (5hrs 25 mins), while it takes 5hrs 50mins to Dieppe or Le Havre. Calais is around 7hrs by car.
Facilities
- Campfires permitted
- Dogs welcome
- Exclusive Hire
- Good for kids
- Groups welcome
- Showers
- Swimming pool
Looking For...
- Bicycle routes nearby
- Good walks nearby
- Mountains nearby
- Nice Views from Site
- On the farm
- Remote location
- Romantic retreat
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