‘Insolite’, French for unusual or out of the ordinary, is used to describe Le Moulin de Saint-Blaise. And unusual it is; there are fewer destinations more uniquely romantic than a secluded spot in rolling French fields, surrounded by woodlands, within the grounds of a converted watermill. If you’re looking to chalk up the brownie points with your significant other, this is the destination to do so.
Those holidaying to France typically fall in either one of two camps: city-breakers jetting off to Paris, or those looking for a waterside, wine-soaked getaway in the likes of Nice or Provence. Le Moulin de Saint-Blaise, then, offers a retreat that arguably few you know will have thus far embarked on — it’s not very often you’re afforded the opportunity to enjoy the real French countryside, watching the moorhen and kingfishers from your spot near the river, tucking into a three-course meal cooked by your hosts using produce from their garden, before retreating to your bell tent in the evening from which you can hear little but nature.
The Loire Valley is well-known for its fine wines and scenery, peppered with small communes and the occasional grand château, contributing to a laid-back lifestyle surrounded by beautiful sights. Le Moulin de Saint-Blaise is emblematic of this approach to life, with its off-grid site placing three bell tents within 10 acres of spacious land. The amenities are relatively simple — a compost toilet, a kitchen area for cooking, furnishings made from recycled materials — though across the river is the main building, in which you’ll have access to comforts such as a hot shower and flushing toilet. It’s the best of both worlds; eco-friendly and with an emphasis on keeping your surroundings unspoiled, though with more robust amenities nearby.
As its hosts note, the ‘insolite’ nature of Le Moulin de Saint-Blaise means that it is purpose-built to wriggle you out of your comfort zone. Many can say they’ve been to France and stayed in a hotel, apartment, or all-inclusive resort, but how many can say they pitched up in a quiet field in Chahaignes, a small village with a population of fewer than 1,000?