I offer my guests a meal basket for the evening with products from my farm.
In Saint-Julien-d'Ance, Sylvie Monier wanted to diversify her dairy farming business by welcoming tourists to unusual accommodation at La Ferme des Chanaux. It is in caravans and a wooden cabin that they can enjoy a bohemian stay in the heart of nature, while enjoying the farm's products and many activities.
What made you want to offer this type of accommodation?
Sylvie Monier: Previously, we had dairy cows and we raised ducks to make foie gras. We were in a GAEC with my husband and my two parents. In fact, it was my mother who had the idea of offering unusual accommodation because she felt that she worked less than us. After seeing a report on television, she suggested that we install caravans on our property. We started to set them up in Chomelix, before moving them here two years ago. I am not alone in taking care of it, my husband Olivier and my son Hugo sometimes give me a hand with maintenance and breakfasts.
What are their particularities?
They offer all the necessary comfort to the occupants. In the trailers, there are toilets, a shower, a kitchen area, and of course the necessary bedding for 5 people on a surface area of 18 m2. This is very appreciated by families with children. There is also a 15m2 cabin that has been designed for 3 people, or even a small child. The accommodations are equipped with garden furniture, and are open all year round. They have a small heater.
It’s also an opportunity to taste the farm’s products?
Yes, because I am first and foremost a farmer. I raise 65 dairy cows. I offer my guests a packed lunch for the evening, often with potatoes, pork for example, cheese and a dessert. These are farm products from our farm. They also have a breakfast basket, with bread, pastries, butter, homemade jams and a hot drink.
And to carry out many outdoor activities?
Yes. Mostly hiking. And then, there are remarkable sites to discover here, like the volcanic lava flow which offers a nice view of the region. There is also the castle of Chalencon, and the Ancette mill in Saint-Julien-d'Ance.
What is the profile of the people who come to stay with you?
We mostly have people who come from Saint-Etienne and Lyon. There are also some who come from Vichy, or Clermont-Ferrand. In summer, we have people who want to make a stopover between the north and the south. These are the ones who go to the south, and who want to cut the journey in two. I have more and more grandparents who come with their grandchildren. These are people who love nature, and who want to be in a quiet place.
