Join Linda Kriel, renowned fitness guru, for a week of exercise and renewal in the French countryside. Linda welcomes all fitness levels - if you can walk 2–3 hours at a relaxed pace, you’re in! On longer walk days, there are easier routes available. Energetic types might get bonus squats from Linda while waiting - only if you’re keen. The first two walks are local; the rest are short drives away (chauffeured, of course). Lunch and dinner are at the château, except on excursions and our final evening. Brief morning toning/stretching sessions are offered daily.
Day 1: Sunday, 21 June
Sundowners and drinks to welcome your arrival.
Dinner: Bistro-style menu featuring regional ingredients.
Day 2: Monday, 22 June
Breakfast followed by our first walk.
Walk: “Une Seigneurie au Moyen-Âge” Loop
Description:
At Château de Najade, you’ll begin a walk exploring the village’s castle and other attractions. Discover the town’s history and its link to the film Jour de Fête by award-winning director Jacques Tati. The route continues along the Indre River and nearby farmlands.
· Distance: 7.6 km
· Difficulty: Mild to moderate (shorter, easier option available)
· Duration: ±2 hours
We’ll have lunch, and the afternoon is free for relaxation or a swim.
Dinner:
A French feast with champagne and regional delicacies.
Day 3: Tuesday, 23 June
After breakfast, enjoy a shorter walk around the village, with the option to join Linda for an exercise class afterwards.
Later, we’ll visit George Sand’s house, where she lived with Chopin.
The house is in Nohant, a small French village in central France’s Berry region. It features a large garden and a small park, both with many features and aspects designed by Sand herself. One can still see the sound boards Sand installed to muffle the piano's sound when she lived there with Frédéric Chopin, and the two cedar trees she planted to commemorate the births of her two children, Solange and Maurice. The house includes a few rooms designed by Sand, including the “blue room” where she passed away.
Lunch: Picnic in the beautiful garden before returning to the château for relaxation.
Dinner:
French buffet.
Day 4: Wednesday, 24 June
After breakfast, we’ll travel to Aubusson for a hike to the “Tour de l’Horloge,” a historic clock tower.
Distance: 7.8 km
Difficulty: Mild
Duration: ±2 hours
Enjoy stunning views of the Creuse Valley and Aubusson, famous for its exquisite tapestries. The functioning clock, with its wooden and metal parts and its bell bearing Gothic inscriptions, offers a glimpse into the city’s past.
After the walk, spend time with a tapestry expert who will share the history and culture of these world-renowned works, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
Guests return to the château for a late-afternoon rest.
Dinner:
“Pas de Deux” — cheese and wine from the region.
Day 5: Thursday, 25 June
Today we visit Boussac, a nearby village about 20 km from Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre.
We’ll stroll through the village and explore the market.
Distance: 6–8 km
Difficulty: Mild
Duration: ±1-2 hours (shorter route available)
Discover charming shops, and enjoy a surprise lunch in Boussac.
Dinner:
“Night of the Water Nymphs” — a picnic-style dinner under the trees beside the river, featuring produce from the market.
Day 6: Friday, 26 June
Breakfast at the château, followed by a short drive to the nature reserve for a walk to the Pierre Jaumâtres.
Walk: “Circuit Les Pierres Jaumâtres” Loop
Distance: 4.6 km or 10 km
Difficulty: Mild (longer, moderate option available)
Duration: ±1-2 hours
Description:
This easy walk begins at the restaurant, leading to the stones and through the nature reserve. A 10 km moderate route is available for those seeking a longer walk, starting at the Chalet.
Lunch at the Chalet de Pierres Jaumâtres.
The so-called “chaos” of Les Pierres Jaumâtres is a striking geological phenomenon. Glacial and torrential rains during the Quaternary period gradually wore away softer rocks, leaving behind resilient granite formations. Local legends imbue these massive stones with a mystical allure, many bearing names inspired by ancient stories and beliefs.
Dinner:
Our final dinner will be at a small restaurant in Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre — a chance to laugh, reflect, and celebrate what we hope has been a magical week in rural France.
Day 7: Saturday 27 June
Bon Voyage.
PRICE
€2500 + €300 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT