HOSTED STAYS
Hosted Stays at Chenevaux are small-group weeks in rural France for those who would like to discover the area with people who genuinely know and love it.
You'll stay in our beautifully restored private cottage within the grounds of Chenevaux, while we live in the farmhouse behind. Rather than following a set itinerary, you'll have your own space to relax and enjoy the cottage, pool and gardens, while we share some of the places, food and experiences that have become part of our life here. We'll introduce you to favourite villages, markets, restaurants, riverside spots and country roads, while leaving plenty of freedom for you to decide how much or how little you want to do.
It's a chance to see a quieter side of France, with the reassurance of local knowledge and the freedom to enjoy the week in your own way. Good food, beautiful places and time spent well.
Why We Host
We never wanted to create a retreat, a teaching moment, or a busy schedule. Hosted Stays grew from something much simpler.
Over the years, as we’ve welcomed friends, family, and guests to Chenevaux, we’ve realised just how much we enjoy sharing our life here. Hosting is something Ian and I naturally love to do, whether that is introducing people to our favourite villages and markets, enjoying a leisurely lunch, browsing a brocante or sharing apéritifs in the garden together. Some of our very best moments here have been those shared with others.
Hosted Stays are an extension of that, an invitation to join us at Chenevaux and experience the quiet routines that have made this corner of France feel like home.
How We Host
We like our guests to feel at home from the moment they arrive. There is always time to chat over coffee, gather together or simply enjoy a quiet afternoon alone.
Some guests join in with everything, while others prefer to dip in and out throughout the week. There is never any expectation to fill every day. If you'd rather spend an afternoon by the pool with a book, that is just as much a part of the week as visiting a market or sharing a meal.
With plenty of room to relax, explore and discover Chenevaux at your own pace, the week finds its own natural cadence.
When We Host
Hosted Stays take place during May, June and September, when village life, markets and gardens are at their most enjoyable.
July and August are reserved for guests who choose independent stays in the cottage, while the quieter months see a return to the peaceful flow of everyday life at Chenevaux.
Hosting is something we choose to do just a handful of times each year, allowing every week to remain personal, relaxed and true to the way we live here.
The Week
No two Hosted Stays are quite the same. The season, the weather, whatever is happening locally and the people sharing the week all play their part in shaping the days ahead.
A morning might begin with an early swim, a leisurely cycle ride along the country lanes, or you may decide to sleep in longer than usual. Another day could be spent wandering through the cobbled streets of nearby villages and discovering artisan workshops. There is always time to return to Chenevaux for a long lunch, an afternoon reading beneath the trees or simply to enjoy being here.
Some days we cook together using whatever we've brought home from the market, while other days you may prefer a local bistro. Each evening if you wish, we gather for apéritifs in the garden as the sun begins to set. Nothing is fixed. The pleasure comes from enjoying each day as it unfolds.
There is no programme to follow. Depending on the season and whatever feels right on the day, you might head to a village terrace to watch local life drift past, wander through a brocante, or enjoy a riverside picnic. Perhaps you'd like to borrow a sketchbook and draw in the garden, play a game of pétanque, or simply while away the afternoon by the pool.
3-10 May 2027
Four places available
17-24 May 2027
Four places available
In May, the gardens are at their freshest, with wild orchids appearing beneath the trees.
31 May-7 June 2027
Four places available
14–21 June 2027
Four places available
June is a time of long evenings, roses in bloom and lunches that naturally drift outdoors.
9–16 September 2027
Four places available
23–30 September 2027
Four places available
Warm September days bring quieter villages and the first hints of Autumn in the gardens.
A Few Practical Details
During your Hosted Stay, the beautifully restored cottage becomes home for the week, with two twin bedrooms, a shower room, a well-equipped kitchen and a comfortable lounge where guests naturally gather.
The kitchen gives you the freedom to prepare lunch with market finds, enjoy a cup of tea whenever you like, or make a simple supper if you decide to spend an evening at home. Some guests choose to cook, while others prefer to discover a local café or restaurant.
The gardens and heated swimming pool are yours to enjoy throughout your stay.
Hosted Stays take place during May, June and September, with each week welcoming up to four people. Whether you are joining us individually, as a couple, or with friends you will be very welcome.
The price is €1,250 per person, with the same rate for every guest, whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or as part of a group.
Your Hosted Stay Includes
Seven nights in the cottage, breakfast each morning, a welcome dinner at Chenevaux on your first evening, apéritifs throughout the week and a farewell dinner at one of our favourite local restaurants. Pick up and drop off from Poitiers Airport or Poitiers Station are also included.
Throughout the week, we'll share some of our favourite villages, markets, picnic spots and brocantes, along with the local knowledge we've gathered from living here.
Personal Expenses
While breakfast, your welcome and farewell dinners, and evening apéritifs are included, lunches and most evening meals are left open for you to enjoy as you choose. You may decide to join us for lunch, visit a village bistro, pick up something from the market or prepare a simple dinner back at the cottage.
Meals, drinks and snacks purchased while we're out, along with personal shopping, travel to and from France, and travel insurance are at your own expense.