A Little French Farmhouse

Your Home-from-Home during Your Retreat will be an authentic French Farmhouse surrounded by woods, meadows, vineyards and sunflower fields

Maison Meraki (a house made with love) huddles in the middle of a sunny clearing in the heart of a great and ancient forest, like a little old lady gathering her shawl around her bony shoulders. She has been here for at least 200 years, from her elevated position, she looks out over the treetops to the mighty Pyrenées mountains. Who knows, maybe D’Artagnan himself has ventured over her threshold; the chateau where he was born is only a few kilometres away. Yes, this is indeed Gascony, land not only of milk and honey but also of divine wines, persillade, garbure, foie gras, cèpes, duck confit…all less than two hours’ drive southeast of Bordeaux.

This little French farm, deep in the heart of Gascony, between 2 small towns called Nogaro and Eauze, is located on several acres of lush, green meadows and is surrounded by vineyards, woods, and sunflower fields. Secluded but not isolated, it is only 3km from a typical local medieval town with all amenities.​

Further afield, you’ll find medieval villages, bottomless lakes, orchards, and of course, the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

Maison Meraki is a half-timbered house that faces southeast, towards the sunrise, typical of all Landaise fermettes. She has her back to the sunset, where the cold winds and weather come from in the winter. The house is U-shaped, with a central, secluded courtyard, where lavender perfumes the air in the summer. There are two guest bedrooms downstairs, each opening onto its own patio where guests can sit and soak up the sun with a cool drink and a good book.

The heart of the house is the kitchen-sitting room, delightfully cool in the summer, and extended by a shaded patio into the courtyard and snug and warm in the winter, heated by a Godin wood burner. Two centuries-old lime trees guard the eastern flank, and even older, majestic oak trees hold court in the paddocks surrounding the house.

Your Rustic Sanctuary in the Heart of Gascony

Single Bedroom

Effortlessly capturing the enchanting essence of Gascony, your single private bedroom is a perfect blend of rustic charm and actual comfort (because let’s face it, authenticity is excellent until you’re trying to sleep on a medieval mattress).

This is where timeless simplicity meets warm, thoughtful comfort. First, there’s the bed and not just any bed. We’re talking about the kind of comfort that makes you hit snooze three times just because you can. It’s dressed in crisp, fresh linens that smell like they’ve been dried in the Gascon sunshine (because they have). No scratchy sheets here, we’re channelling simple comfort, farmhouse style.

Throw open your windows to a picture-perfect scene of ancient woods and lush meadows, whose colours change with the seasons. In the morning, you might catch the mist rising mysteriously, and in the evening, watch the sun paint everything in shades of red and yellow. It’s the kind of view that makes you want to become a morning person (no promises, though).

For the practical souls among us: Yes, I provide towels, and there’s access to a hairdryer because even in rustic France, bad hair days are optional. Speaking of practicalities, your car will be living its best life too, with plenty of secure, shaded parking off the road. No need to worry about your vehicle getting towed away while you’re out exploring.

The room itself strikes that perfect balance between “Instagram-worthy French country charm” and “actually livable space.” It’s perfect for curling up with a book, and the kind of authentic architectural details you can’t fake (believe me, people have tried).

It’s worth mentioning that while this is a traditional French farmhouse, I’ve carefully preserved its historic charm while sneaking in those modern comforts that make life pleasant. The result? A space that feels like stepping into a storybook but with better amenities.

And yes, the house does sprawl; your room is part of this larger tapestry of corridors, nooks, and crannies, each with its own story to tell. It’s where you might get pleasantly lost on your way to breakfast (don’t worry, the smell of coffee will guide you).

In essence, this isn’t just a bedroom; it’s your taste of the Gascony lifestyle, where simplicity meets comfort, and every view tells a story. Just don’t blame us if you find yourself browsing local real estate listings by the end of your stay!

Double Bedroom

Welcome to your double room hideaway, where “rustic French charm” meets “actually getting a good night’s sleep for two.”

This isn’t just a bedroom; it’s a time machine with good bedding. It’s where you can live out your French countryside fantasies without worrying about historical accuracy getting in the way of a good night’s sleep. It is where you might seriously consider learning French and buying a vineyard (it happens more often than you’d think).

The pièce de résistance here is the comfortable double bed or as we call it, your cloud-like island of comfort nestled beneath original wooden beams. It’s the kind of setup that makes you realise why French people invented the concept of “staying in bed all morning eating croissants.” The bed is dressed in linens so crisp they practically crack like a fresh baguette when you pull them back…

You could, should you prefer, opt for two equally comfortable single beds.

Your room comes with a view that’s basically a living, breathing Impressionist painting. One window faces the ancient woods, where oak trees have stood sentinel since before Napoleon was a twinkle in anyone’s eye. The other offers a sweeping vista of meadows that do a pretty impressive colour-changing act throughout the seasons, think nature’s own light show, but with better timing.

The room itself is a masterclass in French farmhouse architecture. Those half-timbered walls? They’re not just for show, they keep things cool in summer, like a natural climate control system that’s been working since before electricity was a thing. There’s something undeniably romantic about the way the evening light plays across the traditional plastered walls, creating shadows that could inspire a novelist (or at least a really good Instagram story).

For those wondering about modern conveniences (because even hopeless romantics need to dry their hair), we’ve got you covered. Two towels each? Check. Hairdryer access? Absolutely. With views like these, fair warning: you might find yourself adopting the “natural look” as your new signature style.

The space strikes that perfect balance between “could be in a period drama” and “actually comfortable enough to make you oversleep.” It’s the kind of room where you might find yourself whispering “just five more minutes” at 11 AM, while plotting how to extend your stay by another week.

The room is generous in that way old farmhouses tend to be, because apparently, French farmers of yesteryear understood the importance of personal space long before it became trendy.

Remember: when you wake up to birdsong and the distant sound of horses nickering in the meadow, that’s not your alarm clock malfunctioning, that’s just the authentic French countryside experience we threw in for free. We should warn you: side effects may include spontaneous sighs of contentment and a sudden desire to learn how to make coq au vin.

---

I renovated Maison Meraki slowly, with infinite care. I have respected its humble origins and kept it dans son jus, comfortable but unpretentious, so if you want to experience unadulterated French farm life, this is the retreat for you. If you are looking for a couple of days in a luxurious chateau, it is not.

En plus, this is a French farmhouse, unlike any you have visited before. Even though I am a Frenchwoman through and through, I was born in Africa, so the interior is decorated, the meals flavoured, and the garden is scented by the warm spices and fragrant herbs of the country of my birth.

Camino de Santiago Walking Retreats Camino de Santiago Standing at the Crossroads Retreat Tick-off-Your-Bucket-List Camino de Santiago Walking Retreat Walking and Writing Retreat: Find Insight and Inspiration with Every Step Book Lover’s Binge Reading Retreat and Christmas Binge Reading Retreat

For daily inspiration from the sun-soaked south of France, follow me on Instagram!