In Château-Chalon, a small winegrowing village classified as one of the "Most Beautiful Villages in France", you'll find Marie, Yannick & Joanna's gîte, an accommodation with simple charm that makes you feel right at home.
A PLACE STEEPED IN HISTORY
t'nature is located in the village's former butcher's shop, where a few hooks on the walls and the original entrance bell can still be seen. In the 70s, when economic and social life in Château-Chalon was waning, the butcher decided to relocate his business and put the building up for sale. Bob and Nénette, a couple of architects, globetrotters and lovers of stone, acquired the property and transformed the butcher's shop into an artists' gallery. Nénette, now in her nineties, is the dean of Château-Chalon and still lives in a private part of the house!
Then, in the 2010s, a neighboring couple decided to give the building a third life by turning it into a home for the elderly, a pioneering project in Château-Chalon. That's when t'nature was born! The idea of also turning it into a tearoom played a part in the choice of its name, as did the desire to share with visitors the couple's love of nature and the rich environment that makes the surrounding area so charming. But life intervened and the couple had to leave the country. They are now looking for someone to take over the guest house...
NAMES THAT FORCE US TO BELIEVE IN DESTINY
A little further up in the Jura, Itinérance Nature, a company offering relaxing or sporty hikes with pack donkeys or to discover nature, hears about the project.
More than just similar names, the two companies share a common passion: a love of nature and a desire to preserve and raise awareness of the environment.
In June 2016, T'nature was offered to Marie and Yannick on a management lease basis, so that the spirit of "Nature" in all its dimensions could be preserved. Marie, a trainer in Environmental Education, and Yannick, a mountain leader, then embarked on the adventure with Joanna, Doris and Elodie, who joined them in the Itinérance Nature company, created to group together all their activities. In 2018, T'nature was finally sold to them, enabling the team to find their own visual identity and continue developing their activities around welcoming guests and hiking with pack donkeys. Doris and Elodie will be leaving the company to pursue other professional horizons, but Itinérance Nature will continue to develop with the three remaining partners, who have no shortage of ideas!
TWO ENTITIES FOR VARIOUS ACTIVITIES
T'NATURE
T'Nature is a large 270 m2 stone house, renovated with noble, natural materials. Nestled in the heart of the listed village of Château Chalon, it offers an exceptional location for :
- Wine tours,
- Nature and cultural outings with family and friends.
A bucolic garden welcomes strolls and festive meals. Comfort and conviviality are Marie's watchwords, as is quality! She makes a point of offering visitors linen sheets and organic cotton towels. These products are maintained with eco-responsible products.
T'nature can be adapted to accommodate up to 15 people. That's why the house can be rented as a gîte or as a bed & breakfast with breakfast.
NATURE ROAMING
Yannick, mountain guide, offers free rides with the donkeys Bambou, Vladimir, Cactus & Ulan, trained to accompany groups, children and families on guided or free rides.
Equipped with a pack-saddle, the donkeys carry your belongings, offering maximum comfort as you explore the trails starting from Château-Chalon. It's an original way to discover the surrounding area, as close to nature as possible.
AND TOMORROW?
T'NATURE
The collective is starting work on a fifth room for t'nature.
"With the creation of the new room, we could offer real accommodation for 15 people with bedrooms with individual shower rooms, without the need for extra beds."
Marie is also keen to offer her guests local produce. She would therefore like to create a showcase for local producers within a 50 km radius of Château-Chalon.
NATURE ROAMING
After this first year of offering its services in Château-Chalon, Itinérance Nature has been able to identify the needs and requests of interested parties.
That's why, starting next year, they'll be proposing multi-day trips with their donkeys for families, in partnership with accommodation providers and other tourist producers and service providers, to discover the area and the nature that surrounds us.
AN ADVENTURE AMONG FRIENDS
For Marie & Yannick, these projects are a collective experience!
7 friends got together to buy the building, and today 3 are continuing the Itinénance nature & t'nature adventure.
Today, Marie, Joanna & Yannick manage the companies between them, each with a well-defined role.
At t'nature, Marie is in charge of customer relations, advice and nature walks. She is an Environmental Education trainer and also works on regional consultation on remarkable natural areas.
After several years at the CPIE Bresse du Jura, where he was in charge of the activities sector, Yannick is now director of the children's and young people's department at the Communauté de Communes Bresse Haute Seille. In his spare time, he also works as a mountain leader. Between t'nature and Itinérance nature, Yannick's missions vary between management and accounting, and everything to do with guiding hikers and donkeys.
Joanna is in charge of communications. A strategic event planner by trade, she manages the website, graphic design and social networks for both entities.
MICHEL, CHÂTEAU-CHALON'S LIVING MEMORY
The trio is committed to the conviviality of t'nature, and for this they can count on Michel!
Now a native of the oldest village of Château-Chalon, Michel, who lives next door to the t'nature building, is part of the joie de vivre shared by Marie, Yannick & Joanna.
A former winegrower and farmer, Michel takes part in aperitifs and breakfasts at the chambres d'hôtes, sharing his memories of yesteryear with visitors!
"He's the living memory of the village," says Marie, who considers Michel a fully-fledged member of the t'nature family.
T'nature - Itinérance nature
1 rue de l'Église
39210 CHATEAU-CHALON
Tel.: 06 30 53 30 82
More info: T'nature - itinérance nature