Close to the gorgeous town of Compiègne – famous for Napoleon III’s beloved chateau, an immense forest, and a great many hidden histories – ‘Cabanes de La Réserve’ cabins are the perfect place for the whole family to enjoy staying somewhere a little out of the ordinary and to reap the wellbeing benefits of immersing in nature – not so hard to do in a warm, woody and eco-friendly forest cabin complete with magical views over a lake. With an enviable sense of seclusion, and far from the demands of hectic daily life, here’s your guarantee of quality family time. Bliss!
Your glamping stay kicks off with a friendly welcome and a walking tour with a map of the estate to find your cabin. And as if that’s not high enough on fun factor for the kids, just wait until you get to the cabin which they’re sure to rampage through, excited to know that this is where they’ll be snuggling up for the night.
With quirky features such as a wooden ladder to the beds, this is the very definition of glamping: all the joys of the wild outdoors yet with all modern comforts and conveniences: a fully functional bathroom and toilet, a well-equipped kitchen, comfortable beds, and seating area overlooking the water.
A lovely French breakfast hamper with goodies from the local boulangerie will be delivered to your door, and better still, if you don’t fancy cooking in the evening, just pay a little extra and give 48 hours’ notice if you like the sound of a dinner hamper complete with starter, main and dessert – plus meals specially adapted for the children. If you’d prefer to make the most of the great outdoors, opt instead for a barbecue box containing fresh meat from the local butcher, veggies to grill, a large camembert, gourmet dessert, and marshmallows to toast!
While you’re here be sure to make the most of your stay: you can hire bikes on site to discover the surroundings and you'll certainly meet resident goats who love nothing more than your attention. If you’d like to head out further afield, picturesque Pierrefonds is close by, the jewel in its crown the fairytale castle* where BBC Merlin was filmed. Where better to fire the kids’ imaginations!
*Please note that Pierrefonds castle is currently undergoing restoration works with some scaffolding on the exterior.
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