Tour in France - The luxury of the Great Outdoors at Lac du Pêcher

Your program :

Nestled in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of the Auvergne Volcanoes on the large open spaces of Cezallier, your guest room will offer all the assets of a charming ecolodge. An impression of unexpected calm will invade your senses during this week in semi-board on one the sites emblematic of the beauty of Auvergne, Lac du Pêcher.
neorizons is based on a set of components where each activity is important. However, you will have complete freedom to adapt your stay in France to suit your desires.

Preambule : Everything is done to enable you to enjoy and absorb your surroundings.Do not forget to take notes during your stay in France. That way you can bring home recipes, health tips, and other activities that contribute to your year-round equilibrium. Don't we say, "A sound mind in a sound body"?

Saturday

Arrival in early afternoon on the preserved site of Fisherman's Lake, in the heart of the Natural Regional Park of Auvergne Volcanoes, isolated at 10 meters from this lake measuring about 50 acres , overlooking the mountain chain of Puys at the edge of a forest of more than 6000 acres, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the medieval town of Murat, the ecolodge that welcomes you is an old Templar farm, installed on a secondary route of the historic Saint Jacques Pathway. It has been recently renovated in order to protect the environment (example: installation of new insulation fabricated with cellulose pads as well as water flow reducers) all of which offer durable emotions. The lake dates from Roman times and took its name: The Fisherman's Lake, from its initial function of fishery when the pilgrims marching to Santiago de Compostelle halted at the lake to supply themselves before resuming their way with their walking sticks. On this exceptional natural site, Laurence and Daniel will accommodate you in a home with character built in lava stone, completely restored with cozy decorations and just a touch of romance and refinement. The time to install yourselves and relax (possibility of body treatment with hot basalt stones) and in early evening, you are awaited in the dining room facing an authentic Cantou chimney to taste dishes cooked with local produce: Salers beef, white beans from Saint-Flour.

Sunday

After a night in the heart of the Volcano Park, perhaps gently rocked by the songs of frogs, you will take the time to acclimatize yourselves and make this majestic site your own. Walk on the path of nature interpretation, bird watching including many migratory species such as the sandpiper, teal or black Tern who's visits are most regularly remarked in autumn, will add a touch of excitement to your stay. After lunch, a session of postural gymnastics is planned with your sports coach, Valerie. The intimate spa will complete this parenthesis in time for your own delight. In the evening, you are awaited in the newly renovated restaurant le bur on de la Combe de la Saure, , formerly a stone shelter used in altitude in the high pasturage season from May to October for a typical meal of pounti, a delicious combination of lard, spinach, prunes, and other local ingredients, and truffade, made with eggs, cream, potatoes and local cheese.

Monday

The moment to discover a much diversified environment between lake, forest, and volcanoes. In the morning, "The House of Pinatelle", interpretative nature center divided in several sections (forest, mineral, and social) for a pedagogical approach of the territory, will provide the initial information to fully appreciate this volcanic land. Note that the Cantal mountain range is, with Mount Etna, the largest volcanic mountain in Europe. Eroded over millennia by glaciers, water and wind, this mountain range culminates on the Plomb de Cantal, visible from the magic site of the Fisherman's Lake. In the afternoon, after lunch on the lake, you will go on the field to see for yourself, either on horseback or on dog cart, depending on the season. With all your senses in alert in a safari spirit, you will cross over this land which shelters some 500 cerfidae (deer, stags, etc.) as well as wild boars and foxes.Back at the ecolodge, you will slide with relish into the bubbling bath installed on the edge of the lake just across from the volcanoes. In the evening, you will be awaited at one of our favorite tables, l'Auberge d'Aijean.

Tuesday

After breakfast, you will go along with the illustrator Sylvain Leheu to better observe your natural surrounding by learning to transcribe your emotions and sensations into drawing. In the heart of the forest of the Pinatelle, far away from the rest of the world, you will learn to use a travel sketching notebook, with a break for an open air picnic. Later on, the drawings and paintings will be your way to share your trip with family and friends. In the evening, a sauna session will complete this moment of détente before your dinner at the ecolodge.

Wednesday

This morning, it is time for culture! Discover civilization by strolling on your own pace with an audio guide, visiting the medieval town of Murat. This Celtic name means "steep rock". It appears for the first time in history in the year 270 during the evangelization of the Auvergne region. After lunch in town and a visit of the mansion "The House of the Faun" with three floors of butterfly collections and other species of local animals conserved by taxidermy, you have an appointment with the chef Jerome Cazanave, in his restaurant on the outskirts of Murat. He will initiate you to local gourmet cooking in his kitchen. In the evening, you will taste and share the culinary creations of the Chef at his restaurant, the Jarousset.

Thursday

After a copious breakfast, we invite you to take the road to Puy Mary classed grand site de France, for a hike accessible to all, in high altitude. Now you have acquired the needed knowledge on volcanoes permitting you to analyze the landscape of Puy Mary with its pyramidal form resulting from erosion by glaciers during the last periods of activity. Culminating at a height of 1787 meters, the Puy Mary offers a splendid panoramic view on the seven glacier valleys that form a star around the summit. An orientation table helps to identify the surrounding relief, and on clear weather, you can even see the Mont Blanc. Back at the ecolodge, you can take advantage of a Scandinavian-type steam (a French exclusivity) with a view on the Puy Mary and the lake, unless you prefer to abandon yourselves for an hour in the expert hands of our masseuse, for a relaxing treatment with hot basalt stones. Take the time to dine and then back to your room for repairing slumber.

Friday

This morning, if you wish, you have the possibility to fly in a hot air balloon alongside the wild geese of Christian Moullec . A unique opportunity in Europe with this nature lover who participated in the filming of "Migrant People". You will live the inexpressible joy of flying added to the contemplation of the Puy Mary from the sky. Otherwise, you are free to stroll, laze, contemplate or refine your travel sketchbook. After lunch, you will find Valerie for your last session of postural gymnastics which will allow you to end your week serenely. Dinner is served at the ecolodge.

Saturday

Departure from the ecolodge on late morning. All the neorizons team hopes to have made these privileged moments a true life experience, contributing to you personal development.

Note : Depending on weather conditions, the itinerary may be modified, and certain activities replaced or reversed. For example, if the Puy Mary is not accessible in the beginning of the season (according to the opening of the mountain pass) we may propose in exchange, the discovery of the Cezallier plateau on velorail with a knap sack picnic.