France the way it used to be
There is a particular pleasure in bringing a large group to a place that has real history. The Manoir de Saint-Jouin is not a converted barn or a purpose-built holiday complex. It is a genuine 16th-century priory that became a private family home in 1841 and has remained in the same family ever since. The stone is old, the staircase is listed, the orchard has been producing apples for generations.
Staying here is, in a small but tangible way, experiencing France as it has always been: meals that last longer than expected, evenings around the table, mornings in a kitchen that smells of coffee and bread, children running through a garden that belongs entirely to you for the week. This is the art of living à la française, and it is something that cannot be manufactured in a hotel.
It also gives an early flavour of what Puy du Fou, 20 minutes away, celebrates so magnificently in its shows: the depth and texture of French history, the beauty of old countryside, the sense that the past is not that far away.
The manor is listed as a Historic Monument since 2006. It has been in our family for nearly two centuries. We receive our guests as we would receive friends, not as anonymous customers in a standardised rental.
What kind of stay
Family reunions and cousinades
Several generations under the same roof, with enough space for everyone to have their own territory and come together when they choose. Pool for the children, tennis for the teenagers, pétanque for the grandparents and a long table for everyone in the evening.
Milestone birthdays and celebrations
A 50th, a 60th, a significant anniversary. Events that deserve a setting with character. The manor offers a professional kitchen, the option of a private chef, and indoor and outdoor spaces that can accommodate a proper celebration.
Residential seminars
Teams that want to work and think together in a setting that is genuinely different. Bedrooms for all participants, a professional kitchen, large communal spaces and 2 hectares of private grounds. Three and a half hours from Paris by car.
Groups of friends
Several families who holiday together and want something memorable. A listed French manor house with a private pool, tennis court and its own woodland is the kind of thing people talk about for years afterwards.
Two buildings, flexible organisation
What distinguishes the manor from a standard group rental is its architecture. Two independent buildings, each with its own entrance, kitchen and living space, arranged around a private courtyard.
The Manor
The 16th and 17th-century manor house with its listed stone staircase, large reception rooms and fully equipped professional kitchen. The heart of the estate, where the group gathers for meals and shared moments.
The Farmhouse
The fully renovated farmhouse with two independent kitchens, bedrooms, children's rooms and dormitory. It functions entirely independently from the manor, ideal for a second family, a group of teenagers or, where needed, service staff.
Services available on request
A private chef can take care of meals from breakfast through to dinner, working in the manor's professional kitchen. Cuisine can be regional, from the Poitou traditions of this corner of France, or more gastronomic depending on the occasion. A pizzaiolo can be arranged for an evening around the wood-fired oven, which tends to be the moment that sticks in everyone's memory.
Baby-sitting and childcare can be organised on site. A private driver is available for airport transfers from Nantes or Poitiers and for daily runs to Puy du Fou. Daily housekeeping is available on request. All bed and bath linen is provided.
Getting there
Mauléon is in the Deux-Sèvres, an hour from Nantes airport, 20 minutes from Cholet station and 3 hours 30 minutes from Paris by the A11 motorway. Nantes is connected to London St Pancras via Paris in around 5 to 6 hours. Direct flights from London, Manchester, Dublin and Edinburgh to Nantes run throughout the season.
Planning a group stay?
Send us your dates, the number of guests and the type of occasion. We will reply within 48 hours with availability and a bespoke quote.
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