MEETING WITH ALEX AND VANESSA GAUBICHER,
in Saint-Priest-LigoureA nomadic life
Based in the Jura for several years, Alex and Vanessa were the happy owners of a dairy cow farm. Transforming their milk into cheese and ice cream, they had little time to devote to their 4 children, whom they never saw grow up. The advantages of life in the great outdoors and the disadvantages of their work (few vacations, a busy farm…) soon gave them the desire to refocus on the essentials, to put their family life back at the heart of their concerns.
So, in 2018, Alex, Vanessa and their children set off to the four corners of France, at the pace of two horses and a draught cow. After two years in their caravan, moving here and there, the children wanted to finally settle down, change their way of life and look forward to more lasting encounters.
Going green
Lovers of wide open spaces and nature, the family spent two years looking for a little haven of peace. From Ariège, via Périgord-Vert, to the greenery andpeaceful atmosphere of Limousin, they settled in Saint-Priest-Ligoure in autumn 2022.
Finally, after a few months of settling in, Alex is ready to offer his aperitifs/tasters/brunch carriage rides. Departing from the farm, and lasting around an hour, this enthusiast of horse-drawn carriages and old-fashioned farm work will take you on a tour of two charming little hamlets, while sampling tasty local produce. Wines are carefully selected from the “Ôcoquin de sort” wine cellar and bookshop in Nexon, while cheeses, charcuterie and other delicacies come from the grocery stores “Le Comptoir” in Saint-Priest-Ligoure and “V’là Aut’Chose” in Nexon, as well as the “Ferme Collective de la Tournerie” in Coussac-Bonneval.
The animal lover also trains young draught horses with a view to selling them to market gardeners looking to return to working the land in a more eco-responsible way.
For her part, Vanessa offers Chinese medicine. Using massage, Tuina and Qi Nei Zang, she helps to rebalance body and mind, work on the five elements and the seasons, better manage stress and emotions, and harmonize the chakras. A moment of relaxation and well-being in a yurt set in the heart of nature, for total disconnection!
Future projects
In the fall, Alex plans to open a forge in his barn and start creating knives and edged tools. Trained by cutlers from traditional forges, he knows how to make metal from ore and transform it into a useful and artistic object. You may well find his creations at Christmas markets this winter. In a few years’ time, Vanessa plans to open a residence and workshop for artists from all horizons.
Contact Alex and Vanessa :
Apéro calèche: 07 83 43 99 34
Chinese medicine: 06 49 64 65 00
10 route des Aurières
87800 SAINT-PRIEST-LIGOURE