MEETING WITH OWNER LAURENCE TRUFIER
in Saint-Hilaire-les-PlacesCoup de cœur Limousin
Coming from Alsace and having spent 6 years in the porcelain city of Limoges for professional reasons, Laurence was keen to get away from it all. So, following a series of visits, she fell in love with the charm of the hamlet of La Grènerie! Leaning plum trees, omnipresent nature, an old-fashioned spirit, easy access to everything (culture, shops, etc.), wide open spaces and this cocooning, purely picturesque little house – all the ingredients were there to sink your teeth into this rural setting.
It’s as if being away from it all became the estate’s undeniable asset.
The origins of the project
The opening of this new accommodation and the environmental situation in the year 2023 present a new vision of vacations, a desire to be closer to the earth that offers itself to us, a desire to change things, to act in a more eco-responsible way. Enjoying your stay barefoot on the grass is the whole concept of this place. A true paradise for sharing and reuniting, when you stay at the Gîte de Cybèle for one night or more, you’ll love its bohemian, bucolic setting above all else. You’ll come here with family and/or friends to discover the simple things in life, the natural gentleness of this house that has retained all its authenticity. And Laurence will be delighted to share it with you!
Implementing this project was a fairly fast-paced affair. The covid having come and gone, Laurence had to adapt to the rising cost of materials and the difficulty for local craftsmen to be mobilized on site. What’s more, the project benefited from the support of the Pays de Nexon – Monts de Châlus Tourist Office (networking, encouragement, listening, answering questions), as well as financial support from the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region, the Châtaigneraie Limousine and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. Through this project, this support is helping to revitalize this rural area, generate a flow of people into the region and give impetus to future local initiatives.
Future developments
Laurence’s first priority is to adapt to the demands and desires of her current and future guests. Her first priority will be to restore the bread oven at the back of the house. Finally, she will concentrate on promoting the “tourism and disability” offer and proposing new services, adapted to the demand for training courses, professional meetings, theaccompaniment of groups or the delivery of meal baskets composed of delicious local products.
A diverse territory
When Laurence is asked about her favorite place in the Pays de Nexon – Monts de Châlus region, it’s undoubtedly difficult for her to choose just one – our region has so much to offer! Particularly fond of the medieval garden at Rilhac-Lastours and its little church with its leaning bell tower, Laurence is also happy to recommend the nearbyAtelier-Musée-de-la-Terre in Puycheny, the Courbefy estate and hiking trails, but above all she invites you to come and meet the souls of our villages, those who bring them to life and share them so wholeheartedly.