Ferme du Moncel, Fay - Pays d'Ouche, Orne

 

 

The farm and surroundings
Situated in the Orne region, Moncel Farm is just
2 hours west of Paris and 1h1/2 from Caen Ferry Harbour (Ouistreham). The farm is nestled in the undulating countryside typical of the Ouche region, near Perche area which has proved being very popular with wealthy Parisian families. The tiny village of Fay can be reached via small country roads. The farm is surrounded by large forests offering the guarantee of peace and quiet in a truly unspoilt landscape.

Many families reported a true "Out of Africa" feeling after staying there ! Flickering candles light, wild ducks landing close to your tent and "Big Skyes" often make it happen : your tent is set up right on top of a small hill with exceptional privacy... Le Moncel, which means « the Little Mount », enjoys stunning views across the fields with a small secured lake and  the most beautiful church in the area.

Ouche region is steeped in history and is famous for it’s monasteries which were set amongst the large forests. During the Middle Ages,
War Lords used to travel safe from one village to another by digging footpaths : the excavated earth was then taken to the nearby village of « Moulins La Marche » where it was used to build a hilltop defence surrounded by wooden walls believed to be one of the earliest castles !

Moncel Farm has been continuing a dairy farming tradition in the same family for 7 generations : wheat was also grown and sold for making flour at nearby mills. Michèle and Sylvain fell in love with the farm and settled on « Le Moncel » in 1989. For the first ten years they reared pigs, ensuring the farming was done in as natural way as possible, they grew wheat and farmed deer too. Michèle and Sylvain were fascinated by the wild nature of the « Elaphe » deer and decided to concentrate on this farming activity mixed with a dozen Galloway cows, two horses and a donkey plus the usual menagerie of farm animals : chicken, ducks, rabbits and Paulo, their famous turkey. Last but not least, Eddy and Driver their two friendly farm dogs will welcome you on your arrival !
 

The farming at Le Moncel
Children will love fantastic bicycle trips, the poneys rides, wild ducks, the chicken coop and all the rabbits near their tent without mentioning the goat that has to be milked every day. You’ll be able to buy farm products, including delicious venison, just from the farm larder on site. There’s also a beautiful kitchen garden where you can pick all your own fresh seasonal vegetables for great soups in your tent.

Each season, the farm follows the natural rythmn of country life with the deer grazing in the fields around the farm in close proximity to your tent. Over the winter months, the deer will loose their antlers and in the spring, between May and mid June, the young fawns are born. During the summer, the adult deer grow back their velvety antlers just in time for the rutting season in the autumn. Many fields around the farm are dedicated to hay, which is harvested in the summer and then stored on the farm to feed all the animals during the winter months.

The Moncel farm family
Michèle and Sylvain are passionate about living in harmony with nature and respecting the countryside which is what motivates them in their daily lives. They share a vision of farming with their 3 grown up children Gaëlle, Yohann and Alexis who is the best wood fire oven cooker ! Their children led an idyllic childhood growing up on the farm, enjoying endless outside games such as tree-house building and raft building : they usually stayed dry getting across the lake, but not always…

You are our guests and we are looking forward to showing you round our farm. We would also like you to think of our stay together as a shared chance to hone our language skills ! Speak English slowly with us, then we can reply clearly in French - that way we both know each other's languages and cultures a little better !

Unique to Le Moncel farm
Living so close to deers is quite an adventure ! Our farm offers a truly tranquil setting in the depths of the stunning Orne countryside. You’ll hear birds singing in the trees around the tents from morning til night. The view from each tent is fantastic, looking out across the undulating landscape with animals dotted around the meadows. Children can fish in the lake too. You can also take advantage of the many footpaths and cycling tracks amongst this beautiful unspoilt forested countryside. Luxury ? No, we just wanted it as simple and honest as possible, the way we do the whole thing in fact... We finaly decided to give you a treat with great and charming individual hot showers in the barn next to the farm. Hope you'll like incredible view through the window !
 

Things to do and dicover around the area
• Great numbers of footpaths and cycling trips to follow
• Fishing and raft building on the farm lake
• Haras National du Pin (26 km) : the most famous Royal equine centre in France, founded by King Louis XIVth. There are more than 10 different breeds of horses, in what has been named for centuries «  The Versailles Horses ». Open every day, a visit is recommended on Thursday afternoons when they have special exhibitions.
• Carrouges Castle (54 km) : The Château has been in the same family from the 14th century until 1936. You’ll find it as a warm and welcoming place to visit thanks to the fine Renaissance and Bourbon restoration furniture and the many portraits. Special private candlelit visits can be arranged in advance on Friday evenings.