LA CAVETIERE COURSEGOULES/VENCE COTE d'AZUR
Directory listing map, phone number website: La
Cavetière
Kidookid We test it .. you try it© report for La
Cavetière on
a sunny afternoon in the Easter holidays. We decided it was time to make
a break from city life and get out into the country, up into the mountains.
With a 4 and 2 year old we decided today's theme would be animals and
nature and so off we set to La Cavetière, 9km north of Vence up on the
Col de Vence. A deliberate ploy to get away from the theme parks and get
back to basics. Vence. A deliberate ploy to get away from the theme parks and get
back to basics.
After
a twisty turny drive you reach the Farm which is nearly at the summit
and as you travel the last 600m to the farm (over very bumpy terrain)
you start to appreciate the panoramic views. The views over the Med are
truly stunning and the air is quiet except for the animal braying and
bleats ..if you are tired of city living you feel your batteries recharge
the moment you step out of the car.
As we understand
it, the farm itself is not connected to the electricity and water mains
and so relies on being self sufficient using its wells and gas. This
adds to the real rural feel here and also the sense that this is a real
farm rather than a Mickey Mouse Tourist style attraction. As long as
this is what you set out to discover, you won't be disappointed.
It
is really up to you to find your way around the animals and to get from
it, the experience you are looking for. We had fun explaining the basics
to the kids .. where eggs came from, how people traveled before cars and
what udders are for!
In
all we stroked the rabbits, admired the peacocks, were startled by the
braying donkey, talked about how the highland cow makes milk, got pecked
by the goose, fed the goats and patted the horses.
You will get even
more from your visit if you are into trekking and horses (American style)
as La Cavetièreis also an equestrian farm with Shetland Ponies and
horses to ride ....
They have picnic
tables and serve drinks. By booking in advance the table d'hôtes
can provide lunch and there are rooms available all year around with
a double and a single bed (no cots) ...we were also told that you can
arrive here after 16h have a pony or horse ride, visit the farm and
finish up with a BBQ enjoying the mountain fresh air .. which sounds
like a lovely option and is probably worth planning in to make the drive
up from Vence really worthwhile. though ring ahead to book.
We felt that our
2 year old was just a bit too young to ride and would have been "inconsolable"
to be left behind by her older brother and so we gave the ride a miss
but perhaps another time.
Instead
we went to check out the Col de Vence landscape which is very lunar like
..very rocky and stark ... the kids had great fun scrambling over little
mountains of rocks. In addition there are lots of walking trails leading
from the farm and horse trekking with a guide for a minimum of 5 people,
from 12 years old, for a whole day or half day.
In
the school holidays, children from 14 years can do 2 day horse trekkings
. The teenagers go with a guide and sleep in tents.
You can organise
your children's birthday party here to include: room rental, visit of
the farm, pony rides, for about 10 children at a price of 10€/pp
for the whole day. Parents must bring snacks and the cake.
In summary it was
a nice introduction to farm animals that for 2 adults and 2 children
cost 18 Eur (no reduction for under 3s), the parents need to get involved
to make it work which is fine as long as you are ready for that. A i
pony ride and BBQ (which we didn't do) will really help you get into
the spirit and feel you are getting the most out of your trip up.
Farm visit: Adults 5eur, children 3 Eur. Pony rides 8€ for 1/2 hr Walking
guided trek: from 50Eur/pp with picnic Table d'hôtes from 20 Eur/pp
Overnight stay 70 Eur/room/night. They did take a cheque although given
that their is no electicity and no internet you may not be able to pay by
CB .. call to check.
|
