Quiet, relaxed, personal, small-scale, cozy, it all applies to Gites à la Loub, a small holiday resort in Moureuille in the Puy-de-Dôme. Approximately 840 km from Utrecht, if you take the toll road (traffic around Paris included) you can get there within 9 hours.
The hosts Leo and Kim left Holland about 10 years ago. They bought a piece of land which had a house and some other buildings on it and just started renovating. And man did they do a good job! All Gites are spacious, offering one or two large bedrooms, Very cosy, well-equipped kitchen, comfortable beds and a nice shower.
The times I was there I just did NOTHING. I read a book unter the big umbrella in front of my house, or I slept under the big old trees in the spacious garden. There is a playground for the kids, a huge trampoline and a swimming pool.
But let’s assume you are a bit less lazy than I am … There is a fast-flowing river nearby where you can kayak and fish. Also various hiking, cycling and mountain bike tracks. Or, if you’re a motorfreak, you can do some off-the-road riding.
Nice places to visit are Clermont Ferrand, Vichy or Montlucon. Beautiful cities with old city centers and fancy shopping streets. Shops are closed between 12 and 3 in the afternoon though. For siesta!
And let’s not forget about the food! Of course you can go to one of the restaurants in the village close by. Personally, I am a huge fan of the giant supermarkets offering the most exotic foods. The local cheeses are to die for! It’s very nice to just cook at home and then eat outside on one of the picnic benches.
Leo, Kim (and Mick, their son) will gladly welcome you to one of their seven Gites!