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A crazy EVJF in the Loudunais region
When Sophie announced her wedding, we knew we had to mark the occasion. By choosing to organise her EVJF in the Pays Loudunais, we knew we were hitting the nail on the head. There was no question of a clichéd weekend or one too far away. So when Léa, our Google Maps expert, spotted the Pays Loudunais, we thought: perfect! A natural area, full of activities, a stone’s throw from everything(Angers, Saumur, Poitiers…). The perfect place for an EVJF with your mates, full of laughter and relaxation. What’s more, thetourist office sold us a weekend that would put us in PL’S. Suffice to say, we weren’t disappointed!
A gentle start at Domaine de Roiffé
On Friday evening, we set down our suitcases at Domaine de Roiffé. It’s a chic manor house atmosphere without taking itself too seriously. The place is huge, with stone buildings and greenery as far as the eye can see. Sophie and Léa headed straight for the spa, while Camille opened the first (classic) bottle. Bubble bath, massages, sauna… you name it. We’d just forgotten what time it was. Time really does slow down here. This is the moment when you say to yourself: “OK, we’re officially in PL’S mode“.
In the evening, dinner on site. Local cuisine, local products, ultra-cool service. Special mention for the dessert: a chocolate moelleux that knocked us all out.
Miss your swing in style at Golf de Roiffé
The next morning, it was off to the Domaine de Roiffé golf course. None of us was a real pro, but that didn’t stop Sophie from playing Tiger Woods (attitude, cap on and extreme concentration) before missing the ball three times in a row to the laughter of the group. The tone was set: no competition here, just fun and a breath of fresh air.
The wide greens stretched as far as the eye could see, surrounded by majestic trees and birdsong. Between two hesitant swings, we had fun commenting on each other’s performances, a bit like following an international tournament… a very amateur version. Camille filmed everything, so that we could show off the funniest videos later over a drink.
And then, little by little, the magic of the place took hold. We took the time to breathe, to watch the light on the grass, to joke as we walked from hole to hole. Even those who thought golf was “not their thing” ended up admitting that it was incredibly relaxing. Just goes to show that, in the Pays Loudunais, you quickly learn to enjoy the simple things… even a failed swing becomes a fond memory.
Tasting break at the Wezenn distillery
After the sport, it’s time for the reward! We’d scheduled a tasting at the Wezenn distillery a few kilometres away. Sophie is a great gin enthusiast, so she loved the surprise! We discovered artisanal spirits produced with passion. Lucie, the distiller, told us all about her career, her recipes and her flavours. It’s hard not to fall in love when she lets you smell a gin made with local herbs or a rum aged in oak barrels. After that, the tasting quickly turned into a ‘who smells what’ contest. Camille swore she recognised lavender. We still haven’t decided…
The best moment? Raising our glasses to toast the bride-to-be. And frankly, in this simple, friendly atmosphere, it was perfect!
Pure adrenalin at Karting de la Boule d'Or
After lunch at the Domaine de Roiffé restaurant, we had a quick siesta before heading off to the Boule d’Or go-karting track. Helmet on, gloves on, the team quickly got into competition mode. The track was superb, the bends tight and the speed exhilarating. Léa thought she was going to break a world record. The result: a memorable spin. Sophie surprised everyone by finishing first. Of course, we immortalised the podium with an impromptu cup (thanks to the empty bottle from the day before).
Sliding session at the Moncontour water ski lift
Even though we’d gone to bed late( because of theEVJF evening ), we decided to keep ourSunday morning outingto the Gué du Magne lake to try out the Moncontour water ski lift. The atmosphere there was more ‘surf camp’ than ‘calm morning’. The sun was shining, the water was sparkling and there was a lot of laughter. Léa tried her hand at wakeboarding and ended up in the water after three seconds (I admit, that was the best I could do). Camille managed to stand upon her first try and became our hero for the day. We all chatted, splashed and laughed until we were choking. We were so sick to our stomachs and cheeks from laughing so hard that we lay down on the beach on our stomachs and backs, just to recuperate the local way.
A perfect EVJF in the Pays Loudunais
What we loved about the Pays Loudunais was the mix of nature, relaxation and fun. You don’t have to go far to experience a real change of scenery. Here, everything is simple, accessible and without fuss. You’ll feel right at home, except that there’s a spa, a golf course, a distillery, go-karting and a lake just for you!
On the way home, no one was talking much. Not because we were bored, but because we were all a bit tired, happy and still in our own bubble. This EVJF in the Pays Loudunais will go down in the annals of our lives, with all the giggles, little challenges and the real feeling of having made the most of every minute.
So if you’re looking for an original idea for an EVJF or EVG, head for the Pays Loudunais. Let yourself be surprised, let yourself be pampered, and above all… fall into a PL’S, the best position to enjoy life here.
