Camping Maison des Étangs

To the south of the famous Château de la Ferté-Saint-Aubin, Saint-Viâtre is home to the Maison des Étangs. Which is hardly surprising given that the village alone counts 135 ponds of all sizes. There’s no doubt about it, we are indeed in the Sologne! To understand the origins and the purpose of the innumerable ponds, the Maison des Étangs, an eco-museum aimed at the general public, invites you for an interactive visit in the enthusiastic and fascinating company of a guide. 1½ hours are all you need to become a veritable expert in the subject!

In the heart of this lush green setting, your campsite in the Centre-Val de Loire offers the perfect place to unpack your bags and recharge the batteries far from the everyday routine. Enjoy a stay immersed in the heart of nature in a lodge tent or up in the heights of a tree-house. Head to the heated swimming pools of the water park, to switch off and relax, or to the outdoor sports grounds, to work off all that pent-up energy. Fancy going adventuring? Hire a bike and set off through the forests and ponds, in a land where the stags rule in majesty!

Perfectly adapted for the youngest, a trip to the Maison des Étangs is not to be missed during your family holiday! The visit may begin at the museum, an authentic half-timbered house typical of the Sologne, but your guide will soon take you off for a short walk to the nearby pond. You’ll quickly discover the first secrets of these shallow lakes, they were originally created way back in... the Middle Ages. With the help of your guide, have fun identifying the flora and fauna that call the ponds home. There’s nothing better to make the kids more aware of the living world that surrounds them!

The visit then continues as you discover some of the main professions of yesteryear. From the carpenter’s workshop to that of the cartwright and all you ever wanted to know about rope-making...come and take an impressive leap back to times past!

Fancy extending your romantic visit together? Then it’s time to get pedalling! If the Sologne is the realm of water, it is also that of the bike and there are a host of routes designed for exploring on two wheels. Ideal to get a closer look at some of the innumerable ponds.

All around the Maison des Étangs, the different circuits adapt to both your level and your thirst for discovery. For beginners, the Route des Étangs (30km) takes you to discover some of the most majestic ponds. For more experienced cyclists, opt for the Sologne à Vélo route (44km) through heath and woodland, and see if you can catch a glimpse of a stag!