A bed-and-breakfast with a pool in Auvergne, open from June through September
In the early morning, the terrace is still cool. Breakfast at the Château d’Ygrande is served there as soon as the weather permits, featuring the very best that local producers have to offer. In the park, the pool awaits its first swimmer. This is what a summer day looks like at this bed-and-breakfast with a pool in Auvergne, perched atop a hill in the bocage.
The pool is heated and open from June through September. It’s located in the estate’s lush green setting, a 40-hectare park where you can hear little more than the wind and, occasionally, the horses in the pastures. Since the house has only a few rooms, the pool feels like a private one, a far cry from the atmosphere of a large resort. For a bed-and-breakfast with a pool, that makes all the difference : you can swim whenever you want, with no set hours or lines.
The rooms, meanwhile, stay cool even when the sun is beating down. The air conditioning works wonders on scorching days. A refrigerated area keeps drinks and fruit cool between swims. The south-facing rooms, Comfort and Superior, overlook the park, the pond, and the pastures. Their windows look out onto a landscape that stretches far into the distance, beyond the wooded countryside.
- For two The Comfort Rooms, with their exposed beams, are perfect for a few nights.
- For a family The Family Suite, with two bedrooms and a large shower.
- For those who are more independent The Pavillon Room, on the same level as the garden.
On the first floor, the Family Suite separates the parents’ bedroom, with its double bed, from the children’s bedroom, which has two beds. This way, everyone has their own space after swimming. The Pavilion Room, located on the garden level, is ideal for guests traveling with their dog.
Details about each accommodation option are included in the overview of the air-conditioned rooms in the castle. The estate extends north of theAuvergne, on a hill surrounded by meadows and woods. On summer evenings, the panoramic view from the terrace changes color as the sun sets over the countryside. This is often the perfect time for one last swim.
A light lunch of gazpacho made with vegetables from the garden, followed by dinner outdoors
At noon, no one feels like getting back in the car. A kitchenette reserved for the château’s guests, equipped with a microwave and stovetop, is perfect for making a salad or a snack between swims. Drinks are available at will, both indoors and by the water. At the Château d’Ygrande, the midday break is enjoyed at your own pace, whether on the terrace or in the shade of the grounds.
For dinner, the house offers a small table, which must be reserved one day in advance with the staff. In the summer, the menu reflects the season’s harvest from the estate’s vegetable garden, with crème fraîche and gazpachos made with zucchini, cucumber and apple, or tomato. Charcuterie from a local artisan and regional cheeses round out the plate, featuring products selected by the inn.
We dine outdoors whenever the evening calls for it, overlooking the park, as the light fades over the countryside. It’s not a restaurant, and the inn makes that clear : it’s a simple, friendly way to dine on-site, featuring quality ingredients. After a day by the water, that’s often exactly what you’re looking for.
Want to go out ? The nearby village inns offer another option for a night out with a difference. The traditional cuisine of the Allier region You explore it this way, moving from table to table, before heading home to sleep in the cool of the night.
Booking a bed-and-breakfast with a pool in Auvergne instead of a city hotel also means choosing this summer rhythm : no set schedules, no crowds by the pool, but a spacious house opening out onto its grounds. Practical information about meals and the kitchen area is compiled in the Frequently asked questions about the castle.
As the summer progresses, the vegetable garden and orchard take on a new look. The chicken coop, designed so that children can get close to the chickens, quickly becomes their favorite afternoon hangout. Parents, meanwhile, take advantage of this time to read by the water or in the flower-filled gardens, where there’s no shortage of places to sit. A bed-and-breakfast with a pool takes on a whole new dimension here, surrounded by an entire park.
Summer family outings around the estate
Between swims, the estate offers plenty to keep you busy all day. Les Écuries, located right next to the castle, offers introductory horseback riding lessons for beginners, with horses known for their calm and reliability. The page dedicated to the Horseback ride to the castle presents these first walks at a slow pace, in the park and along the pastures.
On sunny days, Les Écuries even organizes horseback swimming in the estate’s pond, a rare treat that must be reserved with the staff. The forest trails, meanwhile, are best explored on foot, in the shade of the trees, while the sun still warms the terrace. Closer to the house, the flower-filled gardens and the orchard offer other shady spots for the hottest hours of the day, with a book in hand.
Beyond that, summer in the Bourbonnais region offers some wonderful days out with the family. The PAL, an amusement park and wildlife park spanning 50 hectares, is home to about a thousand animals from every continent. It’s easily enough to fill an entire day, before returning to the tranquility of the castle.
For fans of urban art, Street Art City It bills itself as the world’s first theme park entirely dedicated to street art. You can spend half a day or more there, depending on your interest. On the way back, nothing beats a bed-and-breakfast with a pool to cool off before dinner, a few laps, a towel on the grass, and the park gradually fading into the evening.
Nature lovers tend to head toward the Tronçais Forest, about thirty kilometers away. Its oak forests, designated as “Forests of Exceptional Value,” offer welcome shade when the sun beats down on the countryside.
In the evening, everyone gathers by the pool for one last swim, then heads to the table. This bed-and-breakfast with a pool in Auvergne then lives up to its promise : a peaceful retreat for a summer vacation where everyone can set their own pace.
The Château d’Ygrande remains a favorite destination throughout the summer, from June to September. And if you’re reluctant to leave, the “Stay One More Night” offer reduces the price per night for stays of two or more consecutive nights.