St. Fargeau
The Burgundy countryside was a peaceful escape after the busy cities.
St. Fargeau arrived at exactly the right moment in the trip. After the pace of London and Paris, the countryside felt like a deep breath. We stayed at a small family-run hotel where the welcome was warm and unhurried, and the setting couldn’t have been more peaceful— open fields, old oak trees, and plenty of quiet.
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Between home-cooked meals, time in the pool, and a lighter schedule, this stop gave us space to reset.
Standout Moments
With charming buildings and lush greenery, the hotel invited relaxation.
This was also the stop where the kids on our tour really connected. A casual soccer game after dinner turned into fast friendships, to the delight of the grownups.
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We were reluctant to end their fun when the game stretched later and later. Stefan volunteered to be the responsible adult and call them in. Instead, he took a selfie with them and came back reporting that everything was under control.
History and Culture
Before leaving the area, we visited Guédelon Castle— an ongoing project where a medieval castle is being built using only twelfth-century materials and techniques. Watching the craftspeople at work, and realizing how much historians are still learning through the process, made history feel very alive.
It was also extremely hot that day, which tested everyone’s enthusiasm. We rallied, carved some real stone, and eventually cooled off with ice cream— a very necessary ending.
Tasting the Region
Meals here were simple and memorable. Our hosts served home-cooked French dishes, including a mouthwatering lentil salad and truly excellent bread. They also led us through a tasting of some of their favorite regional wines, explaining what made each one unique.
After our castle visit, we even had a medieval-themed dinner complete with costumes, which was a lot of fun!
