Montrond-le-Château. At the Vaujeans farm, the pleasure of close contact with animals

Just driving through the winding, rural landscapes already gives you a vacation feel. You encounter few other drivers, busy crossing the nearby main roads. Here, with the windows open, all you smell is the fresh country air. You take your time, but not too much. You have to be on time, either 10 a.m. or 2 p.m., at the Vaujeans educational farm, located in Montrond-le-Château. After following the signs through the village, you arrive at the end of a path, where you'll find the farm and farm buildings. Nadège Roy, who has been working with her partner Xavier Lidoine since 2021 at the Gaec des Vaujeans, is preparing to welcome and guide a group of nine residents from the Âge et Vie retirement home in Besançon.

"Unlike my partner, who took over the family farm 20 years ago, I don't come from that background. I worked as an after-school director before deciding, in 2021, to settle here and immediately create an educational activity for all audiences based around interacting with our animals. Here, families, schoolchildren, seniors, and adults can really approach and touch our animals, by appointment, from the cows and calves, through our poultry, goats, sheep, and finally the pony and donkey. Leading groups doesn't scare me. My professional experience helps me a lot in this area."

While Xavier Lidoine is busy with farm work, Nadège Roy takes care of the elderly people who have just arrived. Contact with the mistress of the house is easy. She explains to them what they will be doing and seeing for about an hour and a half. "We start with the poultry," she explains. Then, slowly, at their own pace, supervised by two members of the staff of their retirement home, they head towards the farmyard where chickens, ducks, peacock, geese, gander and a small lop rabbit live together, ready to be petted . Needless to say, the visitors, sitting on benches provided for them, enjoy themselves. The animals are not shy and let themselves be approached and hugged. A moment of pure happiness.

Then, in the next enclosure, it's the turn of the biggest ones, mischievous goats, sheep who love cuddles, before meeting, later, the donkey eager to see people and the quiet pony. They will finish their tour in the stable to admire the recently born calves. "We are open for most of the summer," reminds Nadège Roy. "Dates and times are scheduled for families and visible on our Facebook page "Ferme pédagogique des Vaujeans". I can receive, by reservation, up to twenty people maximum."

Vaujeans Educational Farm, Route de Malbrans, Montrond-le-Château. Adults, €8, children, €5. Reservations required by email at [email protected] or by phone at 06 44 66 66 30.