Village Toue des Demoiselles

A village of unusual places to stay in Chassenard (Allier), on the banks of the Loire, near Digoin, on a Natura 2000-designated site. It is open from April to November. The stars are the toues cabanées: wooden boats inspired by those that carried river freight on the Loire, turned into 25 m² floating gîtes with beds made on arrival, a shower, WC, kitchenette and terrace. Some are moored at the edge of the pond and reached on foot; others have dropped anchor out in the middle: you reach them by small boat. The Toue Cabanée Spa has its own private whirlpool bath on the terrace.

The village takes its name from the demoiselles, the dragonflies that used to live on the pond. Around the boats: cabins, caravans (one of them adapted for wheelchairs), a foudre (a large wooden cask), a heated outdoor swimming pool, a mini-farm, a play area, pétanque, table tennis and catch-and-release fishing. In 2026, a night in a toue cabanée starts at €172, and the Futreau, a small gabare (a traditional river barge) for two that is reached on foot, at €90. Breakfast is optional, at €11.50 per adult.