Domaine de Briange
©Marina Geray
Happy moderation at the Domaine de Briange
Agnès Faure and Frédéric Haon, owners of Domaine de Briange for 26 years, are preparing to hand over the reins to their son Armel.
This interview was conducted on the eve of a new season.
This unusual, eco-friendly campsite located in Saint-Remèze, Briange offers a total of 80 pitches made up of 50 pitches and 30 guest cabins, including 2 shared hamlets. Here, you can ‘live in nature’ in the shade of oak trees and to the sound of birdsong. The site has been awarded the Clé Verte accreditation and is also an LPO (Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux – League for the Protection of Birds) sanctuary. People come here to disconnect from the unnecessary and reconnect with the essential, with nature and with each other. Briange is purely all about the simple pleasure of camping.
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO BRIANGE?
Agnès and Frédéric: “We didn’t want to live in the city anymore, between four walls. We wanted to come back to the countryside and work for ourselves. We fell in love with it and bought a place which is more than just a campsite. It’s a place where you can feel good, an atmosphere which feels right.”
Armel: “I’ve been helping my parents at the campsite since I was a small child. I’m a department manager in a garden centre, but I take unpaid leave in the summer to be here with the whole family.”
HOW DID YOU BECOME AN UNUSUAL, ECO-FRIENDLY CAMPSITE?
Agnès: “That just happened naturally. Conserving nature is normal for us. As a result, we’ve ‘naturally’ preserved and enhanced the space, the trees, the peace and quiet, etc. Guests told us we weren’t like other sites, so that’s when we set out our objectives more clearly. We’ve always tried to improve our eco-responsibility through small, simple gestures and by observing nature itself.”
Frédéric: “Little by little, we’ve moved away from products imported from the other side of the world in favour of short supply chains for cleaning and food. We’re reducing our consumption and developing our self-sufficiency as regards water and energy. Ecology is never-ending, we never go far enough. We’re a long way from what nature can do on its own.”
WHAT VALUES DO YOU WANT TO PASS ON?
Agnès and Frédéric: “Those of nature and freedom. Our guests are self-sufficient and independent. There’s no deposit, no inventory in the accommodation, no checks, no barriers at the entrance. We build trust and show that human relationships can be different. Moderation, reducing our impact, seeking greater self-sufficiency, sharing and simplicity are also fundamental values for us.”
Armel: “The most important thing for me is to conserve nature. We need it and I’ll be carrying on in the same vein as my parents.”
YOU’RE PLANNING TO HAND OVER THE REINS, WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES?
Agnès and Frédéric: “Initially, we’d like to lighten our mental and physical load and get away for a while in the spring, for example, but we don’t have a precise deadline for the handover. It’ll all be done very gently, and we’ll be there as back-up. We’re delighted that one of our children is taking over”.
Armel: “I’m comfortable with the day-to-day running of the campsite. I’m counting on my parents to help me with the administrative side.”
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BEST MOMENTS AT BRIANGE?
Agnès: “Working with the family every summer for 26 years.”
Frédéric: “All of it. We’ve got a huge playground and we’ve been able to enjoy ourselves by doing lots of different projects.”
Armel: “Relaxing and socialising around the pool at the end of the day.”
OUR MAGAZINE IS CALLED ‘7E SENS’ (7th SENSE)… SO, WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SENSE?
Agnès: “Sight. I need to see the light of the sky and the sun, it’s magical.”
Frédéric: “For me, it’s hearing. We’re always available to share moments with our guests and we listen to nature and the seasons.”
FIND OUT MORE
contact@campingdebriange.com
+33(0)4 75 04 14 43
Watch the interview highlights on the video