L'ÉCU DE FRANCE
Guest house & artists' residence
A warm and comfortable home in the heart ofœur du Poitou
A guest house in an exceptional Renaissance dwelling, our historic residence offers a unique experience where art and hospitality meet.
As a guest house, we are proud to offer warm, comfortable accommodation for travellers in search of authenticity, combining the charm of the past with modern comforts to ensure you have the most enjoyable stay.
Available on site
- a very large lounge
- 5 bedrooms, each with shower and toilet
- an office and library
- independent offices
- workshops (installation in progress)
More than just accommodation, l'Écu de France is also an artists' residence. A place of inspiration and creation open to all disciplines. Its peaceful and inspiring atmosphere will allow you to give free rein to your creativity in an enriching exchange or in a private setting.
Whether you're a traveller looking to relax or an artist wanting to immerse yourself in creativity, l'Écu de France in Sanxay is the ideal place to recharge your batteries and let yourself be carried away by the magic of this unique place.
The house in photos
A little history
A Renaissance building dating from 1575
According to the D.R.A.C., l'Écu de France is an exceptional Renaissance building dating back to 1575, which still bears the marks of its origins and the long history through which it has passed. Owned by the same family for more than 250 years, the original spirit has been preserved, and the latest restoration work has uncovered discoveries dating back to different periods (Renaissance sink and wall patina, 18th-century fresco, etc.).
L'Ecu is also the legacy of a family and an inn that was open until the late 60s. Thanks to the will and above all the utopia of one of its former owners, the Auberge de l'Écu has also been a haven of culture in the heart of the small rural village of Sanxay.
The desire and vital need to bring life to this village, off the main roads, led to the creation of the first shows in the ruins of the nearby Gallo-Roman theatre.
Under the direction of this visionary, numerous shows were staged from the 1930s onwards, with the participation of the Comédie l'Ouest and the Beaux-Arts, not to mention the complicity of the local population.
It was a rare cultural offering in a rural setting, and one that interested and attracted many of the intellectuals of the time. Apart from the restoration of this exceptional building, the current adventure of the Ecu de France is the continuation of a state of mind and a quality of life. A heritage that has been chosen and assumed.
Who are we?
Nicolas Degennes and Jean-François Lacoux
L'Écu de France was conceived and created by Nicolas Degennes, make-up artist and former artistic director of Givenchy make-up, and Jean-François Lacoux, journalist and artistic producer in the audiovisual sector.
Contacts & access
Miscellaneous
Newsletter
L'ÉCU DE FRANCE
Artists' Residence, Guest House & Gîte in Sanxay (86)
French
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