Located 12 km from Chinon, in the heart of Rabelais country, Lerné was immortalized by the author. Numerous sites bear witness to the presence of this famous writer and his work. This village, renowned for the quality of its restored buildings, nestles within two distinct landscapes: the Fontevraud-l'Abbaye forest and a wide valley dotted with walnut trees. The Pic Epeiche gîte (hostel/refuge) comprises two recently restored, characterful tuffeau stone buildings. Particular attention has been paid to energy management (installation of a wood-fired boiler and solar panels), water consumption (installation of dry toilets), and the use of ecological materials (terracotta bricks, plaster, lime, hemp, wood, etc.). To learn more, you can consult the blog which chronicles the renovations. The Pic Epeiche gîte is the first "Eco-gîte" in the Centre region. The gîte also benefits from the "Nature and Heritage Accommodation" label by the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Natural Park and the Vineyards and Discoveries label by Atout France.