Photos: Explore the animal-themed holiday village in western France

If you are planning a trip near Poitiers and looking for a truly quirky place to stay, Maison Poule could be just the ticket. 

Part of a nature-based holiday village in the heart of Vienne, this holiday home in the form of a supersized chicken is just one of several unusual options on the site, but it is probably the most eye-catching and always a popular choice. 

After all, who wouldn’t want to stay in a gigantic chicken at least once in their life?

Designed to accommodate four guests, Maison Poule has a ground area of about 47m2. The initial design was sketched out in 2013, followed by more detailed plans and construction diagrams to allow for the curves and unconventional layout.

The shape was constructed using a metal frame, then sprayed with a protective coating and layered with bitumen sheets in several different colours.

After this, the eyes, wattle and comb were added, plus a beak. These were all made from painted timber. 

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Fairytale accommodation

The interior is also wood, including the partitions to separate the various spaces. The result feels somewhere between a mountain cabin and a fairytale dwelling, complete with hand-painted designs and motifs. 

Guests walk in through the recessed front door to the living space, which has a dining area, sofa bed, bathroom and a kitchen. The latter is surprisingly well-equipped with a hob, microwave, fridge and coffee machine. 

A wooden spiral staircase leads up to the master bedroom, featuring a double bed and curved ceiling.

Another original touch can be found outside, at the back of the Maison Poule. Here, roosting in a giant egg, are real hens living happily under the shelter of their gigantic replica. They offer a gentle background noise of clucking and even fresh eggs for their visitors!

This curious property is part of DéfiPlanet’, a nature-themed holiday park founded in 2006. The site covers around 125 acres, including more than 40 acres of forest, and its aim has always been to offer holidays that raise awareness of nature and key environmental issues.

“Opting for these unusual structures made it possible to set up more quickly than if we’d tried to install traditional hard-standing buildings,” said spokesperson Leila Bouchiba. 

“It also allowed us to differentiate ourselves by offering types of accommodation that don’t exist elsewhere. 

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What is a roulotte?

“Our first structure was a roulotte (gypsy caravan). Then we added cabins, chalets, Mongolian-style yurts, various tree houses, a Star Cube, and a wooden chateau built in the trees. 

“Probably the most quirky and memorable are Maison Poule, our Champignon houses (shaped like mushrooms), Maison Lapin (shaped like a rabbit), Maison Escargot (a giant snail), and Maison de Farfadet, which feels rather like a hobbit house. 

“Made using a lot of natural materials, they are all fantasy places that are playful and memorable. They appeal to our childhood dreams and memories.”

As the wooded 125-acre site is so extensive, an afternoon stroll can feel like exploring an enchanted forest. As well as the themed houses, there are wooden ladders leading to cabins in the canopy. 

As the park is all about raising awareness of the environment, its flagship activity is ‘Mission Areka’, a large-scale adventure that leads visitors on an interactive quest through the park, combining puzzle-solving, nature and ecology. 

Other on-site activities keep the focus on outdoor sports and relaxation, including volleyball, hiking trails, tree climbing, horse riding, archery, mini-golf and mountain biking, while anyone who fancies a dip can choose from the indoor pool or the outdoor lagoon.

Maison Poule opened its doors in May 2015, so this year marks its tenth anniversary. 

“The Chicken House is certainly one of our flagship accommodations,” said Ms Bouchiba.

“Its truly original shape, its particular location high up with a view over the site, and its playful, immersive world make it one of the most popular places to stay, even after so many years.”

Convinced that you, too, need to experience a holiday in a giant chicken? One week in La Maison Poule starts at €1,050. For shorter stays, nightly rates vary according to the season.