The Hameau des Pouyades : nature holiday cottages in Haute-Vienne

Thirteen charming gîtes set on the shore of a nine-hectare lake, in a corner of the Haut-Limousin still off the beaten tourist track: the Hameau des Pouyades is a simple, peaceful place — the ideal spot for a self-catering holiday with family or friends, close to nature.

Since January 2026, this cluster of holiday cottages in Nouvelle-Aquitaine has been in new hands — ours. Here is who we are.

Hélène is from the Charente; she worked in events before becoming a location manager in the film industry. Jean-Marc, originally from the South of France, turned his hand to many trades before settling as a locksmith in Sainte-Maxime. That is where they met, on a film shoot, and where they started their family: their daughters Océane and Talia are now 17 and 18.

A love of hospitality — and Hélène’s wish to return to the region she came from — led them to take over a struggling campsite at Pressignac, beside the lakes of the Haute-Charente. In ten years they turned it around: a fourth star regained, loyal guests, and seven hectares with 166 pitches to run. A real success — and a great deal of hard work.

After ten years, and with Jean-Marc now past fifty, the wish to ease off began to grow — without stopping altogether. Two years of searching later, they came across the Hameau des Pouyades: thirteen cottages by the water, on a human scale, in a wonderfully natural setting, with plenty of room to imagine what came next. This was the right place. In January 2026, they took over its management.

For us, welcoming guests is not simply about handing over a key: it is about being there. That is why we chose to live on site all year round, so that we are available throughout your stay in our cottages.

And we are not on our own: Léa, who had worked alongside us for three years at the campsite, did not hesitate for a moment to join us on this new adventure. She left her job, moved near Magnac-Laval, and is now very much part of the Pouyades team.

“Les Pouyades” takes its name from the place on which the hamlet was built — from the Latin podium, meaning a height or a hill. Created some twenty years ago on the model of the fishing gîtes found elsewhere in France, the hamlet was for many years run by the communauté de communes of the Haut-Limousin en Marche, before we took up the torch. It sits on the shore of the Étang des Pouyades, nine hectares of calm water especially prized by carp anglers and nature lovers alike.

Warmth, conviviality, unspoilt nature, a gentle pace of life: these are the values that guide the way we welcome our guests, day after day.

 Taking over the Pouyades also means wanting to help this holiday destination grow. We are committed to improving the quality of our welcome and adding new services — catering, upgrading the cottages, outdoor games for children… — while preserving what makes the place special. Our standards and comfort are recognised today by three official labels: Gîtes de France 3 épis, Atout France 2 stars and VACAF accreditation, which helps many families afford a holiday. We have also joined the “Limousin Nouveaux Horizons” brand, which works to promote this region, and have been awarded the title of Limousin Nouveaux Horizons Ambassador.

Here you will discover a Haut-Limousin that remains unspoilt, just waiting to be explored: characterful villages, lakes, lively markets and walking trails. And you will take the time — with family or friends — for a simple kind of holiday: rest, good company and the pleasure of being together.

On site, you will also enjoy an indoor heated swimming pool, a nine-hectare fishing lake and a reception room for your larger gatherings — perfect for bringing a big group together in the Limousin.

We will be there to welcome you.

Looking forward to welcoming you,

Jean-Marc, Hélène & Léa