Who has never dreamed, after a long week of working at 100 an hour, of enjoying a peaceful, quiet weekend doing nothing but enjoying without any constraint. I had the chance, a few weeks ago, to test a new weekend concept proposed by a startup called " Quiet ".
First of all, let's start by asking ourselves what a quiet weekend is. When we say these words, the image of the countryside immediately comes to mind. Walks in the forest, cultural visits, the discovery of nice little places. Rather “easy” you will tell me. Yes, except that in fact, we all know that during this weekend, a lot of little things will gradually take us away from our main goal: to relax and enjoy the people we are with. A bunch of little things? Telephone and its innumerable notifications, television, computer, all these things take us away, without our realizing it, from the benefits of a relaxing weekend in the countryside.
You will see that it is from this simple observation that was born " quiet "
“auCalme”, what is it?
“auCalme” was born from a human adventure experienced by Arthur and Clément. It was during their world tour and more particularly during a stay in Kyrgyzstan, after being cut off from the world for several days that Arthur and Clément had the idea of creating this new concept of disconnected travel. The well-being felt during this stay in total disconnection made them want to share it with as many people as possible, in France, for a weekend.
How does it work?
Once your stay is booked, all you have to do is wait for the right time!
The day before your departure you will receive, at home, the famous "disconnection box" with the exact place of your stay. This place is, in fact, kept secret until the last moment.
The disconnection box contains many essential little things to spend a weekend in total disconnection without missing anything.
I'm not going to spoil the surprise for you by listing everything you'll find there, but for people worried about not having their smartphone to immortalize this weekend, know that the box contains a disposable camera! Back a few years back with real photos and especially in limited numbers! Something to enjoy a little more of the present moment.
Once you arrive at your place of stay, you will then have to put your electronic devices inside a locked box with a padlock! You will find them only at the time of departure.
All you have to do is enjoy your weekend in complete disconnection!
Find out more about AuCalme weekends
Stories of our weekend in the Meuse
Now let me tell you about the weekend we had the chance to spend with auCalme.
The arrival takes place on Friday, at the end of the afternoon in the village of Vauquois. Vauquois is a sadly known village since it was completely razed during the First World War before being rebuilt at the bottom of the hill on which it stood. Vauquois is a (very) small village of about twenty inhabitants.
We are welcomed by Michelle and Bernard the owners of the lodgings in which we will spend these two days.
A quick note about the gite, it is the former home of General Deprez who took part in the First World War and who worked to rebuild the village of Vauquois after its destruction. It is an imposing building with a pleasant garden which can be enjoyed. The cottage and the surroundings are bathed in calm and the song of birds.
After several explanations on the things to do and see around the village, Michelle and Bernard give us the “disconnection kit” offered by auCalme. it's time to part with our favorite objects, for more tranquility. We therefore deposit our watches and mobile phones in a box, closed with a padlock by our hosts.
After a stroll in the village, an aperitif dinner awaits us in our room.
On Saturday and Sunday morning, we will be woken up with the chirping of birds and will enjoy a very hearty breakfast prepared by our host.
One of the particularities of this weekend will be to visit the surroundings and find places of interest as our grandparents could have done. No mobile phone to use it as a GPS but a road map, no Google to show us places of interest but the little AuCalme booklet accompanied by directions from former participants and good old road signs!
All this will be enough for us to realize that in the surroundings of this small "lost" village, a multitude of things will be offered to us. The activities will be varied, such as a short walk to the top of the Bute de Vauquois to learn more about the tragic history of this village which still bears the traces of the battles that took place here more than a century ago.
The visit of the surroundings will also have made us discover Varennes, just as famous, for another reason, since it is in this village that was arrested, on June 21, 1791, Louis XVI and his wife on the run to the East.
Last place visited, the American cemetery of Romagne-sous-Montfaucon. Undoubtedly the most surprising place of our stay, a cemetery where no less than 14 American soldiers are buried. The site is impressive by its size but also by the calm in which it is immersed. A visit that I highly recommend if you are in the area.
My opinion on “auCalme”: assessment and feelings
I draw a very positive conclusion from this “disconnected” experience. I draw three positive points that lead me to recommend this stay.
The first point concerns the awareness of the hyper connectivity of which we are a victim today. Television but especially our smartphones have made us totally dependent. Spending a weekend without a phone in your pocket can be very confusing at first. I didn't count the number of times I wanted to take my phone out of my pocket before realizing I didn't have it on me. Despite this "lack" at the start, you quickly realize that it is possible to get by without it. The map provided allows us to direct ourselves, the disposable camera allows us to immortalize the most important moments, for the rest, direct communication with our hosts or the people we meet on site is more than enough.
The second point is more related to the benefits brought by this kind of weekend. It's a weekend during which you will have your mind free, without the phone, but also without worrying about a potential organization to manage. The destination being communicated to you only at the last moment, you will not have time to “organize” this weekend. You will have to rely on the little guide provided, or let yourself go according to your desires and your intuitions. This has the consequence of having the spirit free to relax and enjoy the person (s) with whom you spend this weekend.
I would call the last point a “bonus”. This concerns the “visit” side, discovery of places and cultural discoveries. For me it was not really important in this weekend to visit as it could be in other circumstances. However, the fact is that you will make discoveries as we did by visiting places unknown to us, by "losing" ourselves on small country roads and you too will perhaps learn more about the history of certain regions of France.
