Chèvrerie de Saint Michel, B&B on a working goat farm
The Chèvrerie de Saint Michel is a guest house on a working goat farm in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, in the Alps. It appeals to families, animal lovers and walkers or skiers who want a quiet night, with farm cheese and a local breakfast. One guest found the welcome cold, so read the reviews before booking.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
Mapiola is a travel blog: this is not the official website of Chèvrerie de Saint Michel.
Where the Chèvrerie de Saint Michel is
The Chèvrerie de Saint Michel is in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, in the Alps, at the end of the Chemin des Fermes. It is a working farm with its goats, its meadows and its shop, not a resort hotel. Guests talk about a superb setting, calm and right in the mountains.
The old description of the place mentions easy trips to Les Sybelles and the Col de la Croix de Fer, which makes it a stopping point for skiers and cyclists. I have no reliable information about public transport, so I would assume you need a car, and the free private parking points that way.
What the rooms and the breakfast are like
The rooms at the Chèvrerie de Saint Michel are described as pleasant, well kept and impeccably clean. The old description mentions views of the mountains, a terrace, Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV and provided linen.
Breakfast deserves a mention. Several guests call it generous, with local produce, and one of them also remembers a meal at the farm fondly. In the reviews, it is mostly the goat cheeses and the charcuterie from the farm's own animals that come up.
The farm, the goats and the shop
Here you do not just sleep next to a goat farm, you get to discover it. Many reviews describe a visit with the owners, who take the time to explain their work and their animals, and which children love.
| What you can do | What to know |
|---|---|
| Discover the goat farm and cuddle the goats | Visits are not possible at any time of the year |
| Buy cheese and charcuterie at the shop next door | One review regrets that no one was there to greet them |
| See the kids, when the season allows | Animals, dogs included, should not be touched without asking |
For me, that is the big difference from an ordinary guest house. If animals do not interest you, you will miss what gives the place its charm.
What guests take away
The Google rating is 4.8 from 57 reviews, which is excellent. The comments overlap a lot.
- The welcome. The two owners come up again and again, described as passionate, smiling and good at explaining.
- The products. Cheese, charcuterie and the local breakfast are all cited as excellent.
- The calm. Several talk about a break away from the beaten track to switch off.
- The cleanliness. Well-kept rooms, with no complaints in the reviews.
What to know before booking
Almost all reviews are glowing, but one very negative review exists, and it is worth reading. A family who came to buy cheese found no one to receive them, and was then told off for stroking the dog. They speak of a lack of hospitality.
- Get in touch first. It is better to let them know you are coming than to turn up unannounced for the shop or a visit.
- Details are missing. I do not have the number of rooms or the rates, so check what is included before booking.
- A farm setting. Expect animals, quiet and a day shaped by the farm's work.
Who it is for, and what to do around
I would choose the Chèvrerie de Saint Michel for a family with children, a couple who love animals, or mountain sports fans who want a proper local breakfast after the drive or the track. For a night in town with restaurants nearby, it is not the right choice.
Around Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne there is the mountain, with Les Sybelles and the Col de la Croix de Fer. If you want to compare with other places in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, have a look at Hôtel Plein Soleil in Vacheresse or Les Volets Bleus in Le Perréon. I am only giving you their names and villages, because I do not have their details.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
