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Maré Mars – your ecological accommodation near the Loire cycle path/Nevers

In the south-western corner of Burgundy, in the countryside but close to the town of Nevers, come and stay in my guest rooms in a corner of natural beauty. If you wish, you can eat the menu of the day with me (table d’hôtes, for room guests only). Here you can hear birdsong and frogs croaking instead of the noise of the city. I manage this place as sustainably as possible (and am currently still in the middle of the transition). I offer you delicacies from the garden and from the region and uncomplicated conviviality at dinner.

Open April – October from Wednesday evening 17.00h to Sunday morning 10.00h according to the reservation calendar.

The hamlet of Maré is part of the municipality of Mars-sur-Allier (Nièvre department) directly on the border with the municipality of Magny-Cours.

We speak German, French, English, Italian and Spanish…

2 rooms for max. 3 to 4 persons each with breakfast

Camping for max. 3 tents

Bike rental

Dinner

Seasonal cuisine from our own terrain and homemade:
– e.g. salad with wild herbs
– Wild pepper or terrine from the nutria (The nutria, a neozoot from South America, is present en masse in the water-rich environment here and I have to hunt them, as they damage the banks and the ecological balance of the lake).
– Fried bamboo shoots or fried Japanese knotweed (end of April – May)
– Algerian-style couscous stew with beef or sheep or vegan (chickpeas only)
– Carp fillet or homemade falafel with sauce à l’oseille
– Soupe à l’oseille with crème fraiche or oat milk crème
– Mushroom cream sauce
– Ratatouille 100% Maré
– …or whatever is on the menu at the moment…

Room Camping Bike

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Closed seasonally 16.11.2025 – 25.03.2026

Room

Room “in heaven” 1 – 3 persons

Are you good on your feet? – Climb up the worn-out stones of the 200-year-old outside staircase to the Sky Room. It may be difficult, but from the entrance to the room you have the best view of the sunset.

65 Euros/night for 1 bed
80 Euros/night for 2 beds
from the second night without linen change and cleaning the price is 10% lower
plus visitor’s tax per person over the age of 16 (expected to be 0.90 euros/night in 2026)
1 bed 140cm + 1 bed 90cm, private bathroom with 1 washbasin, shower cubicle and WC
No TV, but high-speed WiFi at no extra cost.
Separate entrance, room size 3.75 x 5m = 19.^5m2
The room has the “Chambre d’hôte réference” and “AcceuilVélo” seals of approval
French breakfast (coffee or tea, baguette, butter and home-made confiture from the garden): 10 Euros/person
Dinner table d’hôtes, for overnight guests only. Menu of the day with regional products (as far as possible from our own garden): Starter, main course and small dessert or cheese (water and 1 glass of wine or 1 sweet drink included, supplement for dessert AND cheese 4 euros): 30 euros/person
Table d’hôtes must be reserved in advance! – The first person to order decides whether vegetarian, vegan or traditional (meat or fish) cuisine will be served that evening .
Please inform me in advance of any allergies or intolerances!

Reservation request

Room “Old Barn”, 1 – 5 persons

Room at ground level with its own entrance and connection to the shared living/dining area. Rustically converted historic barn part of the farmhouse.

95 Euros/night for 1 bed
110 Euros/night for 2 beds
125 Euros/night for 3 beds
from the second night without linen change and cleaning the price is 10% lower
plus visitor’s tax per person over the age of 16 (expected to be 0.90 euros/night in 2026)
1 bed 140cm + 1 bed 90cm, on the gallery 1 bed 120cm
Bathroom + WC next door, shared with the owner, 2 washbasins, bidet, shower cubicle
No TV, but high-speed WiFi at no extra cost
Room size 4 x 7.2m = ^29m2, 4m high with small gallery for 3rd bed
The room cannot be awarded the “Chambre d’hôte réference” and “AcceuilVélo” seals of approval due to the shared bathroom. However, all other requirements are met.
French breakfast (coffee or tea, baguette, butter and home-made confiture from the garden): 10 Euros/person
Dinner table d’hôtes, only for overnight guests, menu of the day with regional products (as far as possible from our own garden): Starter, main course and small dessert or cheese (water and 1 glass of wine or 1 sweet drink included, supplement for dessert AND cheese 4 euros): 30 euros/person
Table d’hôtes must be reserved in advance! – The first person to order decides whether vegetarian, vegan or traditional (meat or fish) cuisine will be served that evening .
Please inform me in advance of any allergies or intolerances!

Reservation request

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Cycling tours, birdwatching, mushroom excursions and enjoying wine….

By bike, on foot, or in any other way: here’s what to discover

EuroVelo6 Atlantique passes within 10km (cycle route from Nantes (F) – Constanta (Rome))

Are you cycling the Atlantic route? – Make a detour to my cyclist-friendly guest rooms and fortify yourself with my evening meal (by prior arrangement only). Would you like me to prepare a hearty sandwich for the next day’s stage? Breakdown and pump service available. In the event of a breakdown on the way, please let me know and I will pick you up (max. 3 bikes + passengers possible, 50 cents/km)!

Transit from Eurovelo6 to Maré/Mars::

From Chevenon 12.4km: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YDshAtHkSMHY63YJ9

From Nevers 17.3km: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rh3LWE2t1ZntBDsU8

From Fleury-sur-Loire 20.7km: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ugvppCLdoyoRPwMHA

https://de.eurovelo.com/ev6

Via Allier (Auvergne – Nevers cycle route)

The good thing about this route is that it is mainly downhill! From the wild gorges of the Auvergne to the gentle hills before Nevers along a natural river. (I have it on my list to experience for myself!)

https://www.via-allier.com/

Saint-Pierre-le-Moutier windmill (12km)

This historic windmill was used as a private residence until after 2010 and was bought by the municipality after the death of the resident and renovated and put back into operation by a municipal association, including a grain grinder. Guided tours for groups on request and open on special days: https://moulinleseventees.jimdofree.com/programme-2025-maj-le-25-02-2025/ (There is another mill in the immediate vicinity in Moiry https://www.moulins-a-vent.net/Moulins/stparizelechatel_moiry.htm There is no inside tour possible).

The Allier and Loire rivers

Maré lies between the Allier and the Loire, in the small part of the municipality of Mars-sur-Allier that is not considered to be at risk of flooding. The two rivers are largely free-flowing: the bridges are few and long, the floodplain forests are extensive, and at Nevers near the confluence of the two there are still wild otters and many other animals and plants (in the water, on the numerous sand islands and in the air) that have been deprived of their habitat in densely populated areas. There are paths and access points in a few places. If you want to explore the riverbank in other places, I recommend a machete, a GPS device and equipment for an emergency bivouac!

Le Bec d’Allier

Confluence of the Loire and Allier rivers, canoe rental on site, walking paths and restaurants in Le Guétin and Grenouille/Cuffy, the site is easily accessible by bike or car.

Le pont du canal

A little above the Bec d’Allier, the Canal lateral de la Loire crosses the Allier! – You read correctly, the boats cross the non-navigable Allier on a historic stone bridge and then continue on the left bank of the Loire. The Halte nautique du Guétin is directly on the other side of the road:

Bar du Canal in Guétin (summer concerts on the Canal latéral de la Loire)

It is the operator of a boat rental company and shipping entrepreneur who turns this idyllic snack bar next to the shipping aqueduct into a concert venue in summer: https://www.bateaupromenadelateral.fr/

Bird watching

From November to February, large flocks of cranes can be observed here, commuting back and forth between their summer quarters in Finland/Russia and their winter quarters in Spain – or even staying in Mars for a visit! Maré/Mars has chosen this majestic and noisy bird as its emblem.

Below is a list of what I consider to be notable birds (other than blackbird, sparrow, great tit and blue tit) that I have seen (or at least heard) in the garden or in close proximity since February 2024 without taking extra time to look for them (in order of observation):

Crane
Little grebe
Moorhen
Nightingale
Falcons
Stork
Tawny owl
Long-tailed Tit
Barn owl
Hoopoe
Bee-eater
Wren
Goldfinch
Greylag goose
Grey heron
Great White Egret
Treecreeper
Golden chicken
Cormorant
Kingfisher
Osprey

Mushroom tours

I personally offer mushroom excursions at a price of 120.00 euros:

10.00h departure, 18.00h return to Maré, excursion within a radius of approx. 20 km as the crow flies from Maré
Maximum 8 participants (6 possible with my car)
The most suitable time is between the beginning of July and the end of October
We select a suitable area to the best of our knowledge and belief, but no guarantee can be given for finds of (edible) mushrooms
Suitable clothing and shoes are the responsibility of the participants, baskets and knives can be provided to a certain extent.
Local regulations are observed (collection quantity, closed private forests, others)
We are happy to prepare found and clearly edible mushrooms together for dinner the same evening (by arrangement and according to the species found)
Depending on weather conditions, pre-planned excursions may have to be canceled

Good wines in the region

The wine-growing region of Sancerre is very close by – and the wines of Burgundy are diverse and well worth a voyage of discovery

Nevers: old town, market and seasonal events (jazz/punk festival, …)

Ride from Maré by bike or motorized via Saincaize – Challuy over the historic Loire bridge to the old town hill of Nevers, on which the Gothic cathedral is enthroned – the view is unforgettable! You can find the latest information at https://www.nievre-tourisme.com/decouvrez-la-nievre/patrimoine/balades-en-ville/nevers/

Personally, I recommend the fresh produce market in the old town and the market hall around Place Carnot on Saturday morning and the oriental bazaar in the agglomeration (from the city center northwest to Fourchambault airport) on Thursday morning(https://www.nevers.fr/vivre-a-nevers/commerce/les-marches-de-nevers )

Circuit de Magny-Cours

Motorsport fans are just over 5 km away from the former Nevers-Magny-Cours Formula 1 circuit, which was inspired by former French President François Mitterand and hosts a lively annual program: Vintage car races, Super Bike World Championship and much more. You can find the program at: https://www.circuitmagnycours.com/calendrier-des-evenements/

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Your reservation request

Here you can send a reservation request to Maré Mars. The desired room is still available on days marked in green. You will receive an automatic confirmation of your request, but this does not constitute a reservation confirmation. We will send this to you personally as soon as possible. The room will then remain reserved for 10 days. Within this period, a deposit of 50 percent of the amount is due. In the event of cancellation up to 14 days before arrival, the full amount will be refunded, up to 7 days before arrival 50%, thereafter the deposit will be forfeited to cover the costs. If we do not receive a deposit, the reservation will be canceled.

For questions or reservation requests for the campsite, please contact Maré Mars by email daniel@maremars.fr

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Location/Approach

Arrival by train

Are you coming by train and want to explore the area on foot or with a bike rented here? Travel from Paris to Nevers, from Dijon to Imphy or from Lyon to Saint-Pierre le Moutier and I will pick you up from the station for a small fee. The commune of Mars-sur-Allier unfortunately has no public transport and cab prices are high (e.g. cab from Nevers station approx. 47.00 euros).

Shuttle prices per trip incl. luggage, bike rack for up to 2 bikes available:
– Nevers 20.00 EUR
– Imphy 18.00 EUR
– Saint-Pierre le Moutier 12.50 EUR

Arrival by bike

Are you traveling to me by bike? There are many routes and I can’t give you much advice yet. It is always advisable to take your time and choose the small side roads or the many well-marked cycle routes in France. In some places, there are not many places to stay overnight and you should check the options carefully in advance. This year the first guests are coming to me by bike from Switzerland, I will ask them for their recommendations!

Transit via Allier to Maré Mars:

From Le Veurdre 16.7km: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qqvQrU77GMhTfDBs7

Vons Gimouille/near the Pont du Canal latéral of the Loire 8.3km: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NZXXdWb2eqmH9ULLA

Transit Eurovelo6 to Maré Mars: