Astrofarm!
We are still here! Rural Retreat France started life 10 years ago, as the purpose built, residential astronomy centre ‘Astrofarm’. And we haven’t gone away, we’ve just expanded our activities.
Our Astronomy Centre is the perfect place for a group astronomy retreat. We are very happy to take group bookings (4 – 8 adults) for astronomy clubs & societies. We are open for astronomy retreats around the new moon periods, throughout the year. Note – we don’t always have an experienced in-house astronomer on site so we suggest that at least one of your group is able to help setting up of scopes.
Email sue@ruralretreatfrance.com to discuss potential dates for your visit.
Astrofarm @ Rural Retreat
We still have the velvet black skies, incredible unbroken South views & a micro-climate giving above average cloudless nights.
Our Astronomy Centre includes a warm room with tea & coffee making facilities, WIFI, plentiful outdoor power points, observing area, tripods, telescopes & equipment. Our observing platforms provide the perfect location for viewing & photographing the night sky.
Our guest dining room provides an indoor space to spend time in the day processing astro-photographs & working on laptops. We can also provide space, a screen & projector if you would like to offer tutorials & presentations to your group
Astronomy retreats
Astronomy retreats at Astrofarm, have been carefully designed to offer flexibility for guests. Astronomers who are up throughout the night, are offered hospitality to fit with their nocturnal schedule.
Guests can stay on site all day or, with a car, take some time to visit our beautiful town & surrounding places of interest, including the Meteorite Museum at Rochechouart.
We provide hot drinks 24/7, breakfast is served until midday & evening meals are planned around a night of observing. A minimum guest age of 18 guarantees peace & quiet with the chance to sleep until lunchtime, after a full night observing.
Accommodation at Astrofarm
We have designed the accommodation at Astrofarm to meet the needs of astronomers. For those up all night, the Dortoir is a comfortable, quiet & dark room for sleeping during the day. With heating during the winter & solid stone walls, it’s cosy on cold nights & cool in the summer.
The spacious shower rooms have plentiful hot water, bath sheets, dressing gowns & toiletries for our guests.
Our outside kitchen, barbecue area & patios with plentiful seating, offer astronomers the choice of self catering or catered stays (or a mix of both).
Staying at Astrofarm
Astronomy retreats can be booked for 3 or more nights for groups of 4 – 8 astronomers.
To keep it simple, your group pays for the exclusive use of the Dortoir rather than per person. You can choose from bed & breakfast with a self catering option for evening meals, or dinner, bed & breakfast or even a mix of both.
Book early for best dates around the new moons in 2026. Email sue@ruralretreatfrance.com to check date availability and to book your group’s stay.
