Car & Breakfast
With Car & Breakfast, we offer you a unique experience of discovering built and landscape heritage through road trips by car or motorcycle.
Starting from the Château de Fontariol, a Historic Monument typical of the properties of the rural petty nobility of the late Middle Ages in the Bourbonnais region, comes the desire to extend the discovery of the Bourbonnais beyond the castle walls. Simply choose a circuit from the roadbook and set off along the winding roads of the Bourbonnais in a car or motorcycle.
With our ‘Classic Car & Breakfast’ package, we offer you the opportunity to take these drives using our 1960s cars.
Package options
Car & Breakfast
Car & Breakfast welcomes you to the Château de Fontariol and offers a selection of road trips covering around a hundred kilometers with ‘secret routes’ that you will discover through a selection of carefully prepared roadbooks designed to surprise you. Each route allows you to explore landscapes and heritage sites characteristic of the Bourbonnais region. In each roadbook, your journey will lead you to a private castle where you will be welcomed by the owners for an exclusive guided tour. Finally, your route will bring you back to Fontariol for dinner and a night of rest at the guesthouse.
Classic Car & Breakfast
You can also enhance the Car & Breakfast program with an exclusive ‘vintage’ driving experience through our Classic Car & Breakfast package. After a brief introduction and a braking test, you set off behind the wheel of a 1960s convertible and rediscover—or experience for the first time—the now-lost sensations of driving on the countryside roads of the Bourbonnais region. Be warned, even though speed is not the focus here, it’s exhilarating! You might find yourself getting a bit lost in the roadbook and ‘gardening’ a little, as they used to say in 1960s rallies… No matter, time has stopped, so let’s enjoy it!
Classic Car & Breakfast – Discovery
In this new variation, we offer you the chance to experience a road trip in a vintage car through a shorter route. You will set off in one of our convertibles, following a fun roadbook covering about forty kilometers. In nearly two hours, you will discover medieval castles along the small roads of the Bourbonnais region around Fontariol. At the end of this drive, your experience will continue at the Château with dinner and a night of rest at the guesthouse. Vous partirez au volant d’une de nos décapotables en suivant un roadbook ludique d’une quarantaine de kilomètres qui en près de deux heures, vous fera découvrir les châteaux médiévaux le long des petites routes bourbonnaises autour de Fontariol. At the end of this drive, your experience will continue at the Château with dinner and a night of rest at the guesthouse.
And of course… Bed & Breakfast.
Finally, if you simply want to stop over in the atmosphere of a historic and unique place, enjoy the remarkable comfort of rooms decorated with period furniture, stroll through the gardens while admiring the bocage landscapes in the evening tranquility, then it all starts with the Bed & Breakfast at the guesthouse, with or without a host table, and of course, a guided tour of the monument by the owners.
Routes and Roadbooks
Our tourist routes share the common feature of offering a journey of around a hundred kilometers starting from the Château de Fontariol. They prioritize small country roads along which you will discover characteristic landscapes and heritage sites. There are many places to see along the way, such as a medieval fortified house, a viaduct designed by Eiffel, or one of the magnificent painted churches of the Bourbonnais region. Finally, during your journey, you will discover a private castle and be welcomed by its owners, who will open the doors of their residence for an exclusive guided tour.
At a time when digital technology can turn a countryside stroll into an automated subway ride, we have adapted the concept of the roadbook, inherited from the rallies of the 1950s, and given our tourist routes a ‘treasure hunt’ spirit to be shared with a partner, family, or friends. A passenger—the navigator—holds the roadbook (a series of graphic representations in ‘tulip diagrams‘) and gives the driver instructions on distances and directions, while also identifying points of interest along the route. Here, mistakes are human! If you get lost sometimes, it’s all part of the game and the discovery!
We have mapped out four discovery routes for you, each lasting 4 hours but with unique landscapes and heritage features. The biggest challenge will be deciding where to start!
Souvigny-Bourbon
A 100-km route through hedgerow landscapes, offering a panoramic view from Côtes Matras towards Souvigny, featuring the Prieuriale, its gardens, and then Bourbon l’Archambault. Castles: Les Aix, Fourchaud, La Matray, Charnes, Bourbon…
Aumance-Hérisson
A 110-km route through the high bocage, following the Aumance towards Hérisson: the fortress, Maison Mousse (16th century), the village, and the Aumance… Castles: La Condemine, La Chaussière, Le Plaix…
Val de Sioule
A 105-km route towards the Sioule gorges through the vineyards. Charroux, Ebreuil. Eiffel viaducts: Rouzat, Neuvial. Castles: Chareil-Cintrat, Chouvigny, Bellenaves. Possibility of wine tasting in St-Pourçain on the way back…
Val d’Allier
A 90-km route through vineyards, the banks of the Allier, and Limagne. Verneuil en Bourbonnais, Saint-Pourçain, Fleuriel. Castles: Chareil-Cintrat, Billy, Le Méage, Les Aix. Painted churches of Verneuil and Fleuriel. Possibility of wine tasting in St-Pourçain on the way back…
Our cars
The Mini
The Austin Mini, launched in 1959, was a true icon of the Swinging Sixties. Designed by the visionary Alec Issigonis, it revolutionized the automotive industry with its compact, front-wheel-drive layout and transverse engine, maximizing interior space while keeping the car small and agile. Its popularity skyrocketed when celebrities like the Beatles and Brigitte Bardot embraced it, turning it into a cultural phenomenon. The Mini became synonymous with youth, style, and innovation, making it one of the most beloved cars of its time.
The Austin Mini 850 Mark II (1968) is a true vintage gem! This particular model, restored to its original “Sandy Beige” finish, retains its hydrolastic suspension, which offers a smoother ride compared to later dry suspension systems. The large period-correct sunroof adds to its charm, making it a delightful classic for scenic drives. Despite its modest engine size, the Mini is known for its kart-like handling, making it nimble and fun to drive on winding roads. However, its vintage nature requires a delicate touch—especially when it comes to braking and controls. Perfect for a romantic drive for two, yet spacious enough to accommodate four passengers, this Mini is an ideal entry point into the world of classic cars.
The Triumph Herald
The Triumph Herald, designed by Giovanni Michelotti, was truly the Swiss Army knife of British automotive production in the 1960s. It came in a variety of versions—sedan, coupe, estate, van, and convertible—making it one of the most versatile cars of its time. Its fame was further cemented when Hergé featured it in Tintin and The Black Island, adding to its cultural significance. The early models had small-displacement engines, but over time, the Herald evolved to include the 1360cc engine, shared with the legendary Triumph Spitfire, giving it respectable road performance for the era. The 1968 Triumph Herald 13/60 convertible you’re describing sounds like a beautifully preserved classic. With its Navy Blue body, aged restoration, and recent mechanical refurbishments (engine, transmission, brakes), it offers a genuine vintage driving experience. Despite its compact size, it remains a true four-seater, making it ideal for exploring the Bourbonnais countryside. Of course, as with any classic car, careful attention to controls and braking is essential when taking it out for a spin.
