about the big fields
Where strategy meets sanity
The Big Fields is a quiet place in the French Vosges countryside, designed for people who work with care, intention, ánd a bit of edge.
We host individuals, companies, teams, and facilitators who want to work, meet or guide others in a setting that’s grounded, well-equipped, and low on noise – both literally and figuratively.
The land includes meadows, forest edges, a small lake and a stream. There’s a vegetable garden, animals (horses, chickens, a very sociable dog), and spots to work or rest outside. The nearest village is cute and alive, and only five minutes away by car. Fast TGV train-connections take you straight to Paris and beyond (only 6,5 hours to Amsterdam).
You can come for a quiet workweek, a team offsite, a leadership check-in, a creative sprint, or to host your own retreat with clients. We offer structure when it helps – spaces to work, tools, home-grown food – and stay out of the way when it doesn’t.
What makes this place different? It’s not the fancy finishes.
It’s the calm, the nature and the views (and maybe the fact that after more beige meeting rooms and buzzword-packed team days than we care to admit – we built the kind of place we always wished existed).
What we offer
Ways to work (and unwind) here
Work in nature
Workation weeks
Work from the fields – quiet, focused days with good company and shared meals.
Designed for people who want to escape their office, but crave rhythm, connection, and nature.
Team and company events
Strategy days, offsites or creative retreats – designed with care, hosted without the fluff. We offer space, tools and local food to support your team’s real needs.
Host your own retreat
Bring your clients, guide your group – we’ll take care of the rest. A grounded space with nature, structure and support when you need it
How we work
What you'll find at the big fields
Rooted in nature
Our work follows natural rhythms. We’re building toward self-sufficiency through permaculture, biodiversity, and regenerative practices like biochar and land renewal. We grow what we can, cook from the garden, and share meals around long tables and fire pits.
A range of meaningful support
Whether you’re here for a workation, team event or your own retreat – you’ll find options to match your pace. From yoga, massage, and horse therapy to strategy sessions and team-building tools, we bring together experience from multiple fields.
Small scale, growing intentionally
We’re currently expanding toward 10 guest rooms, keeping the scale personal and the atmosphere spacious. You won’t get lost in a crowd – but you’ll find enough structure and energy to feel supported.
Secluded, not isolated
The property includes forests, fields, a private lake for swimming, a cold stream, and views in every direction. It’s quiet, but not disconnected – cycling, skiing, hiking, horseback riding, lakes, villages, and even cities are all within reach.
A place to work and play
We host both personal and professional retreats, with facilities like a co-working space, gym (2026), fast fiber internet, and spots for rest and recharge. Whether you’re here to focus or to slow down, the environment supports both.
Shared with our animals
You’ll meet our horses, chickens, and dog – and if you look closely, you might spot deer, foxes, owls, and other wild neighbours.
who were are
Behind the big fields
We’re Maud and Jan – a Dutch-Czech couple who used to sit in glass offices and corporate boardrooms, dreaming of a place with more sky, more soil, and more soul. In early 2025, we found it: a quiet patch of French countryside with meadows, forest edges, and just enough chaos (animal and otherwise) to feel the potential.
Jan still works in the corporate world of renewable energy, helping companies develop biochar projects. He brings a love for systems, a sharp strategic brain, and a deep connection to nature. You’ll often find him between Teams calls and wheelbarrows.
Maud’s background is in neuroscience, coaching, and equine therapy. She left behind the academic and consulting worlds to create grounded, nature-based experiences that help people think clearly, reconnect, and do meaningful work.
Together, we now host workations, team events, and retreats for founders, facilitators, creatives, and anyone else who needs a reset – or a bit of space to do things differently.
This isn’t just a retreat centre. It’s our home. And we’d love to welcome you here!
