Turn the key and open the door: La Clef Decamp is waiting for you!
Always as kind, charming, and fun as their gîtes, discover the story of Jennifer and Sébastien below:
A couple of ‘dreamers and builders’
Today, the internet offers countless options when it comes to choosing a gîte.
But how do you choose THE gîte?
The one that will give soul and unforgettable memories to your stay?
The one that truly suits you, where you immediately feel at home and enjoy exceptional amenities?
Choosing a gîte is not just about finding a place to stay for a weekend or a holiday — it’s above all a human story, centered around a place that will enchant you.
So without further ado, let us introduce La Clef Decamp and reveal the values that inspire Jennifer and Sébastien…
After this, you won’t choose your next getaway by chance!
It all began when Jennifer and Romy Schneider met!
One movie… Sissi – The Young Empress.
A little girl, wide-eyed with wonder in front of her television… a childhood dream begins to take shape.
‘When I grow up, I’ll have a castle!’
• Many visits to castles across Europe in a camper van with her parents, strengthened her determination.
• Passionate about furniture and decoration, Jennifer was already asking for furnitures as birthday gifts from the age of eight.
• At 10 years old, Jennifer would close her eyes and already picture her futur home:
– An Amiénoise house (a small traditional red-brick worker’s house typical of Amiens).
– An enclosed courtyard, inspired by a Spanish patio she had seen in Spain.
– A different atmosphere on every floor.
– Modern and bright under the attic roof.
– Cosy and British, with a crackling fireplace on the first floor.
– An American-style kitchen, with a beautiful central island on the ground floor.
• While waiting to create her dream home, she spent her time rearranging her small childhood bedroom.
• As a teenager, she set up a makeshift apartment in her “loft” above the Écuries, a space that has now been renovated and welcomes guests all year round.
• As soon as she was ready to spread her wings, Jennifer found her first rental apartment… and guess where? In a castle, of course!
At the Château de Monchy-Humières, near Compiègne: the first step toward her dream life surrounded by historic stone!
• When creating her gîtesshe always sought the gentle creak of wooden floors, the soul of beautiful historic homes, high ceilings, and ornate moldings…
Jennifer has set herself a goal: to make her dream come true before she turns 50 – a little castle!
A love for gîtes, a love story with stone.
Originally from Picardy, the young blonde woman grew up at Écuries Val de Mai, a beautiful farmhouse near Amiens.
She moved to Normandy for love.
But her love for the Cotentin and the English Channel outlasted her relationship!
In 2009, at the age of 27, she bought her first property : La Duckerie, a true love-at-first-sight.
A major renovation challenge, as there’s everything to do!
Its beautiful stone façade, the peaceful surroundings and its proximity to the town of Valognes – nicknamed the 'Little Versailles of Normandy' – won her over completely.
At first, she had never imagined turning it into a gîte. But as the renovation progressed, she realized that the house was far too big.
Living with flatmates, then the first guests at La Grande Duckerie…
A life of sharing the stone house began to take shape.
And so, fully committed to her major renovation project, Jennifer gradually slipped into this dream life where flea markets, interior design, layout and a passion for hunting for treasures now fill her days..
The gîtes: a breath of fresh air!
In 2015, she fell in love with her future husband, Sébastien.
He encouraged her to set up a business structure to bring her gîtes together.
And so was born…
The company La Clef Decamp !
From a single guesthouse in 2012, La Clef Decamp now welcomes you to 40 exceptional gîtes across Picardy, the Cotentin, and southern Manche in Normandy.
Life is too short. It is essential to keep moving forward, building and always offering more to our guests.
Now, the creation of the company has enabled them to realise their dream of buying and renovating, as a family a beautiful bourgeois residence in Villedieu-les-Poêles, Sébastien’s childhood town and home turf.
Jennifer and Sébastien are always on the move.
They are constantly expanding their portfolio of gîtes each one reflecting their idea of the perfect home.
They follow their instincts and fall in love with places, and every house reflects them perfectly:
Welcoming, warm, comfortable, decorated with heart and generosity, and a family atmosphere.
Our favourite touches, designed with your well-being in mind
Jennifer loves the past and anything with a soul.
Stone never dies, and La Clef Decamp is committed to preserving that soul.
Always attentive to its guests, La Clef Decamp is constantly enhancing and improving the comfort of its gîtes. You’ll always be surprised, even on a second visit, by the ever-changing facilities: a new spa, pool table, terrace, games rooms or bedrooms!
Combining their passion for renovation with the holiday rental business allows Jennifer and Sébastien to remain attentive to your needs and incorporate your wishes to ensure your stays in their holiday homes are a success.
Their mission: to make you feel as at home in their gîtes as you would in your own home, with a change of scenery as a bonus!
Whether for a weekend or a longer stay, it is important that you feel at home straight away.
La Clef Decamp is therefore committed to ensuring your comfort with little touches that will delight you.
All the gîtes are furnished just as they would be for Jennifer and Sébastien:
Peace and quiet, relaxation, cosiness and games as a bonus.
Jen and Séb, a dynamic duo with a great sense of humour
Sébastien’s playful humour and Jennifer’s infectious, joyful laughter will win you over from the very first moment!
Complementary in both life and work, their sense of humour shines through in their interior design projects.
They always add a touch of whimsy and fun to create a cheerful, light-hearted atmosphere.
Each plays a key role in the running of La Clef Decamp and brings their own personal touch.
Both passionate about stone and interior design, when Sébastien looks at a room, he knows exactly how to arrange and enhance it.
He brings his own flash of genius!
In fact, it was Sébastien who came up with the company name La Clef Decamp.
A little nod and a play on words to ensure his wife’s maiden name lives on!
So La Clef Decamp isn’t just Jennifer and Sébastien; above all, it’s a team…
And a wonderful team!
Charline will give you a warm welcome at La Duckerie in Valognes. She manages the housekeeping for the five gîtes with great skill. She loves her work and prepares the gîtes with care for your arrival.
Julie and Julie from Écuries Val de Mai will be delighted to welcome you there. They take great care in maintaining this large farmhouse complex comprising five gîtes.
Anne-Laure, Brigitte, Mélissa, Pauline, Christel, Tiffanie, Myriam, Amélie, Emmanuel abd Pierre, a complete team serving our many gîtes in southern Manche in Normandy. They all work together harmoniously to ensure the gîtes are clean, welcoming and functional.
Marina, Loris, Alexandra and Pauline, in the sales department, will be delighted to guide you in your search and answer your questions by phone or welcome you in person at Villedieu-les-Poêles.
Magalie in the administration, accounts and human resources department is responsible for managing the accounts and overseeing the various teams at La Clef Decamp.
François in the digital department is responsible for developing the website and presenting you with attractive listings that will answer your questions.
Thanks to all these wonderful people, the gîtes are maintained to perfection.
What’s next for the gîtes of La Clef Decamp?
Always bursting with ideas and dreams, Jennifer and Sébastien may well go on to bring many more projects and partnerships with additional owners to fruition.
So, depending on various encounters, travels or sudden inspirations, perhaps we’ll find La Clef Decamp:
– On the peaks of La Plagne, Jennifer’s childhood ski resort?
– On a 4-hectare estate, the site of Sébastien’s teenage hangouts?
– In a Fort, on an island near Lorient ?
– In another beautiful home in Granville ?
– In a magnificent estate, at the gates of a castle ?
To be continued…
See you soon at one of our gîtes!