The Rural Reset: Club Xata France 2026

We treat our offsites as time together first, and work second. Most of it happens in conversation, in small groups, over meals, or in between things rather than in back-to-back sessions. This time, with some of our colleagues’ partners, children, and parents joining, the dynamic shifted slightly, bringing a different kind of energy into the week.

Where Things Slow Down

When picking venues for our offsites, we look for places where it’s easy to switch off from everything else and just be together. Le Moulin de la Forge in Boutencourt, France (just north of Paris) understood the assignment. The estate stretches across greenery, gardens and orchards, with water all around it. Sheep, deer and horses move across the grounds, and the original watermill wheel and old stone walls give a sense of its age. Time fills itself naturally, whether at the pool and hammam, around a billiard table or a game of darts, over board games, or (in the late evenings) around the karaoke machine. With fireplaces and many spots to gather around, it was easy to spread out, drift between groups, and come back together without effort.

The Shape of the Week

Our offsites run from Monday arrivals to Friday departures, with no sessions planned on either end, so no one is expected to spend their weekend in transit. Travel is flexible and fully covered, whether colleagues choose to arrive earlier or stay on longer. The planned activities are always optional, and much of the week unfolds in between.

This time, once everyone had settled in, Monday evening brought a cocktail hour and bonfire with marshmallows to ease into the week. Tuesday and Wednesday combined work sessions with time to roam the grounds, where occasional sightings of wildlife (otters and beavers!) sparked great excitement. One afternoon we engaged in a collaborative painting workshop, bringing out our inner artists as we worked together on a mural. Another evening, a magician joined us for a performance that took over the room, leaving some simply amazed, while others watched closely, trying to catch how it was done. Thursday is traditionally set aside to explore the area, with no work sessions planned. This time, we visited the organic Fromagerie Beaudoin, where our venue sources its cheeses, before returning for a soap box race with the kids, which quickly turned competitive in the best way. The day leaned fully into being outdoors and doing something different together.

Working by the Water

Our work sessions took place in a gorgeous, modern building on the pond, with beautiful daylight and a terrace just outside. Stepping out between sessions for some countryside air and vitamin D (we got plenty of that!) and coming back in felt natural, without breaking the flow too much.

“Nice to just hang out”

The anonymous feedback we collect after each offsite plays a big role in shaping how we plan the next trip. This time, a few themes kept coming up across the responses: a sense of calm, a relaxed atmosphere, and how easy it was to connect. One comment captured it simply: “good vibes, great conversations, human connection”.

See you at the next one!

Preparations for the next offsite are already underway, and we’re looking to grow the team. If you’d like to join us, take a look at our open roles. À bientôt!