Prototyping a permanent Revillage
Experiencing a new way of community life
Built with the local community
A playground for both kids and adults
Follow the progress
Why we are creating a popup village
Our long-term dream with Revillage is to create a permanent community of families who move to a village together. This popup village is an important step toward that goal.
Over the past year, we have received inspiring feedback from families who share the desire for a different way of living. Now it is time to move beyond calls and emails and into the real world.
For four weeks, we will gather families interested in Revillage to experience community life and prototype what a permanent Revillage could look like. It is a gentle way to explore a different rhythm of life and see whether Revillage feels right for each family. Together, we will create a real glimpse of what Revillage life might be.
The popup will include activities and engagement with the local community, but just as importantly, it will reflect the everyday rhythm we hope to build in the future. A life where community is close and accessible, yet low-pressure, allowing every family to participate in their own way.
We also see the popup as a way to show potential villages and towns who we are and how we approach community building. Alongside bringing the right people together, it may help us identify the right permanent location for Revillage.
On this page, you will find everything about the month-long popup village in Semur-en-Auxois next september. Please reach out if you have any questions.
The popup village is built on four focus areas
Prototyping a permanent Revillage
Our dream is to create a permanent Revillage, where a group of families move to the same village together. Through talks with experts, fireside chats and workshops, we will prototype a permanent Revillage together.
Experiencing a new way of community life
Imagine a village where every family lives the way they want, but with a great community just outside the door. Imagine being able to walk everywhere, the kids learning through exploration and play and where there are always likeminded people around. This will be a village experience on your own terms and that you can help co-create.
Built with the local community
This popup will be built with locals and having the local community involved. We want to avoid being a bubble of privilege and we want to create events and activities where the local community is a part of it.
A playground for both kids and adults
We have one month and we will get the most out of it. There will be endless possibilities for activities for both kids and adults. The key is to make it low-pressure, easy to opt in and out. We are imagining everything from workouts, farm visits, communal meals, picnics and much more.
If you have any questions please reach out to nikolaj@revillage.com
Our monthly newsletter is our primary channel, where we share everything. Sign up here:
About Semur-en-Auxois
Semur-en-Auxois is a beautiful medieval town of about 4,500 people in the heart of Burgundy. You will be within walking distance of small cafés and restaurants, lush nature, a swimming lake, and a vibrant local culture. The area is also full of young families, which gives it a warm and dynamic atmosphere.
Just beyond the town, you will find vineyards and old châteaux, all within easy reach.
It takes around 2 hours with train from Paris to reach Semur-en-Auxois.
A unique partnership
Nikolaj and Michelle
Prior to having kids Nikolaj and Michelle was running Refuga, a travel agency for entrepreneurs. A project that had them travel with over 500 people and 50 nationalities to beautiful retreat places and places like Kilimanjaro, Elbrus and North Korea.
After having kids, they launched Traveling Village, a co-created concept where 20 families travel together for 4 months organized in workgroups. The experience of a family in a community was challenging and rewarding, and convinced them work more in that field.
While Nikolaj and Michelle keeps building Traveling Villages, the first TV experience made them sure they wanted to create a permanent community too.
Noé Marguillard
Living in and around the village
Everyone can choose the type of accommodation that fits their family. Semur-en-Auxois has houses to rent, small hotels, guesthouses, campsites and places suitable for campervans, all close to the village center.
A big part of this popup is working with locals to create unique lodging opportunities and special deals that you would not normally find as a tourist. We are already exploring options with local hosts, property owners and businesses, and these opportunities will be shared with everyone who signs up.
You decide how you want to live. What matters is that the community is right outside your door, so it feels like we are living in a village together even if we are staying in different places.
The popup village offers a gentle rhythm of planned and co-created activities, with space to join what fits your family. Everything is optional and easy to adapt, whether you need slow time, work time, or small-group moments. Many activities also involve the local community, bringing the village experience to life.
Community time
Talks
À la carte activities
Guided tours
Sports
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
13:00
14:00
15:00
16:00
17:00
18:00
19:00
20:00
21:00
22:00
23:00
Tue - 09/01
Wed - 09/02
Thu - 09/03
Fri - 09/04
Sat - 09/05
Sun - 09/06
Monday - 09/07
Help shape a permanent Revillage
Our long-term dream is to create a community of families who choose to live together in the same village.
This popup is an important step toward making that a reality. It gives us a shared space to experiment, meet other interested families, and actively shape the direction of the project.
Throughout the month, we will host talks, workshops, and fireside conversations exploring what a permanent Revillage could look like. We will also invite experts and local voices to join these sessions, allowing us to explore ideas from many perspectives, from community building and family life to village revitalization.
By the end of the month, we hope some families will feel even more excited about joining a future Revillage. More importantly, we hope everyone leaves with greater clarity about what is right for their own family, along with new friendships or small communities that may form naturally.
At the same time, the popup is an important way to engage potential host villages and towns. It allows us to demonstrate the kind of people we aim to bring together and the intentionality behind how we build community. We believe this will be crucial in identifying the right permanent location.
There is no expectation or requirement to move. The popup is for anyone who is curious, open, and interested in exploring the possibilities together.
The Revillage Popup artwork
We have worked with the local illustrator Victoria Dorche, who has created this amazing artwork that captures both Semur-en-Auxois and what we are trying to create with this month-long village.
Victoria will also host an art class for us, and we are considering printing a large black-and-white version that all the kids can color together. Every family will also receive a printed copy of the poster as a small piece of memorabilia.
See more of Victoria’s amazing work on Instagram.
How to sign up
Here is how to apply for the popup village.
Contact nikolaj@revillage.com with any questions.
Price
€2,500 per family
Covers participation in the popup village, access to all shared spaces, activities, and community programming. See exactly how the money will be spend here.
(You manage your own accommodation, food, and travel—keeping full flexibility.)
Signup process
Application form (20-30 minutes)
Invitation to a call
Payment of €700 deposit (remaining 1st of April)
Digital village square and co-creating starting in May
In a nutshell
30 families
September 1-30, 2026
Semur-en-Auxois, Burgundy
Walkable medieval town
Community spaces and local helpers
One-month popup village
Built to prototype a permanent Revillage
Facilitated kids activities
One-third helps develop Revillage
Two-thirds go into the local community
Understanding the cost
of the Revillage popup
The price for the popup village for the full month is €2,500 per family.
Below you will find a detailed breakdown of how your money will be spend.
Revillage fee
Local planning
Local involment
€650
€650
€1,200
This money goes into Revillage, help us plan the popup and is also a small investment into the long-term work with making Revillage happen
This part of the money goes into working with local people about planning the popup, creating lodging opportunities and unique experiences and coordinating with the local community in the 10 months leading up to the popup
This is the part of the money that will be used to hire local helpers, artists, rent spaces, do community meals, cover costs for a range of experiences. We are careful about all this money going into the local economy.