Chateau de Villers. An artist impression
If you really want to get away of it all, for a while,
A unique hunting-lodge to rent, on a centuries old estate with its hilltop Chateau,
Pigeonnier and Park in the CHAMPAGNE
CHAMPAGNE: For your vacation a hunting-lodge, part of an harmonious whole at an estate of 6 ha with a park and a XVIth / XVIIIth century castle on a hill top with beautiful views on an unspoilt countryside and forests.
The chateau, with at the time 400 ha, belonged until 1904 to the family of Adelbert von Chamisso, the famous French born, but German(!) poet (1781-1838), biologist, explorer and creator of Peter Schlemihl, the story of the man who lost his shadow. Adelbert was in fact born and baptised as Adelaide de Chamisso at the chateau de Boncourt, destroyed during the French revolution, hardly a mile away from this estate where his oncle lived and that survived these revolutionairy times.
It is situated near the valley of the river Aisne, at the entrance of a small village, Villers-en-Argonne, 9 km away from Ste Ménéhould, 35 km from Chalons-en-Champagne, 45 km from Verdun, 80 km from Reims and 200 km from Paris. In the heart of the historic Argonne forest with its many 1914-1918 war memorials.
The hunting-lodge, split into two autonomous apartments, let separately or together, is luxuriously restored and fully equipped, with antique furniture, open fireplaces, a stunning kitchen in App.I, which is more basic in App.II, garden furniture, various games, bicicles (age 3 – 18), a topclass tabletennis facility, and barbecues.
A paradise for horse riding, hunting (sanglier/wild boar, deer), fishing, cross-country biking, walking; water sports and golf at 50 km.
On the 14th of December 2013 a spectacular sports centre was officially inaugurated at Ste Menehould, 8 km from Villers, with three pools, indoors one king size and one play ground for the kids and for water biking, and one heated in the open air; 2 out of the art fitness rooms, wellness facilities, an indoor tennis court and a gymnastic hall, a hammam and a souna.
If you can’t find what you are looking for or the hunting lodge is booked in the period you desire (see left under A v a i l a b i l i t y ), you could try www.gites.nl or Vakantiehuizen in Frankrijk, the most accessible and customer friendly Dutch website for holiday houses in France I know.
Gate of lions. Entrance to the estate
Gate of boars. View of the castle and access to swimming pool and castle park
Villers castle in winter
Hunting lodge children playground with picnic corner
Hunting lodge (right), garden with view on the horse stables, garçonnière (first floor Grand stable), house of the caretaker (in front above)
Gate of Lions, main entrance to the estate
Access alley (Allée de Chamisso) to castle with house of the caretaker to the left