Pavillon de Chasse, Westvleugel
Verified by Gites
You are staying with
Usually responds within 8 hours.
The house
The stay here was lovely - way too short ! In terms of decor and atmosphere, it feels like staying with friends, warm & cosy + furnished with exactly what we needed. The fireplace completes it. We would love to come back for a longer period. A la prochaine ! Martijn and Jascha, A'dam, Oct 2022
Wow, simply wow. Outstanding accommodation set in a stunning location. The lodge is fully equipped with every necessity. Johannes is a mine of information of the surrounding area and is so knowledgeable about the history of this part of France. Places in easy reach are Reims, Chalons en Champagne, Verdun and Nancy. The Super U in the local town is well stocked with everything you need and at reasonable prices. Kathryn and I have visited France for the past 30 years and we'd have no hesitation in returning to Chateau Villers-en-Argonne. Johannes and his lovely wife are perfect hosts and will always make you welcome. 10/10. Ron Robertson,Tyne and Wear, England, May 2024
Living room (36m²) with
- kitchen (4 electric hobs, pressure cooker, microwave and oven as well as 2 fridges),
- dining area and natural stone fireplace,
- flat-screen Samsung smart TV with smart hub and USB socket and DVD player,
Two WCs,
Bathroom with shower,
Two bedrooms (master bedroom with double bed 140 x 195cm / 2nd room with separate modern twin beds of 2m.
Electric (wall) heating in each room;
Barbecue, garden furniture, deckchairs.
N.B. Canapé in sitting area is easily converted into a very comfortable double bed (in case of rental by more than four people).
Car port available and horse stabling possible.
This is a completely restored and renovated hunting lodge with two wings: the East wing (3 bedrooms) and the West wing with two bedrooms; 2 autonomous gites in fact, which can be rented as one or separately, connected, in the heart of the historic Argonne forest.
Facilities
- Independent
- Local contact
- Historic building
- Safe for small children
- Dishwasher
- Washing machine
- Iron
- Fenced garden
- Pets welcome
- Cot
- High chair
- Playground
- TV
- Internet
- Bicycles at the house
- Fireplace
Surroundings
Click on image to open an interactive map
The hunting lodge is situated on a hill in the CHAMPAGNE region, 9 km from Sainte-Ménehould with its new and spectacular sports complex (including 4 swimming pools), 55 km from Chalons-en-Champagne, 54 km from Verdun, 80 km from Reims, 128 km from Nancy, 200 km from Paris and 450 km from The Hague, in the heart of the Argonne region.
It is part of an estate with park, stables and other outbuildings, and the 16th/18th century hilltop castle of Villers-en-Argonne that belonged for three hundred years to the family of the famous German-born poet, biologist, explorer and author of the early 19th century bestseller "Peter Schlemihls wundersame Geschichte," Adelbert von Chamisso.
It towers above the River Aisne, at the beginning of the village of Villers, which has about 250 inhabitants, with a baker's who visits every day and a good but bargain-priced village restaurant nearby. It is embedded in a beautiful hilly landscape amidst the woods.
Spring and autumn are perhaps the most spectacular times of year. The mighty forests of the Argonne are at their most beautiful then. The animal world, boar and deer, is especially visible in autumn. For those interested in the Champagne Tour, the harvest period begins in mid-August.
N.B. In the years 2014 - 2018, the First World War of 100 years ago is commemorated, "La Grande Guerre," The Great War 1914 - 1918. The hunting lodge is located in the middle of the War Zone with numerous memorial sites. Verdun, the Stalingrad of WWI, is 54 km away.
- Rural
- Hilly
- Meadows and woodland
- In or near a village
- In or near a town
Reviews
Geert-Jan de Boer from Nunspeet,
We hebben twee heerlijke weken doorgebracht in deze mooie woning. We genoten van de rust, de stilte, het mooie weer en de prachtige landelijke omgeving. We zijn bekend gemaakt met wat de omgeving biedt door Johannes, wat heel erg fijn was. De wijdere omgeving biedt mooie plaatsen om te bezoeken en de Franse sfeer te proeven.
Jooske Doorenbos from Vries,
Wij zijn bofkonten! Onverwacht deed zich de mogelijkheid voor om er nog een weekje tussenuit te gaan en toen kwamen we hier terecht. Wij hebben een fantastische week gehad in de westvleugel van het jachthuis, een ruim en compleet huis, heel sfeervol ingericht - we voelden ons meteen thuis. De omgeving is heuvelachtig en bosrijk, fijn om te wandelen (al verdient het wel aanbeveling om een app met wandelkaarten te downloaden, want bewegwijzering ontbreekt vaak en zo liepen wij soms een compleet andere route dan we gepland hadden…). In de omgeving is van alles te zien. Wij zijn onder andere naar Verdun geweest en naar Chalons-en-Champagne en Bar-le-Duc. We hebben veel gehad aan de tips van onze gastheer, die ons met veel enthousiasme van informatie voorzag. We hebben daardoor dingen gedaan en gezien die we anders vast gemist hadden. Om het huis is enorm veel ruimte, er zijn overal plekjes om lekker te zitten. Op een avond werd het kasteel van de familie verlicht en kregen we de kans om het van dichtbij te bekijken - heel speciaal! Na een week zijn we zeer voldaan naar Nederland gereden, met in de kofferbak een aangename hoeveelheid flessen champagne. We zullen nog af en toe proosten op de herinnering aan deze fijne week en op het excellente gastheerschap van de kasteelheer!
NloadenErik, Harriet en Kyra Brunninkhuis from Tilligte,
Erik en Harriet, Kyra Brunninkhuis uit Tilligte/Overijssel
Bezocht in augustus 2024Twee weken lang genoten van dit paradijsje! Bijna alles bezocht wat onze voorgangers ook al beschreven hebben. En het was de moeite waard! Maar ook thuis blijven in en rondom de gite was zeker geen straf. Lekker buiten zitten in de stilte, genieten van de rust, de natuur en de Franse vriendelijkheid. En die vriendelijkheid hebben we meer dan mogen ervaren van de zorgzame gastheer en gastvrouw Johannes en Laurence en ook de famillie Muller. Constant hun best doen om het ons zo comfortabel mogelijk te maken en optimaal te laten genieten! Dat is vakantie!! Even weg van de dagelijkse beslommeringen en opnieuw opladen. Rust in je hoofd!
Dank jullie wel daarvoor!
En de mensen die na ons komen wensen we evenveel plezier en genot!Erik, Harriet en Kyra Brunninkhuis
Comment from Johannes C. Landman
Goed te horen dat jullie genoten hebben van jullie verblijf in het Jachthuis, Westvleugel, op het landgoed van het kasteel van Villers. En wat een fantastisch talent toonde jullie dochter Kyra in het gastenboek met die schitterende tekening van de uil die hier vaker is gespot zoals ook de nog steeds beschermde Kerkuil. Dank en hopelijk tot ziens. Johannes
Restaurants, food & wine
CHAMPAGNE is known for its excellent food culture and good wines. In the vicinity are also very nice restaurants where you can eat very well for surprisingly little money.
Champagne fields and Champagne houses at 35 km (Bassuet). Beginning of the Champagne route.
By the way, the baker comes every morning at your door with fresh bread, even on Sunday.
N.B. For some years now, thanks to the TGV-Est, you can spend a day strolling in Paris and, on your return, dine in Reims: 50 departures a day to the centre of Paris in 40 minutes from Reims: the distance to the hunting lodge-Reims is 45 minutes by car.
Activities
Hiking, horseback riding, (cross-country) cycling, table tennis are the main pastimes outdoors on the estate.
Tip from our guests at the beginning of June 2014. In the Guestbook Harald, Eveline and Diederik wrote as P.S.
"For us the highlight was cycling through the area. Map at hand, but it doesn't matter where you cycle to: everything is very beautiful. The bikes are good!
Tip for Mr. Landman to promote the lake to cycling enthusiasts and cyclists !"
Nearby, in the picturesque town of Sainte Ménehould, there is a new spectacular sports & wellness centre including 4 swimming pools.
For horse lovers this is a true paradise because of the beautiful water and wooded area and the varied landscape, hills and valleys. You can bring your horse and stable it at the hunting lodge; there is also a riding/pony club in Villers itself.
Birdwatchers can also enjoy themselves here. And in September, the rutting of the stags in the Argonne forest at the foot of the estate is a spectacular and fairy-tale like event, which people come to watch from afar.
N. B. The hunting lodge with its garden and orchard covers 3 hectares to discover and walk in - and for the free gathering of fresh cherries, plums, nuts, pears and apples, according to the seasons. Also available in a shady and sheltered spot, in sight to the right of the house, 30 metres away: a small playground with climbing tower, swings, slide and PicNic corner/table with 2 fixed benches . Further living room games, books. There are five children's bikes (age 3 - 17) and 2 for adults; .
Since some time the renovation of the right wing of the 'grande ecurie' has been completed with
- new beautiful hardwood horse stables, modelled on the 18th century stables on country estates such as this one, but each with 12m2 of space, and a
- top quality (Cornilleau outdoor 55) table tennis set-up with accessories.
The following activities are available nearby (max. 30 minutes by car): hunting, fishing, swimming, hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, water sports, tennis. Lac du Der (Europe's largest man-made lake) at 50 km.
An 18 hole golf course, the Chalons Champagne Golf Club at Courtisols, is less than 35 km away; and at 90 km, near Reims, the famous Champion Golf Course, Golf de Reims Champagne at Gueux (Championships).
For hunting enthusiasts (big game, deer, boars): this is the only region in France (outside the Elsas), where you can hunt individually (with a guide), in June, July, August and September. (Collective) Flotillas with dogs (approx. 30 people) are held from October to February.
- Bicycle
- Near hiking trails
- Near ATB trails
- Near riding
- Water sports
Further remarks
The hunting lodge consists of two wings, connected: the East Wing (3 bedrooms) and the West Wing with two bedrooms.
For the East Wing of the hunting lodge, see the relevant page on this website; and also the combi page for the entire Pavillon de Chasse / Jachthuis: the ideal combination for two befriended or related couples or for parents in the West Wing, with children and grandchildren in the East Wing, where the dining room/table can accommodate 14 people.
Additional price info and offers
Prices as of 1 January 2024: 450€ per week (800€ per week in July-August; 650€ in June, September and recognised holidays/holidays) + if required 12€ p.p. for sheets/towels etc. and 55€ for cleaning; 30€ for wood fireplace. In period 1 October - 1 May there is a general surcharge of 15€ p.d. for central heating. Removable baby bath on request. Access to WiFi system in the hunting lodge, 20 Euro p.w. or 3€ p.d.
N.B. Very significant reductions are possible when renting for longer periods in low season. For the months November - December 2022 / January -February 2023 there is a rate of 200€p.w. / 29€ p.d. for a minimum of 3 or 4 weeks.
Price long week-end: (Friday-Saturday-Sunday or Saturday-Sunday-Monday) 320€ low season and 390€ mid season (not in high season).
For more than 4 people, a supplement of 70€ per person per week or 20€ per person per day applies.
For pets there is a surcharge of 40€ per pet p.w/ 10€ p.d. By the way, only well-trained pets are allowed, due to risk of damage. For this reason too, having learned from experience, the deposit (300 E) is not refunded on departure, but within a week of departure.
Finally, since 1/1/2020, a Taxe de Séjour has now also been introduced for gîtes in the Champagne region, as has long been the case for hotels and campsites. Via a complicated calculation, for a week with a family with 2 children, that comes out to about 0.74 cents per day in low season, 1.06€ p.d.during mid-season and 1.32€ p.d. in high season. For the whole family, that means a tax surcharge of 5.88€ per week in total, 7.56€ or 9.24€ respectively. It is unfortunately no different.
Price exclusive
- Safety deposit € 300.00
- Cleaning fee (optional) € 55.00
- Price bed linen per person (optional) € 9.00
- Price towels per person (optional) € 3.00