Chateau Meuse

Château Meuse is accessed along a 3 km private road in the renowned Champagne region of France. Beautifully secluded in the 2000 hectare Ardennes Forest, on the banks of the river Meuse, the château dates back to the 1600s, and is peacefully located in a vast valley. Château Meuse was built by Oranje-Nassau, using rocks from the mountain next to the château.  The estate comprises of a main château and five gites, offering accommodation for up to 60 people. The space Facilities available on the estate include a tennis court, badminton court, table tennis, fishing and petanque. Please note that you should bring your own equipment.  The area around the château is a paradise for hikers and mountain bikers, and mountain bikes are available for hire. Guests are welcome to bring their own horse, as the estate and forest are excellent for riding. In addition to the château’s own beautiful dining room, which includes an open fireplace, the estate benefits from a large reception barn that is furnished as a restaurant and available for hire. Guests have exclusive use of Château Meuse and its grounds, and the gites and chateau will not be rented separately, so you can be assured that you will be the only group on site for the duration of your stay. Château Meuse was renovated and rebuilt in the 18th century by the King of Belgium, Leopold II, who acquired the property for his mistress. The King planted exotic trees from the Belgian colony of the Congo in the château gardens, including palm trees, which can still be seen on the estate. The oldest tree is now more than 300 years old. Today, the château estate benefits from a superb collection of rare plants and trees. The oldest building on the estate is the tannery, also built from stone from the mountain next to the château. Features: 1) Main Château only (20-person price) 2) Main Château and cottages (60-person price) Main Château Interior (400m2, 20 guests) Ground Floor - Entrance hall with WC - Sitting room with satellite TV and DVD player - Dining room (for up to 30 guests) with fire-place and music system - Semi-professional kitchen, fully equipped including electric oven, microwave, gas range, coffee maker, two fridges, one freezer and dishwasher - Twin bedroom with private bathroom with Italian shower and WC (can be adapted for guests with limited mobility) First Floor - 2 x Twin bedroom with private bathroom with shower and WC - Twin bedroom with private bathroom with whirlpool bath and WC - King-size bedroom with private bathroom with shower and WC - King-size bedroom with balcony and private bathroom with bath and WC Second Floor - Family room with 3 x single beds and private bathroom with shower and WC - Family room with 5 x single beds and two private bathrooms with shower plus one WC Outside Grounds - Terraces around the chateau - Covered terrace with BBQ - Outdoor furniture - Badminton and tennis court - Table-tennis (in chapel) - Boules pitch - River Meuse in front of chateau - Ample parking Facilities - Wi-Fi (up to three devices at a time) - Music system - Satellite TV and DVD player - Badminton and tennis court - Table-tennis (in chapel) - Boxes and grassland available for horses Please note that you should bring your own equipment for outdoor games  The Gîtes (up to 40 guests) The small farmhouses, dotted across the estate, are ideal for larger groups or those seeking more privacy. There are five separate cottages/gites in total to accommodate up to 40 guests. Please note that whilst each cottage has complimentary Wi-Fi, only three devices at a time can be connected. Interior of Cottage 1 (10-14 guests) Ground Floor - Kitchen-diner with stove, fridge-freezer, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, oven and dishwasher - Living room with satellite TV and woodstove First Floor - Double bedroom (bed 1.4mx2m) - Bunk bed bedroom - 2 x Double bedrooms (beds 1.35mx2m) - Twin bedroom - Bathroom with shower two washbasins - Bathroom with shower two washbasins and WC - Two separate WCs Second Floor - 2 x quad rooms with 4 single beds each Outside Grounds - Private terrace and BBQ - Large garden with outdoor furniture - Surrounded by forest and river Facilities - Wi-Fi - Satellite TV Interior of Cottage 2 (5-7 guests) Ground Floor - Living room with satellite TV (with sofa-bed measuring 1.4mx2m, available on request for guests with reduced mobility) - Bathroom with shower and WC - Open-plan kitchen-diner with fridge-freezer, microwave, oven, coffee maker and toaster First Floor - 2 x twin rooms - Bathroom with shower and WC Second Floor - Twin room Outside Grounds - Terrace with outdoor furniture - BBQ Facilities - Wifi - Satellite TV Interior of Cottage 3 (6 guests, in annexe north of castle) Ground Floor - Kitchen, well equipped including fridge, stove, microwave, oven and coffee maker First Floor - 1 double bedroom - Bathroom with shower and WC Second Floor - Triple room with 3 x single beds - Twin room Outside Grounds - Terrace with outdoor furniture - BBQ - Garden - Surrounded by forest Facilities - Wi-Fi - Satellite TV - Woodstove Interior of Cottage 4 (4-5 guests, in annexe north of castle) Ground Floor - Kitchen, well equipped with freezer, microwave, coffee maker and toaster First Floor - Twin room (beds 0.9mx2m) - Bathroom with shower - WC Second Floor - Triple room with 3 x single beds Outside Grounds - Terrace with outdoor furniture - BBQ Facilities - Wi-Fi - Satellite TV - Woodstove Interior of Cottage 5 (2 guests, also suitable for a couple with baby) Ground Floor - Kitchen, well equipped including fridge, microwave, coffee maker and toaster - Sofa bed (1.4mx2m) First Floor - Double bedroom (bed 1.8mx2m) - Bathroom with bath and washbasin - WC Outside Grounds - Private garden overlooking Risdoux stream - BBQ - Private terrace with outdoor furniture Facilities - Wi-Fi - TV - Woodstove NB – only cottage in the building so good privacy Location: The Ardennes region is beautifully diverse, and a paradise for hikers, mountain bikers and riders, with woodlands, vast lakes, winding rivers and a variety of terrains.  The river valleys consist of canyons reaching up to impressive green mountainous peaks.  Towns close to the chateau include Namur, set around a 19th century Citadel and benefiting from excellent restaurants and great bars, Dinant, Rochefort, St Hubert, Bouillon, which is renowned for fantastic canoeing along the River Lesse, and Vireux, a super choice for restaurants, street markets and shopping. If you're a fishing fan, the Meuse is a fantastic river which holds some huge fish of all sorts of species. It is easily accessible along almost its entire length, all that is required is a French fishing license (Carte de Peche). There are plenty of backwaters and numerous creeks that are ideal for whitebait or carp. You can also discover the Meuse valley on the water, enjoying a boat tour!  For those who prefer more fast-paced activities, why not try paragliding! This is a very unique way to take in the beautiful countryside that Champagne has to offer and there are many sites nearby. There are so many places to explore around the region: the Chateau and Abbee at Chimay, the Han caves, canoeing along the River Lesse and hiking in the woodlands. This makes Chateau Meuse a fantastic base from which to discover the region of Champagne. Terms & Conditions: Security deposit? €1000 paid via Transfer to the owner no later than 3 days before arrival and refunded upon departure, subject to full inspection. Arrival time? 4.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m. Departure time? 9.00 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. Energy costs included? Yes. Linen & towels included? Included when renting the entire property (40 guests or more). Extra cost of €15 per person for under 40 guests. Pets welcome? Animals are allowed in the cottage only on request and with prior agreement with the owner. If accepted, a pet supplement will apply (paid locally). Changeover day? Friday or Monday, except July and August when it is Friday. Different changeover days must be agreed with the owner. End of stay cleaning included? Yes. However, guests are required to leave the accommodation clean, tidy and in the same condition as on their arrival. Any extra cleaning, laundry, maintenance and/or rubbish disposal required will be charged against the security deposit. Smoking Allowed? Outside only. Tax? French Visitors Tax payable locally (typically costs approximately between €1-€3 per adult per night- please enquire if exact amount is required). Heating costs included? No, heating of the hall not included. Wood box if required: €10 each. Other Ts and Cs? Please note that the use of any external caterers and/or contractors is not permitted.