Maison Les Pommiers, 5 Quartos, Grande Charme / Personagem na Vila Tranquila

The house is a spacious 17th century stone house on two floors with a fabulous garden. Over the years we have owned it we have modernised all the bathrooms and equipped the kitchen to make it really feel like home.

From the front courtyard you enter straight into a wonderful large kitchen/dining room. The old flagstones and massive beams make it a superb setting for dining in the evening and in the cooler months is nice and cosy with an Esse woodburning stove/cooker. At the far end is a well-equipped kitchen with a gas cooker and everything you would expect to have at home. The window looks out on to a south facing terrace for outdoor dining in the warmer months.

An oak spiral staircase leads up to the splendid sitting room with antique floor-boards and magnificent Burgundian fireplace with wood burner. Plenty of books and games.

The two double bedrooms, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor both have lovely views over the garden. The double downstairs has an ensuite shower room. Next door is a bedroom with two single beds which is probably more suited for children . In between is the downstairs loo. Upstairs the fourth bedroom has twin beds plus a child's bed. A single folding bed and travel cot are also available. The upstairs bathroom has a modern shower and loo.

The fifth bedroom with a double bed is in the garden and was the old chicken house! It is a lovely romantic place to escape to or could be a handy teenage bolthole. In the barn close by is the laundry/salle de bain with shower, toilet and washing machine.

The beautiful walled garden is an oasis of peace with plenty of shade under the apple trees to disappear with a book or snooze in the hammock. Swings, trampoline, table-tennis, bicycles and barbecue available. Depending on the time of year there is beautiful blossom on the fruit trees, then later plums, apples, pears, grapes, figs.


The village: Dancevoir is a quiet village in the National Park of Forests in the Aube valley, with its rolling hills mostly covered with forest. The stream run through the village and it is delightful to walk along to the playground or further on to the swimming hole in the river near the old water mill. The house is opposite the church. The village shop for basic groceries and bread and croissants is only 5 minutes walk.

Activities: The area is within the National Park for Forests. There are limitless possibilities for walking and cycling either along the quiet country roads or along forest tracks. The Langres lakes nearby provide plenty of opportunity for wild swimming and other water sports.
There is a lovely old Pleyel grand piano upstairs in the Salon which is in good condition having been restored. It is available by agreement but is otherwise kept locked.The acoustics are excellent for chamber music.

For those wanting to explore Abbeys and Chateaux there is plenty to see. There are excellent museums nearby including a knife museum at Nogent, La Grande Forge de Buffon (dates from 1768) and la Musee de Chatillonais in nearby Chatillon with a stunning bronze vase. For artists the Renoir museum at Essoyes where he spent his last years is a must. A visit to Langres, the largest fortified city in Europe, is a great outing for the magnificent views, or there are the wonderful cities of Troyes, Dijon and Beaune. The daily markets at Chaumont and Troyes are excellent for food and local produce.
The Intermarche at Chateauvillain has most things and is 15 minutes drive
Alternatively sample the wines in the local vineyards where the 'Cremant' (similar to Champagne but much cheaper) shouldn't be missed! For those who must have Champagne the route du champagne is les than an hours drive away.

There are good local restaurants in Arc en Barois, we like the Coq D'Argent which has a good atmosphere and good local cuisine.