CHATEAU DE VILLETTE
Grand Burgundian living, country house style
LIVE LIKE A BURGUNDIAN OF OLD in the grandest style. Not many private homes can compare with Château de Villette, set in deepest Burgundy far from urban distractions amid 500 acres of woods and parkland.
This extravagantly comfortable domain – once a playground for the French aristocracy – is just the place to pull down the shutters and recharge in spoiling surroundings. There's a housekeeper to look after you, and even a gamekeeper on call should you want to pop off a wild boar or a a few partridge during your stay.
Château de Villette's spacious bedrooms come with fine bedlinen and drapery, open fireplaces, period furniture and far-reaching views. Dining here is to be savoured, and you'll enjoy sampling the best of local Burgundian cooking. Guests dine in the candlelit dining room or on the terrace in summer. And naturally, the cellars are heaving with good vintages of Côte de Beaune and other fine labels to set your repast off a treat.
Hit the Spot
Set in Burgundy's Morvan hills, 60km from Beaune.
Bedtime
We fancied sprawling Fairthorne – the biggest bedroom – with its four-poster and open fireplace.
Be Savvy
Feeling extravagant? It's the perfect place for a house party.
Be Smitten
A place to Beaune up on fine wine and good living.
Teeming with wildlife
Burn off your excesses exploring some of Château de Villette's 500 acre estate with its woods, streams and hedgerows teeming with birdlife. It's an ideal place to go cycling, horse riding, jogging or even mushroom picking, not to mention antique hunting in nearby villages. And there's a huge library of DVDs to lie back and watch should all this good living prove just too much.
Château de Villette was reviewed by Room for Romance
This extravagantly comfortable domain – once a playground for the French aristocracy – is just the place to pull down the shutters and recharge in spoiling surroundings. There's a housekeeper to look after you, and even a gamekeeper on call should you want to pop off a wild boar or a a few partridge during your stay.
Château de Villette's spacious bedrooms come with fine bedlinen and drapery, open fireplaces, period furniture and far-reaching views. Dining here is to be savoured, and you'll enjoy sampling the best of local Burgundian cooking. Guests dine in the candlelit dining room or on the terrace in summer. And naturally, the cellars are heaving with good vintages of Côte de Beaune and other fine labels to set your repast off a treat.
Hit the Spot
Set in Burgundy's Morvan hills, 60km from Beaune.
Bedtime
We fancied sprawling Fairthorne – the biggest bedroom – with its four-poster and open fireplace.
Be Savvy
Feeling extravagant? It's the perfect place for a house party.
Be Smitten
A place to Beaune up on fine wine and good living.
Teeming with wildlife
Burn off your excesses exploring some of Château de Villette's 500 acre estate with its woods, streams and hedgerows teeming with birdlife. It's an ideal place to go cycling, horse riding, jogging or even mushroom picking, not to mention antique hunting in nearby villages. And there's a huge library of DVDs to lie back and watch should all this good living prove just too much.
Château de Villette was reviewed by Room for Romance
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Dining in
Regionally inspired cuisine – cuisine du terroir – is locally sourced and served to order in the wood panelled and candlelit dining room. Note that 24 hours notice is needed if you plan to dine in.
Dining out
Good local restaurants include La Petite Auberge, ten minutes away, Le Chalet Bleu and L’Ecole Buissonniere, just five minutes down the road and serving some of the best food around.
Where?
Chateau de Villette
What’s cooking?
Regionally inspired dishes using locally sourced game and produce.
Dress the part
You'll want to dress for dinner here.
Top table?
On the terrace in summer.
See & Do
There’s plenty to do around here: go walking, wine tasting or antique hunting. Hot air balloon trips, riding, fishing and cycling can all be arranged nearby. You can also visit the nearby Lycée Bonaparte, where Napoleon and his brothers were educated, then pop down to a local food market, pick up your lunch and a passable French accent.
Shop
You won’t find many designer chains around here but you're in vintage vineyard country, so stock up on some fine bottles of Côte de Beaune to take home. You can trawl for antiques at the weekly Brocantes in villages such as Autun and Chalon sur Saône.
Spa
Try the Spa Vignes in Meursault.
After dark
You're deep in the country here, so take a moonlit walk through the grounds and head for bed.
Dates
August-September
Folk dancers from around the world converge on Beaune and Dijon for the International Folkloriades and Wine Festival.
Regionally inspired cuisine – cuisine du terroir – is locally sourced and served to order in the wood panelled and candlelit dining room. Note that 24 hours notice is needed if you plan to dine in.
Dining out
Good local restaurants include La Petite Auberge, ten minutes away, Le Chalet Bleu and L’Ecole Buissonniere, just five minutes down the road and serving some of the best food around.
Where?
Chateau de Villette
What’s cooking?
Regionally inspired dishes using locally sourced game and produce.
Dress the part
You'll want to dress for dinner here.
Top table?
On the terrace in summer.
See & Do
There’s plenty to do around here: go walking, wine tasting or antique hunting. Hot air balloon trips, riding, fishing and cycling can all be arranged nearby. You can also visit the nearby Lycée Bonaparte, where Napoleon and his brothers were educated, then pop down to a local food market, pick up your lunch and a passable French accent.
Shop
You won’t find many designer chains around here but you're in vintage vineyard country, so stock up on some fine bottles of Côte de Beaune to take home. You can trawl for antiques at the weekly Brocantes in villages such as Autun and Chalon sur Saône.
Spa
Try the Spa Vignes in Meursault.
After dark
You're deep in the country here, so take a moonlit walk through the grounds and head for bed.
Dates
August-September
Folk dancers from around the world converge on Beaune and Dijon for the International Folkloriades and Wine Festival.
GETTING THERE
Location
Route de Sennely, 45240 Ménestreau en Villette
Parking
There is free guest parking
Trains
Menestreau – 25km
Taxis
EUR 30 from the station
Airport
Dijon – one hour; Lyon – two hours
Rooms and suites
Four rooms, three suites
Special features
You'll find open fires, four poster beds and roll-top baths in all rooms.
Also…
Some have great views of the grounds and countryside. Fairthorne, Angelique and Rouge are the most romantic.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
EUR 175 – 225
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
4pm – 8pm
Check-out
Before 11am
Minimum night stay?
Two nights
Breakfast
Continental breakfast is served until 10.30am
Room service
No
Children
No restrictions
Pets
No
Air conditioning
No
Languages
English, French, Dutch, German
Wedding license?
Yes – with up to 150 guests catered for
Eco conscience
The estate practises eco-farming and is very nature-aware.
Your contacts
Catherine and Coen Stork – owners
Location
Route de Sennely, 45240 Ménestreau en Villette
Parking
There is free guest parking
Trains
Menestreau – 25km
Taxis
EUR 30 from the station
Airport
Dijon – one hour; Lyon – two hours
Rooms and suites
Four rooms, three suites
Special features
You'll find open fires, four poster beds and roll-top baths in all rooms.
Also…
Some have great views of the grounds and countryside. Fairthorne, Angelique and Rouge are the most romantic.
ESSENTIAL INFO
Rates guide
EUR 175 – 225
Open/closed
Open all year
Check-in
4pm – 8pm
Check-out
Before 11am
Minimum night stay?
Two nights
Breakfast
Continental breakfast is served until 10.30am
Room service
No
Children
No restrictions
Pets
No
Air conditioning
No
Languages
English, French, Dutch, German
Wedding license?
Yes – with up to 150 guests catered for
Eco conscience
The estate practises eco-farming and is very nature-aware.
Your contacts
Catherine and Coen Stork – owners
