Art deco boutique retreat in the Seven Valleys

Set in the Seven Valleys, less than an hour from Calais, Maison de Plumes is an 18th Century ‘Maison de Maître’ which has been tastefully restored to its former glory – a renovation which would no doubt please the original countess owner.

Richard and Vanessa Rhoades decided to take the plunge and move to France to renovate their dream house in June 2007. Tired of the London rat race, they realised their dream of creating an Art Deco Boutique Retreat a short hop over the Channel.

 Guests staying in this stunning rural idyll will enjoy:

- A stunning Art Deco lounge.
- Individually designed bedrooms – There is no corporate colour scheme here! All have king size beds and feature their own en-suite bathrooms with state of the art baths and showers.  - There are a variety of styles on offer, with each room named after a bird.
- The house is large but not so big as to detract from the fact that it is a family home.
- The gardens ‘Les Jardins Blanches’ are set south facing. Fragrant white flowers and songbirds will soothe the stresses of work. Who knows, you may even hear the odd cow mooing lazily in the background. One thing is for sure, you will hear little traffic here. Simply lounge on the terrace with a cold beer or take a dip in the hot tub. Play garden games or enjoy a good book from the library.

Food:

Richard and Vanessa pride themselves of their food. Where possible, they use home grown and seasonal produce (in keeping with the French ideal). They have extensive vegetable and herb gardens to keep their own free-range hens. Vegetarian meals are also catered for. Fine French wines, of the highest standard, are served with meals. The following are examples:

Breakfast: Breakfast is served at the guest’s leisure. Fresh croissants and breads, French cheeses and hams, homemade jams, delicious eggs from their corn fed hens, coffee, hot chocolate and teas…an indulgent way to start the day.

Dinner: After a day sightseeing, guests are invited to book a sumptuous dinner where you meet in the lounge for petit fours and aperitifs followed by a delicious five course meal. A typical meal would consist of Petit verrine du crabe, Seared Fois Gras on a bed of rocket followed by Pan Fried Duck Breast, Gratin Dauphinoise and seasonal vegetables, a full cheeseboard follows and dessert. Remember we do offer vegetarian options too. All naturally served with the finest French wines. Eating in France is a very sociable experience and the hosts will join you whenever possible, if you so wish. Bon appétit!

The Area:

The Seven Valleys is a charming area, remarkably unspoilt with a wealth of cosy restaurants and vibrant markets where local fare is produced with pride. The Seven Valleys are easily reached from the Channel ports and is on the main railway line which runs from Boulogne to Arras and is not far from the A26 autoroute.

Pas de Calais is relatively undeveloped and this is rural France at its very best. The area is steeped in history, be it medieval, the Battle of Azincourt or the infamous battles of the Great War & WW2.

Golf

There are 2 championship standard courses within 40 minutes of the house and another 7 within an hour (Golf d’Arras, St Omer Valley Golf Club).

Fishing

Trout fishing, carp fishing…the choice is yours. Again, arrangements can be made for you.

Cycling

France is the home of the Tour de France. Richard and Vanessa have a limited number of bicycles for hire to explore the hills and valleys of Bas Artois. There are plenty of cycle routes to choose from and they are all sign posted. Maps can be supplied if needed.

Shopping

Heuchin is ideally situated. Paris is an hour and a half away and we have two market towns within 20 minutes. Hesdin, with its market day on Thursday and St Pol sur Ternoise with a market on Wednesdays. Arras is only 40 minutes away and this historic town with its boutiques and 2 main squares has consistently been voted one of France’s most beautiful cities. Saturday morning is market day and is a must. Lille is also within easy driving distance. Being France’s 4th largest city, this northern metropolis rivals the trends of Paris and has been recently voted Europe’s Capital of Culture.

Seaside Visits

From the history of Dunkirk to the spas of Le Touquet, the Côte d’Opale is a stunning piece of French coastline. Why not take the short hour’s drive to visit the area and watch fishermen bringing in the day’s catch followed by a bowl of fresh mussels at a beachside restaurant? Maps can be supplied if needed.

For more information, visit: maisondeplumes.com