Traditional Stone Medieval Village House

Hill House details

Home description

The house is located in the centre of a quiet picturesque village and contains many period features although recently modernised to suit the 21st century.

This mediaeval archaeological village built on the side of Mont Auxois is located in one of the most scenic regions of Burgundy; you will never be far from a truly exceptional historical heritage. The terracotta tiled roofed houses tumble down the hill to the canal de Bourgogne at Venarey Les Laumes. The valley is surrounded by steep rich green hills in which charolais cattle graze.

This is an ideal base for wine lovers exploring the flavours of Burgundy, such as the Routes des Grandes Crus, and for those who wish to savour the gastronomic delights for which this area is renowned.

External features on site

• Garden
• Scenic views

The front terrace is large enough to take the extending teak table, teak chairs, the parasol, the freestanding bbq and more. Here you can enjoy an aperitif looking at the views, maybe a sunset, and chat with the villagers as they pass by. The enclosed walled back garden is graveled, has shrubs, potted plants and typical french wrought iron furniture, and can be a cool sanctuary out of the heat of the sun.

Accommodation detail

• Lounge - with flagstone flooring and rug, beams, open fireplace, TV, DVD player, Hi-Fi. Seating for six.
• Kitchen/diner with access from front terrace, valley views, second access to a walled/graveled/ small back garden. Kitchen has halogen hob in central-island with extractor hood, oven, fridge/freezer, microwave, dishwasher, coffeemaker, wood burning stove, table for eight.
• Wine cellar with vaulted ceiling where garden furniture and mobile bbq is kept.
• Cave with various storage areas, one with firewood.
• 2 double bedrooms, one with built in wardrobe, wooden floors with rugs, one bedroom ensuite with shower room and the other ensuite with bath, both with tiled floors.
• 1 twin bedroom with built in wardrobe, large rug, and ensuite tiled bathroom/shower with washing machine and storage.

About the location

Alise-st- Reine is a medieval village with a museum of finds from the Gallic town of Alésia and Caesar's earthworks but the contents are due to move to a new visitor centre at the actual battlefield. The statue of Vincingetorix is located at the top of the hill, which is the highest point in Burgundy, where there are wonderful views far and wide. We also have one of the best restaurants in the area (le Cheval Blanc), a boulangerie, pottery, nearby canals that are great for cyclists and walkers, many historical places to visit (e.g. Abbey de Fontenay - a World Heritage UNESCO sight) and of course we are in the heart of the wine region (Beaune - 45 mins away). Semur en Auxois is a medieval fortified town with ramparts, river Armancon, cobbled lanes and streets, shops, cafes and restaurants (20 mins. drive). Flavigny sur Ozerain is another medieval village with fortified gates and of religious and architectural heritage interest. It is also famous for its aniseed sweets, for the setting of the film "Chocolat", and its vineyard. (5 mins drive). Restaurants and shops of interest are also to be found. Dijon (the capital of Burgundy) with its twice weekly large market (Tuesdays and Fridays) and the many museums including the Musee des Beaux Arts and Ducal Palace are all worth visiting. (45 mins. drive). Beaune with its wonderful decorative and colourful roof tops, wine museum and the Hotel-Dieu gives you a wonderful day out. (45 mins drive). Cuisine of Burgundy is known for its richness, due largely to the region's heavy red wines and its possession of one of the world's finest breeds of beef cattle, the Charolais. Wines are used to make sauces  à la bourguignonne (cooked in a red wine sauce to which baby onions, mushrooms and lardoons, pieces of bacon, are added). The classic dishes cooked in this manner are boeuf bourguignon and coq au vin. Another term which frequently appears on menus is meurette, also a red wine sauce but made without mushrooms and flambéed with a touch of marc brandy. It's used with eggs, fish and poultry as well as red meat.   Snails (escargots) are hard to avoid in Burgundy which involves stewing them for several hours in the white wine of Chablis with shallots, carrots and onions, then stuffing them with a butter of garlic and parsley and finishing them off in the oven. Other specialities include the parsley-flavoured ham (jambon persillé); hams from the Morvan hills cooked in a cream saupiquet sauce; calf's head (tête de veau, or sansiot); a pauchouse of river fish (poached in white wine with onions, butter, garlic and lardons); a poussin from Bresse; a saddle of hare (rable de lièvre à la Piron); and a potée bourguignonne, or soup of vegetables cooked in the juices of long-simmered bacon and pork bits. Burgundy cheeses are the creamy white Chaource, the soft St-Florentin from the Yonne valley, the orange-skinned Époisses and the delicious goat's cheeses from the Morvan. And then there is gougère, a kind of cheesecake, best eaten warm with a glass of Chablis.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Adventure park, Ballooning, Bird Watching, Boating, Boules, Canoeing, Cycling, Drawing and painting, Fishing, Flying, Golf, Gourmet dining, Gym, Hiking, Horse riding, Mountain biking, Photography, Pottery, Rambling, Riverside activities, Rock climbing, Sailing, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Tennis, Walking, Water sports, Wind Surfing, Wine tasting, Wine touring

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

By Air
Various International and other independent airlines operate services to Paris and from here you can travel via TGV to Montbard (Burgundy). There is also a regional airport at Dijon.

By Ferry and Eurotunnel
Calais is approx 500 kilometres, 5.5 hours, from Calais to Alise by car.

By Road
Alise is located just 100km south of Paris and 80km north of Lyon and has good motorway connections with both the north and south of France via the A6 and A31 motorways. Alise is easily reached from A6 (Junction 23 – Saumur en Auxois).

By Train
The TGV to the area is excellent. From the Gare de Lyon station in Paris you can be in Montbard in just over one hour. The TGV can also be caught from Lille to Montbard.
The owners have road directions if required.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.