Villa Foret

About this property

Wrapped in woodland, with a river meandering through and its very own boating pond, Villa Forêt is a rural idyll for those seeking tranquillity in a glorious region not far from the beautiful town of Chartres.

Set in ten hectares of parkland, Villa Forêt is a joy whatever time of year with its great natural beauty. Enjoy long walks through the forest, get lost in the maze, find a quiet spot by the edge of the water or head out on the rowing boat to spot fish in the large pond. Keen nature lovers can admire the flora and fauna whilst fitness enthusiasts can jog along the many trails of the vast grounds and beyond. Badminton, archery, boules and spikeball are all available to keep everyone entertained or you may just prefer to truly relax in the sunshine with outdoor furnishings scattered around during the warm summer months.

The villa itself is just as wonderful with its warm ambience. The large living and dining area is a welcoming space with its cosy sofas by the fireplace, elegant bar and dining area by the large picture-book windows. The TV lounge and billiards room add to the sense of style whilst the large kitchen is fully equipped for every occasion. The villa offers five lovely bedrooms on the first and second floors, all south-facing with king-size beds and most with an en suite bathroom, as well as other flexible spaces allowing plenty of room for up to 17 guests.

A sweet cottage next door, attached to the villa, can also be booked for larger groups with four additional bedrooms as well as a lounge and kitchen. Whether a family reunion, a holiday with friends or a once-in-a-lifetime event, up to 25 people can comfortably stay in this fantastic abode.

On the edge of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, visit timeless villages, dine in charming restaurants, boat along pretty rivers and admire the cultural heritage of the region with châteaux, abbeys and historic towns. The local town of Brou is especially delightful with its half-timbered houses, covered weekly market and picturesque setting on the River Ozanne whilst Bonneval, often referred to as ‘little Venice’, is an idyllic place to hire electric boats along the waterways.

Nogent-le-Rotrou is another fine town with its fortified castle or spend a brilliant day in the grand town of Chartres admiring its amazing cathedral, beautiful parks and riverside setting. You could even drive across to Le Mans, around an hour away, to discover yet more historic beauty in the city known for its famous 24-hr race.

Wherever you spend your time exploring, you will appreciate returning to the quiet and welcoming surroundings of Villa Forêt in its exceptional setting in the Eure-et-Loir region of central France.

40km south-west of Chartres, around an hour east of Le Mans and just ninety minutes from Paris, discover the gentle and beautiful landscapes of the Perche region with its pretty villages, fascinating heritage, increasing number of artisan shops as well as wonderful forests ready to be explored by foot, bike or horse-back.
Villa Forêt is set in 10 hectares of vast parkland featuring woodland, a tranquil pond and a small river running through the grounds. There are numerous walking, jogging or cycling trails around the estate and beyond, especially as you drive into the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche.

There is a small village 6km away with a shop, café-bar, restaurant and castle or drive a little further to the very attractive town of Brou (12km) on the River Ozanne with its lovely weekly covered market, half-timbered houses, old wash houses as well as some good restaurants and café-bars (including French whisky specialists).

Illiers-Combray (10km) is home to the nearest large supermarket and the town itself is a pleasant place to visit. The author, Marcel Proust, used to spend his holidays here and nowadays visitors can wander around the tranquil Pré-Catelan Garden or pop into to the Musée Marcel Proust in his aunt’s former home.

Spend time exploring the magnificent landscapes of the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche and visit gorgeous villages such as Nogent-le-Rotrou (27km) with its fortified château, Bellême (50km) with its surrounding oak and beech forest and the small medieval town of Mortagne-au-Perche, an hour away, famous for its boudin noir, a type of black pudding.

Driving south, Bonneval (28km) is known as the ‘Little Venice of Beauce’ with electric boat trips on the Loir River, a perfect way to admire the picturesque scenery in this historic village. Look out for canoe and kayak rental just outside the village centre.

Chartres (40km) is another fine day out, a town especially well-known for its mighty gothic cathedral, now a unesco World Heritage site. On the banks of the River Eure, it’s such a pretty place for wandering around, perusing its many shops and finding characterful restaurants for something to eat. If visiting on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, pick up some delicious food from the market at Place Billiards, then take a picnic in one of the parks and hire pedalos along the river. Festivities and events take place across the year including Chartres en Lumière from around April to late September when the town is magically lit up in the evening.

Finally, the world-famous racing event takes place every year in Le Mans (90km), a city which should also be admired for its historic character and beauty. Taking around an hour by car, potter around its cobbled lanes, passing 15th century houses and coming across excellent restaurants or atmospheric cafes.

If arriving by train, departures from Paris Montparnasse take approximately one hour to Chartres on the fastest service with further connections to various stations including Illiers-Combray, just 10km away.

Accommodation

1)    Main Villa Only (17-person price)
2)    Main Villa and Cottage (25-person price)

Main Villa Interiors (550m2)

Ground Floor

-    Main entrance and hallway
-    Living-dining area with sofas, fireplace, dining table and bar
-    TV lounge
-    Billiards room
-    Kitchen, fully-equipped including oven, fridge-freezer with ice-machine, wine fridges, kettle, electric coffee machine, Nespresso machine and a table with four chairs
-    Laundry room
-    WC
-    Shower room

First Floor

-    Bedroom One (30m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm), sofa-bed (160x200cm), dressing area and bathroom with bath, shower and WC. Doors lead to sun terrace (50m2)
-    Bedroom Two (18m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm). Shares bathroom with Bedroom One
-    Bedroom Three (25m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm), single bed (90x200cm), dressing area and bathroom with shower, bath and WC
-    Bedroom Four (28m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm), sofa-bed (160x200cm), dressing area and bathroom with shower, bath and WC
-    Office (17m2) with desk. 1 to 2 single beds (90x200cm) can be added on request

Second Floor

-    Bedroom Five (18m2) with king-size double bed (180x200cm), single bed (90x200cm) and bathroom with shower and WC
-    Open-plan recreational loft area (15m2) with three single beds (90x200cm)

Cottage Interiors (140m2)

Ground Floor

-    Living room
-    Kitchen
-    Bedroom Six (13m2) with twin beds (90x200cm each)
-    Bathroom
-    WC

First Floor

-    Bedroom Seven (11m2) with twin beds (90x200cm each) and shared wardrobe space in hallway
-    Bedroom Eight (11m2) with twin beds (90x200cm each) and shared wardrobe space in hallway
-    Shower room and WC (shared between above two bedrooms)
-    Bedroom Nine (11m2) with twin beds (90x200cm each) and private wardrobe space in hallway. Shower room and WC

Other parts of the main villa and cottage are closed off to guests

Outside Grounds
-    Heated pool (7.5m x 3.3m, depth: 1.1-1.5m) with electric roll shutter
-    Vast grounds with garden and woodland (10 hectares)
-    Outdoor furnishings (in season)
-    Barbecue
-    Boules pitch
-    Badminton
-    Archery (on request)
-    Fishing kits (on request)
-    Garden maze
-    Large pond (with boat)
-    River crossing through the grounds
-    On-site parking

Facilities

-    Wi-Fi
-    Heating
-    Fireplaces
-    Smart TV
-    Home cinema
-    Bar including Nespresso machine and kettle
-    Billiards table
-    Table tennis
-    Boules
-    Spike ball
-    Badminton
-    Archery (on request)
-    Fishing (on request)
-    Boat
-    Washing machine and dryer