Holiday home for max. 4 persons
Le Thillot, Lorraine, (Vosges Lorraine), France

Extensive property with three quiet holiday residences, in a former farmhouse in the Ballon des Vosges nature reserve


This two-hectare property with its three residential units is in the Ballon des Vosges nature reserve, on a slope at 600 metres above sea level. From here you can enjoy a wonderful all-round view of the valley and undisturbed holiday days in absolute peace and quiet, without any immediate neighbours. The site is easy to access in summer and in winter. The surroundings are ideal for nature lovers who would like to relax.

The property, which is regularly awarded a prize in the competition for the houses with the most beautiful flower arrangements, consists of two buildings. First there is the big two-storey house, the former mountain farmhouse. This house has two holiday apartments: the large apartment on the first floor facing the valley, for up to ten people, and the studio on the ground floor for up to three people. The owner’s apartment has a separate entrance on the side façade. Therefore absolute privacy for all residents is guaranteed. A few metres from the house there is the former storage shed belonging to the farmhouse, which has been converted into a rustic little mini chalet for four people. All the units provide modern comfort, with cosy and functional interiors. The TVs can receive 17 channels (TNT). Free wireless Internet access is available, but downloads are not permitted.

All three residences have their own outdoor area with a furnished terrace. Parking spaces are provided: one for the studio, one for the chalet and three for the big holiday apartment. There is spring water on site and there is a little sandy beach for children by the little stream that runs through the site. You can dine outdoors in summer. It is possible to grill or to make pizza, bread, tarts or roasts in the wood-burning oven.

In the centre of Le Thillot 3km away there are five supermarkets, many shops, doctors, a pharmacy and car garages. The nearest shop, where you can buy bread, newspapers and groceries, is 1.5km away. You can buy raw milk, cheese, eggs and poultry at the farms in the neighbourhood. Waymarked hiking trails start straight from the site, so you can go on beautiful walks. The area is also ideal for mountain bike tours or winter sports (cross-country skiing, sledging, snow shoe hikes). The famous “Voies Vertes” cycle paths are also nearby. It is a 45-minute walk along field paths to two nearby restaurants.

Rustic, cosy mini chalet with a roofed terrace

This 33m² mini chalet was completely renovated in 2004 and is a few metres from the main house. Rough white plaster and fir wood panelling give the interior a warm, rustic and cosy ambience, which is enhanced by the fireplace. Firewood is available and can either be collected in the nearby forest or taken from the stack at a supplementary charge. Otherwise the chalet is heated by electric convector heaters. A small boiler (25 litres, 2 KW) provides hot water for the sink and the shower. Fresh water comes directly from a spring. The ground floor has a cooking corner with a double sink, a small counter, a combined stove (three gas and one electric ring), an oven, grill, dishwasher, microwave, table-top fridge and a small washing machine. You can find everything else you need for cooking in the cupboards, including a pressure cooker, a coffee machine and a raclette and fondue set. The living room comprises a rustic wooden table with a fir wood bench. Facing the fireplace there is a sofa bed for two people. The TV can receive 26 channels (GB, GER, NL, ...) and there is a DVD and CD player, as well as a mini stereo system. The small bathroom has a washbasin, shower, towel radiator and hairdryer. The toilet is separate, off a little adjoining area with a cupboard. Rather steep wooden stairs lead up to the 13m² attic floor, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the surrounding nature. It has a double bed 140cm wide and two single beds 80 cm wide. Each bed has a bedside table with its own lamp. A cupboard, dresser, vacuum cleaner and air conditioning unit can be provided on request.

A 16m² projecting roof shelters the entrance and the furnished terrace, so you can sit and dine in the pleasant shade in summer. The private outdoor area belonging to the chalet measures 500m and there are no immediate neighbours. The parking space is 45 metres from the chalet.