Château de Courcelles

The 17th-century chateau sits on 40 acres of parkland by the Vesles River and houses 18 guestrooms, each uniquely decorated with gorgeous antiques and period-style furnishings.

• The chateau’s original orangerie has been converted into spacious suites, some of which have private outdoor terraces.
• Courcelles-sur-Vesle is where Napoleon I first met Marie-Louise, who would become his second wife and the Empress of France from 1810–1814
• The (seasonal) heated outdoor pool and traditional hedge maze are fun for the whole family.

About a half-hour drive from Reims, the Chateau de Courcelles is a grand old house in a sleepy little town. Steeped in history, the chateau has welcomed such illustrious guests as Racine, La Fontaine and Jean Cocteau. More recently, Christian Dior hosted lavish parties in the grand salons in the late 1940s. Today there are 18 guest rooms (four of which are suites) each decorated with plush upholsteries, patterned wallpapers and antique furniture. Accommodations in the main house overlook the beautiful park, which features a heated outdoor pool, a tree-lined canal, tennis courts and French-style garden complete with a hedge maze. More spacious, but without such great views, the suites are housed in two smaller buildings that once served as the chateau’s greenhouse.

In addition to the lovely grounds, the public indoor areas are a highlight of the chateau. Guests can enjoy a cocktail in the grand library or the more intimate boudoir (which is decorated with blue and white porcelain inspired by the tableware at Versailles) before tucking in to Julien Thomasson’s traditional French cuisine. Depending on the time of year, the number of diners and the chef’s mood, dinner is served in one of three gorgeous dining rooms that range from an oak-paneled salon with gilt mirrors and crystal chandeliers to an airy, tile-floored conservatory surrounded by greenery.

Those who want to escape beyond Reims will appreciate Les Courcelles’s secluded pastoral setting (which can accommodate helicopter landings). Children will enjoy the heated swimming pool (open only in the spring and summer) and finding their way out of the garden’s traditional Charmilles maze. While the chateau is luxurious and the food is excellent, the service (staff and internet) are not as top notch as at Domaine Les Crayères.