Apartment in CHATEAU close to PARIS
Ocquerre, France

The Studio at the Chateau de la Trousse is in an 1864 chateau on a hill top estate 1/2 hour from Paris & 3 km from the train station. Exploring the chateau, the cellars, the grounds, and the neighborhood is a treat. Please make yourself at home on the terrace at sunset & enjoy the infinite view with some fresh bread, local brie, & a glass of wine within easy reach... The complex was built in the 1600's. In 1864, the chateau itself was razed and replaced by a new building. Stables, orangerie, and other 17th-century buildings are still in use. The 16-hectare (about 40 acres) grounds include beautiful old stonework and elaborate antique wrought-iron gates, a long allee of tall ancient plane trees & another of chestnut trees, other huge ancient trees & structures, ornamental pond, herb garden, rose garden, garden with espaliered fruit trees, mature orchard (enjoy the fresh fruit), small forest, greenhouse (glass house; its ornate iron roof is below), cobbled courtyards, tennis court, heated swimming pool, and other good surprises. Outdoor furniture is provided. Guests have free use of the estate and of the petit salon, stone cellars with a kitchen with fireplace and refrigerator/freezer, and coin-operated washer & dryer, and other shared areas in the chateau itself, where the studio apartment is on the 2nd floor. The chateau is never crowded--there are only a few apartments, and your neighbors are terrific. The studio is fully renovated, heated, furnished, and very comfortable, with a ceramic tile bathroom (with toilet, sink, and shower); tiled kitchenette with coffee maker, refrigerator, oven, microwave oven, hot plate; comfortable double-bed sofa with birch slats and high-end mattress that's more comfortable than my bed at home (I replaced mine with one just like it); single aerobed and foam hassock-bed so guests can sleep separately or share the double bed; two wicker chairs; antique French-oak dining table & 4 chairs; kitchen, bed, and bath linens; and everything you need for kitchen and dining except the food. The town 3 km away has great bakeries with fresh bread twice a day, butcher, etc., and also a supermarche with food, wine, cheese, maps, and great refrigerated (not frozen) dinners we've seen only in France, offered by the great French chefs. So you don't have to cook OR go out to eat well. Great local restaurants on the river or gardens serve 12-euro 3-course meals.