WHAT'S TO DO

For the children
We now have swings and a fort with ropes to climb and a zip wire . Other bits and pieces that might be interesting to children are the sand pit, the paddling pool(s), the goal posts and the boules court. There are a number of bicycles to use with one for even the smallest legs. Eventually we hope to have a small managerie of ponies, sheep, rabbits, chickens and goats, (the first two on the list are already in place) . I'm pushing hard for a donkey! A stray dog called Laddie (or Nou nou which means Teddy Bear) seems to have become a permanent feature here too .
For those wet days or early evenings in we have a selection of toys, books, games and videos . There's a swimming pool and tennis courts in the local town. Children may also enjoy the tourist train, which starts its journey about 5 miles away. (This runs in the summer and only on Sundays). The village at the end of the line has a go-cart track, some cafes and a fishing lake. In the summer at St Menehold a pedalo can be hired so that you can explore the waterway that circumnavigates the whole of the town. With an early start, Euro Disney in the west and Nigloland in the south can be reached and are a definite high spot for the children. Less than a couple of hours to the east is a large zoo. (A recent conversation with some French neighbours who have a young family, revealed that Eurodisney, Nigloland and the Zoo are indeed accessible for a day visit).

The next village has a lovely toddler sized stream with a picnic area, climbing frames and shade. The patisserie (bun shop) is in the village and you can get a baguette and some meats /paté from the local the local shops too.

Children can get close to the wild animals of the area by being taken on a visit to a wildlife park which is to the north of Charleville - Mezièrs . It's free to get in and if you take some bread you can feed the deer. Fortunately, it is a little more difficult to get close to the wild boar. In the town itself is a brand new leisure pool which we're told is well worth a visit.
Over the Christmas period one of our local villages boast one of the most beautifully decorated settlements we have seen. Incidentally, Father Christmas can reach La Rosière just as easily as he can get to your house .

For the lovers of tranquility and nature, (and the romantics!)
Seasons of ever changing moods. Whatever the time of year you visit the Champagne - Ardennes you will be welcomed by colours, smells, sights and moods that will have your senses reeling . Without even leaving your log cabin you can relax with a drink of local champagne as you look out over woodland and meadows. In the evenings a gentle walk in the last light of day will raise the possibility of seeing wild boar, deer, martins or badger. For those with a particular interest in bird watching we can offer a variety of habitats, including coniferous and deciduous forest, wetland, lakes, moorland and farmland. As well as the usual variety of garden birds we have seen, (and heard), there are at least 3 types of buzzard, numerous types of owls, storks and at certain times of the year the Red Backed Shrike nests in our hedge. One of our ornithologist visitors informed us that the 'squeaking gate' sound in the evenings was a long eared owl. We also have our suspicions that there are Golden Oriele in the vicinity - again heard but never seen! Recent serious ornithologists recorded over 100 species of birds in our area.

For the cyclists and walkers
We have produced laminated maps for cyclist and walkers that have at their centre 'la Rosière'. No need to put your bikes on the car, although that does give you the opportunity to go further afield and cycle through the vineyards to the south of Reims or explore some of the sites of the First World War . You may want to walk or cycle some of the gentler routes along the towpaths of the canals in the region or head for the beautiful deciduous hilltops . Our local maps guide you through pretty wooded areas and farmland for which this area is so famous. The routes are of varying length and difficulty. The one closest to our own hearts is that which takes you along the valley sides of our nearest river, (River Aisne) when after not too much effort, you arrive at a small café. Here in typical French style you eat a four-course meal with wine and coffee for just £6.50. Needless to say, the journey home is somewhat slower .
If you don't want the hassle of bringing your own bikes, we have a selection you may borrow at no extra charge .

For dog owners
With pet passports now available many overseas tourists can bring their dogs with them. We welcome these temporary additions to our managerie . If the weather is too hot for the dogs to be comfortable in the car when you go out then we will keep an eye on them for you throughout the day. In order that other visitors may not be inconvenienced and to keep the peace amongst our own animals, we ask that you keep your dog on a lead whilst in the grounds of La Rosière and clear up any small mishaps that might happen!

For those who prefer to travel by two wheels rather than four
Graeme, a keen but ageing motorcyclist, has suffered like most of his kind, from misplaced prejudice. We aim to resolve this problem for those of you who love the kind of freedom that can only be brought about by travelling on a motorbike . The countryside with its winding roads and gentle gradients lends itself to your sort of tourism. Full throttle is not recommended as that destroys the peace and quiet that most of us come here for and this being a farming region you never quite know what's round the next corner!

If you need a retail therapy fix
Our nearest towns are Vouziers and St Ménèhold both lying only 15kms (10 miles) away. La Rosière also boasts easy access to such places as Charleville-Mezier, Sedan, Verdun, Reims, Chalons sur Marne, Bar-le-Duc and Epernay. With a little more effort Troyes, Metz and Luxembourg can be the centre of a great day out . If the thought of tasting champagne at the cellars of such famous houses as Moet & Chandon and Mercier tempts you then look no further than this the Champagne region of France.

For those with a love for horses
Just 20 minutes drive away is the pretty village of Buzancy. Here you can visit the Ardennes stud and also take advantage of the riding school that lies opposite.
This region of France is just begging to be explored on horseback. It also gives you a much better opportunity to view wildlife. If you aren't too happy about being astride a horse (very sensible too), then take a carriage ride. For a more immediate rapport with a horse you are more than welcome to fraternise with our two woolly beasties who live at La Rosière .

For those interested in World War 1
Look no further! Within 10 metres of your log cabin there are 2 bunkers, a blockhouse and a First World War German aviators' grave. The woods around us are literally teeming with bunkers, many of which are in perfect condition. Within 50 kilometres there must be at least 30 wartime sites and any number of monuments . The station in the hamlet was used by the Germans in WW1 to bring in casualties from the front line (the Hindenberg Line) and this formed the centre of a large military camp. The underground defences at Verdun are open to the public and make for a fascinating visit. There is much more to say on this very sad though interesting theme. Graeme can provide you with information, routes and advice to help you make the most of your visit. (The list of ' places to visit and things to do' gives you a greater insight into what WWI sites are near to us) .

For the house hunters (you've seen it on tele, now try the real thing!)
If you have long held a love of France and have nurtured a dream of owning a place of your very own here, then we can help! This part of France is very easily accessed from all parts of Europe. We chose to buy our house in this location because it meant we could take the overnight ferry from either Hull or Newcastle and reach La Rosière in 4 to 6 hours, depending on whether we landed in Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) or Zeebrugge (Belgium). No long drives down to the south of England for us and equally no long drives on the other side of the water. This meant we were able to fit in quite a number of visits per year to our 'maison secondaire' because we spent so little time getting there. One memorable visit saw Graeme travelling from Ijmuiden by motorbike, whilst I bottled out and flew into Paris, (from Newcastle) and then took the train.
There are very few 'Brits' over here, whilst the Dutch seem very keen (and speak excellent English). We are somewhat of a novelty and that feels quite nice! Cheap properties can still be found, probably because the British estate agents haven't really cottoned on to this area.
Should you want to hear about our intrepid adventure and change of life-style we are only too happy to chat to you over a glass of wine/champagne.