Welcome to the tranquility of the Belgian Ardennes. Situated in the small hamlet of Wathermal in the province of Luxembourg, La Maison Charmante, our beautifully refurbished farmhouse, is the place to enjoy a quiet time of relaxation to ease your mind and soothe your soul.
Maison Charmante: The old, ivy-laden walls typify this area farmhouse, built about 150 years ago. The spacious grounds are quiet and serene with abundant berries and flowers. There is a lovely pavilion below the house as well as a functional, covered grill area. Also on the property is the original “Bakhaus” where the neighbors would gather to bake their bread and share the latest news. The oven still works well for baking bread, pizza or “flammkuchen”, an Alsace specialty. This enchanting old structure, fitted with table and chairs, is great for wine and cheese tasting, both of which are readily available. When you enter the house, you might imagine you have departed the Ardennes and are in a cozy Scandinavian cabin 2000 kilometers north of here. The previous owners built Finnish houses so they decided to do the inside of the house in typical Finnish fashion. The wood provides a cozy atmosphere that is warm in the winter and cool in the summer and very easy to maintain.
Day Trips: Three countries are within a few minutes drive. You can wake up in Belgium, shop in Germany and Luxembourg and be back home for lunch. One hour to the north is Maastricht, Holland where on Wednesdays and Fridays there is a wonderful market. Here are some approximate driving times to other popular destinations: Luxembourg City - 1 hour; Brussels - 1 1/2 hours; Trier (oldest city in Germany)- 1 1/2 hour; Bruges (Venice of the North) 2 1/2 hours; Cologne or Dusseldorf - 2 hours, Strasbourg - 3 hours; Paris - 3.5 hours; Basel - 5 hours. If you prefer to travel by train, there are excellent connections from Gouvy - 5 minutes. There are numerous Michelin rated restaurants located in the area. This area is not only beautiful but also truly a gastronomic delight.Within a short driving distance, there are several golf courses. The most popular one is in Clervaux, Luxembourg, about a 25 minute drive.
History: Our lovely area wasn’t always so peaceful. We are situated just between Malmedy and Bastogne where over 70,000 Americans gave their lives in the Battle of the Bulge. Nearby is the place where General Patton relieved the embattled 101st airborne division who were on the brink of defeat. (google patton bastogne 12/25) Patton is buried, along with 5,075 other American soldiers, about an hour south of here, in the American cemetery in the city of Luxembourg. (google luxembourg american cemetery) When you visit the monument and museum in Bastogne (google american memorial bastogne), you will come to appreciate even more the “greatest generation”. Thanks to them, we can live here and you can come for a visit.