Gîte Chez le maître André 9p.

In the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, in a hamlet of some 70 inhabitants and in the shadow of the local church, lies the old village school of Brisy. A solitary classroom and the school master's house; at its peak, 40 odd children would attend school here. However, by 1960 this number had fallen to a mere six. School master Andre was left with little choice but to close his doors. Ever since, his sizeable house has been let as a gîte. The original building dates from 1850 - renovations over the years have been careful to preserve its character. The old walls, doors, floors, fireplace and arched cellar are a throwback to a simpler time. Of course without skimping on a few modern amenities. The most recent renovation dates from 2013. School master Andre's house has five bedrooms. It borders a dead end street and occupies a 3000 m2 lot with an old garden of fruit trees, oaks and beeches. The house has a view of the horses and cows in the surrounding fields. The gite's main floor has a living room with a fireplace and authentic chimney. The adjoining dining room has a view of the rear garden. There is a second lounge in which to play a variety of board games. Wi-fi is available throughout the house. The renovated kitchen is equiped with a gas stove and oven, a sizeable fridge, a large counter, dishwasher and microwave oven. Plenty of ustensils and crockery are provided for you to cook and serve delicious meals. An extra fridge and freezer are available in the utility room. The five bedrooms are furnished with two single beds each. There are two bathrooms (three showers, four sinks, 2 toilets). A further bathroom is located downstairs. Children can play in the large garden all around the house or in the old playground near the front door. There is plenty of parking space available both on and off the premises. Bicycles can be stored in the spacious garage. In case you require extra space, you can also rent the old classroom. This extra space with a view of the garden can serve for recreational purposes, as a banquet hall or for workshops. Extra tables, chairs and crockery are provided for up to 40 people. My sister Lie will welcome you and assist whenever a problem arises during your stay. We are also available by cell phone from a distance. We speak English, Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish. Feel free to ask information for hiking or biking, local food and beer... Brisy is an idealic holiday destination, surrounded by unspoilt nature with numerous activities available for sports enthusiasts, hikers, mountain bikers, kayakers, skiers, culture buffs and gastronomists alike. Brisy, in the Gouvy municipality, is a sleepy hamlet not far from the Ourthe river in the heart of the Ardennes. A stone's throw from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it neighbours the towns of Houffalize, Vielsalm and Bastogne. Gouvy's territory encompasses eleven nature reserves with a total area of 50 hectares. Gouvy is part of Deux Ourthes National Parc that encompasses 76,000 hectares of pristine nature, spread over six municipalities. Brisy is an ideal base for folklore, festival and culture buffs. Or for those who enjoy a delicious craft beer and other culinary delights. Hiking: RAVeL L163 Gouvy-Bastogne: Cycling network and hiking route of 30 km on the old train tracks. The departure point is located at Gouvy train station. The Gouvy V.V.V. guide suggests 36 hiking routes and walks; the shortest is 3km and the longest is 14km, a total of 300km is described. Grand Randonné, GR 571, Gouvy-Lierneux 26 km Houffalize offers 350km of sign-posted walks; Treisleck Mountain biking: Gouvy has 115km of mountain bike paths with connections to the cycling networks of neighbouring municipalities. Five fully described routes are available - maps can be purchased in the V.V.V. office at Gouvy train station. 8km from Brisy, Houffalize is the international home of mountain biking: - Mountain bike Houffalize - The Mountaing Biking World Cup takes place here every year. Organizers: UCI Mountain Bike World Cup - Europe's largest mountain biking convention also takes place in Houffalize. - Houffalize Open Tour. Bicycles can be rented from Houffabike in Houffalize. Brisy is located near the trajectory of the annual cycling road race Liege-Bastogne-Liege. Cycling: Ravel Gouvy - Bastogne: tarmacced old railroad, easy 30km path. A large number of war memorials can be found in this region, including in Bastogne and Houffalize. The nearest bakery and grocery are 4 km. away, in Cherain. By car: E 25 Liège - Luxemburg, exit 51. Closest train station is Gouvy (10 km from Brisy) on the train line Liege-Luxembourg. Details of our prices: Weekend low season 194/night x 2 nights (starting Friday 4 pm) Weekend high season + 159 €/extra night, min. 3 nights Week low season: 599 € Midweek low season: 295 € (Monday 4pm - Friday 10 pm) Week high season: 949 € (Saturday 4 pm- Saturday 10 pm) Our prices do include electricity, water, gaz, taxes, WiFi. Our prices do not include : • Central heating : calculated from the meter readings • Wood (9 €/wheelbarrow) •Maintenance costs (70€) • Optional: rent classroom (100 €) • Optional: rent bedsheets (8€ pp) or bath towels (5 € pp)