Old farm (1863) on the edge of the forest, calm and nature

Character rural gîte in the Vosges promontory, at the end of a private road, in a peaceful location on the edge of the forest. Antique furniture and elements, fireplace and stove, dressed stone tiles. Large garden, terrace, playground and private forest.

LOCATION
At the end of a private road, on the edge of the municipal forest of Le Clerjus (ca500Ha), is the domain of the Bellevue castle (4Ha). The small castle was built in the early 1890s by the will of an officer of the Eastern Railways, Jacques-Édouard Choppy, no doubt seduced by the charm of the surroundings and the view. From certain places in the hamlet you can see the peaks of the Hautes Vosges, and on a clear day, the Bernese Alps, where the peak of the Jungfrau can clearly be seen. In the small castle lives a young couple of Flemish origin, with their two children. In the large, older farm, just outside the wall around the castle, they welcome travelers who, like them, want to rediscover calm, nature and the charming aspects of country life. Le Rang du Mont is located halfway on the hill between the Semouse (300m) and the Noirmont (575m). Sheltered from the wind thanks to the forest massif and exposed to the south, the climate is milder compared to the valleys and peaks. Summers in the Vôge promontory are often hotter and drier than in the Hautes Vosges, but the forest guarantees cool and peaceful nights.

IN LOW TEMPERATURES
As in the past, the stove is the main heating of the farm. For your comfort, there are three additional electric heaters. In winter or in very cold nights, it is advisable to make a good fire at least once a day to quickly obtain a correct temperature. In the event that you are absent all day or more, we will suggest that you relight the stove a few hours before your return. If you are not used to making fire, we will be glad to teach you.

INSIDE
The farm dates from 1863. The kitchen / dining room has kept its old fireplace and its traditional stone slabs. It is equipped with a gas stove with oven and hood, a refrigerator with integrated freezer, a coffee maker and a microwave oven. Behind the kitchen is the room formerly called the "stove". It is there that the mistress of the house welcomed her guests and that the family carried out, especially in winter, manual work, such as basketry or embroidery. Today, the room still has a wood stove, a sitting area, with a convertible sofa (1 adult or 2 children), a table and a desk with WiFi and wired internet access. In the same room is a large double bed, next to a water closet with sinks, toilet and shower. Those who dream of being able to travel back in time, will find on the first floor a bedroom with its original furniture, in perfect state of conservation.

GARDEN AND FOREST
Old fruit trees adorn a flower garden. The garden opens onto a meadow, where you walk step by step with a barely born stream, before plunging into a pleasant private forest. Our guests have at their disposal a very bright and fresh private forest thanks to the large beeches and oaks. The murmurs of the leaves and the stream will undoubtedly calm the flow of your thoughts. The agricultural activity of the hamlet having ceased a long time ago, nature has regained many of its rights. It is not uncommon to observe deer and deer, more rarely a fox, a wild boar or a badger, overflown by countless species of birds and butterflies, who delight in a wide choice of wild flowers , including orchids. Sometimes we are lucky to meet a salamander and glow worms. The forest begins at the end of the garden, the starting point for many possibilities for hiking, cycling or horse riding.

EXITS TO THE COUNTRY OF SOURCES AND CHERRIES
On Rang du Mont you will be surprised by the fact that a few springs up several springs, which undoubtedly explains the very presence of the building. The Clerjus is located inside the triangle formed by three thermal spas, including several sources with beneficial waters which have had a reputation since Roman times: Bains-les-Bains (10min), Plombières-les-Bains (20min) and Luxeuil-les-Bains (20min). An hour's drive away are Vittel and Contrexéville. The thermal centers offer medical cures, but also relaxing afternoons.
From the Bellevue Castle it is possible to discern the multicolored bell tower of Fougerolles. For several years Le Clerjus has officially been part of the Kirsch de Fougerolles production area and was also famous for the cherry harvest (late June-early July). In spring, the acacia flowers lend themselves to good donuts, while autumn will delight fans of porcini mushrooms, chanterelles and other more delicate species.
In the town are an organic market gardener (Les jardins Bio de Lassus) and Le Buisson fish farm, which, thanks to the exceptional purity and richness of the waters, will be able to sell you or make you fish for trout born in Clerjus. Ten minutes by car are excellent bakeries and butchers, and several retail chains.
The estate is located one kilometer from the center of the village, with a remarkable church and an old hospice with a Burgundian roof. In the town are preserved and valued by an association several ancient crosses and calvaries, which will serve as a benchmark during your walks. Going down towards the green valley of the Semouse, we meet the Chapel of the Chaudeau, an old forge from which, among other things, two castles in neo-classical style built by De Buyer remain. It is here that the Italian diplomat Cavour met the Emperor Napoleon III, making possible, through their agreement, the unification of Italy. Upstream in the valley towards Plombières is the picturesque Château de Semouse, in neo-Renaissance style.