Nothing Tastes as Sweet

Nestled away in the peaceful village of Mesbrecourt-Richecourt, there are parts of this address that date back to 1670. There are other aspects, however, that are no more than a few years old thanks to a recent renovation. Together, this heritage and modernity combine to make for a home that's full of character.

One thing that's immediately noticeable is the bountiful amount of natural light the interior enjoys from the tall windows and glass doors, and this asset is put to especially good use in the stark white kitchen and dining room. In the neighbouring lounge, there's a loft-like feel to the design thanks to the exposed brickwork and metal staircase sourced from an old sugar factory.

We've done very well to get this far without mentioning the wonderful outdoor space here. On summer afternoons, there's plenty of seating out in the garden and games equipment to make the most of the heat, while the south-west-facing perspective means that it's a prime spot for catching the sunset, too.

In the local village, there's a shop and cafe that are reachable on foot, as well as walking and cycling routes through the north French countryside to embark upon. A little further afield, the medieval city of Laon is only 24km away and has more than enough historic architecture to appeal to history buffs.

Home truths:
*Your host can provide a cot and high chair for free upon request
*The home is spread over two floors and both of the bedrooms are on the upper level
*There's parking available in the courtyard for two to three cars
*The owners live next door and access to the home is reached via their garden
*The maximum guest capacity is four adults and two small children (one of which can sleep on the pull-out armchair bed in the master bedroom)