Fodor's Expert Review Château de Courcelles

Loaded with charm, this refined château by the Vesles River has a Louis XIV facade, and the classic exterior somehow harmonizes nicely with the sweeping brass main staircase attributed to Jean Cocteau. Guest rooms inside the château range from smallish to generously proportioned, while the former outbuildings have been converted into large family-size suites. Wind down in the bar before enjoying excellent fare (including seasonal game) served in the stately, 18th-century-style dining room. A formal garden and outdoor pool are the gateway to 40 acres of parkland and a tree-shaded canal.