Imagine staying in a beautiful house with a heated swimming pool and trails leading to a vast forest from the edge of your garden, yet only being 25km from central Paris.

Maison Constance offers all of this and more, set on the edge of 2000 hectares of a magnificent forest of century-old beech, oak, birch and chestnut trees. The house itself is a wonderful place to rest with its authentic interiors featuring elegant flooring, warm furnishings and stylish traditional décor. Five welcoming bedrooms and four bathrooms allow up to 10 guests to stay in this comfortable abode.

Outside, spend warm summer days cooling off in the charming swimming pool / bassin or relaxing poolside with glorious views around you. As autumn nears, watch the colours of the parkland change and help yourself to apples and pears from the fruit trees. It’s such an idyllic setting and to top it all, trails lead from the end of the grounds into the vast and enchanting forest.

Keen hikers can walk as far as a 13th century hunting lodge next to a lake whilst horse-riding enthusiasts can explore the beauty of the forest on horse-back with an equestrian centre just a 10-minute drive away. Beyond the forest, explore the landscapes of the Parc naturel régional du Vexin, also known as the valley of the impressionists, home to the iconic Château d'Auvers and the famous wheatfields painted by Van Gogh.

Slightly closer to home is the picturesque spa-town of Enghien-les-Bains with its Belle Époque architecture and one of France’s largest casinos by its lake. If staying in the summer, a trip to L’Isle Adam is a must, not only for one of the region’s most attractive markets, but also for its riverside beach, swimming pools, beach huts and wealth of summer activities.

The city lights of Paris also await – just hop on a train from the nearby station, only 2.5km away, and soon you can be strolling by the Seine River, climbing the Eiffel Tower, queuing for falafel in Le Marais or drinking red wine on Île Saint-Louis, before returning to the peaceful surroundings of your maison on the edge of the forest.

In the Val d’Oise, Maison Constance is set in five hectares of parkland with trails leading to a stunning national forest, only half an hour from Paris CDG Airport and around 25km by car from central Paris.

You are on the edge of the forest whilst not being remote as you have the amenities of local life within a very short drive – the area is home to supermarkets, shops and restaurants less than a 5-minute drive away whilst the nearby train station takes you to Paris Gare du Nord in just 30 minutes.

Beyond your private garden and surrounding parkland, you can walk straight out to the vast forest to the north of the house including a long hike to a small historic hunting château in the heart of the woods by a picturesque lake. A horse-riding centre is within a short drive, a wonderful way to experience the beauty of the centuries-old forest, whilst there are also cycling trails across the 2000 hectares of oaks, beeches, birches, chestnut trees and Scottish pines.

Elsewhere, away from the magnificent landscapes of the forest, visit the tourist resort of Enghien-les-Bains (8km) for its healing waters and thermal spas, also known for its large casino and theatre by the lake, Belle Époque architecture and many restaurants, cafes and bars.

Further north of the forest, on the River Oise, L'Isle-Adam (15km) is a picturesque town which is especially popular in the summer months with its gardens, public swimming pools, river beach and little beach huts. Look out for river cruises, pedalo and canoe hire, mini-golf and more. The town’s market, held three mornings a week, is known to be the most beautiful of the region.

This area is also known as the valley of the impressionists with the Parc naturel régional du Vexin close by, yet again a fantastic place for hiking, biking, horse-riding and other outdoor adventures. On the edge of the natural park, Auvers-sur-Oise (15km) is a pretty village close to the summer wheat fields painted by Van Gogh, also home to the iconic Château d'Auvers and its Italian gardens.

For visitors coming to one of the exhibition centres, it is also worth noting that Parc des Expositions de Villepinte is only 34km away whilst Paris Le Bourget is 24km by car. 

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