I know I’ve said it before, and I’m going to repeat myself, but sometimes you don’t need to travel far to get a change of scenery. Since I was invited by the site Thalasseo.com to discover the Château Villiers Le Mahieu and its spa, I took the opportunity to do some sightseeing in the Yvelines department, where the château is located.
We hit the road that first weekend of June—the only one in a long time with sunshine, that’s how lucky we were! We spent 2 days of rest and relaxation at the Château Villiers Le Mahieu, which is a haven of peace located just a 35-minute drive from Paris!
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The Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu
We were truly treated like royalty at the Château de Villiers le Mahieu. Someone even came to pick us up at our car in a small electric vehicle to take us and our luggage to our room. I love the château lifestyle! The setting is truly idyllic and perfect for relaxing.
First, we took a little tour of the grounds in the magnificent park, which offers a great number of activities: outdoor pool, tennis courts, ping-pong table, golf course, rowboats… All these activities are available free of charge for château guests, which is worth mentioning. We then prepared to go test the Ultimate Spa, for which the château is extremely well-known throughout the region. The spa consists of several areas: a main pool with whirlpools and water jets, an area with a hammam and sauna, an indoor and outdoor lounge area (in the sun, what a joy!), a tropical shower, and a treatment zone.
The little extra: a self-service tea and herbal tea bar from the Dammann brand, high class, with quality products.
The next morning, we had a moment of pure joy while having breakfast (which could have passed for brunch given the quantity and variety of the buffet) on the restaurant terrace, in the sun, facing nature. It’s these simple little moments that we appreciate and that boost our mood. To end our stay perfectly, we took a small boat trip in the château’s moat; it was a bit of an adventure because those things aren’t that easy to maneuver, but we made it out alive!
In conclusion, the Château Villiers le Mahieu is the ideal place for a short relaxing weekend less than an hour from Paris. A change of scenery is guaranteed and the hotel staff is truly attentive to guests; you feel pampered and privileged. I recommend it for a romantic weekend with your significant other or with girlfriends to take care of yourself and reconnect with your friends away from the Parisian hustle and bustle. And you, when is your next little relaxation weekend planned?
Rue du Ctre, 78770 Villiers-le-Mahieu
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Things to do around the château in the Yvelines
As usual, here is an idea for a visit to make on the way from Paris to the Château de Villiers-le-Mahieu. If you want other ideas for activities to do in the Yvelines, don’t hesitate to take a look at my other articles on this Île-de-France department.
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Visit the National Museum of Port-Royal des Champs
The first stop on our little trip: the National Museum of Port-Royal des Champs. I can boast about knowing almost all the French national museums, and yet this one, not that far from where I live, was completely unknown to me! The Port-Royal des Champs site is located in the commune of Magny-les-Hameaux and on the slopes of the Vallée de Chevreuse. It is a vast forested estate that contains the site of the ruins of the Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs and a national museum, consisting of a park, the museum itself, and an old farmhouse. These two sites are crossed by the Chemin Jean Racine which runs along the surrounding walls. It is a beautiful place to visit on sunny days, and the park even has a small picnic area under the trees.
The ruins of the Abbey of Port-Royal des Champs are accessible free of charge. In fact, the foundations of the abbey church were unearthed after the Revolution by the Duke of Luynes. You can also see a small neo-Gothic oratory there, added at the end of the 19th century to the site of the apse, to house the first museum.
National Museum of Port-Royal des Champs
Les Granges de Port-Royal, 78114 Magny-les-Hameaux
The Good Tip: the museum is free for those under 25, the unemployed, teachers in active service, certain categories of students, people with disabilities holding a Cotorep card (upon presentation of proof), and for everyone on the 1st Sunday of each month
Photo credits: Mademoiselle Bon Plan Photos are not royalty-free; photographer's authorization required before any use
