Published by Lyn on 2 September 2019
Becky Allen and Mark Goodson stayed at Le Chapitre Guesthouse in Langres on the Meuse River cycle route.
Le Chapitre Guesthouse
1 rue de la Crémaillère, 52200 Langres
Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardennes (Grand Est)
Book online
We enjoyed this small and elegant B&B in the heart of Langres. We stayed here as we made our way along the Meuse Cycle Route.
5 things we liked about this B&B
1. Hosts
This small B&B in the centre of Langres is a family-run affair. Régine, Etienne and their dog – a Basset Artésien Normand – greeted us with a wagging tail (the hound) and bottles of cold water. The water was particularly welcome after pedalling – and finally pushing – our loaded bikes up the steep hill between the station and Langres. The following morning we were packed off with a picnic.
2. Building
Staying in French B&Bs is always a treat because they often afford an opportunity to look round elegant old private houses. Le Chapitre is one of these. Built in the 17th century, the living space surrounds a lovely little courtyard with neatly trimmed box hedges, and there’s a pretty walled garden and conservatory/breakfast room behind the house. Our room was spacious, airy and a haven of calm.
3. Town
Langres is stunning small town. Everything is walkable and encircled by ramparts dotted with artillery towers and punctured by fortified gates. Within the walls, the town majors on its Renaissance architecture (the Renaissance House is well worth a visit), its cathedral and there’s a small art gallery and a museum dedicated to Langres’ most famous son – Denis Diderot, father of the encylopedia.
4. Location
Le Chapitre is a couple of minutes by foot from the cathedral and the main street. The city walls make for a wonderful 3.5k walk – or ride – and after the steep ascent the night before, beginning with a good downhill gets a day in the saddle off to a flying start.
5. Bike parking
Langres is a heavily fortified town and our bikes enjoyed similar protection, locked undercover in the wood shed inside the gated courtyard. It poured with rain all night – the worst weather we had along the Meuse – so we were grateful for dry saddles the following morning.
This was a great base from which to explore the area. In addition to the Meuse river route, there are lots of other routes in the area – see here, here and here.
Le Chapitre Guesthouse
1 rue de la Crémaillère, 52200 Langres
Haute-Marne, Champagne-Ardennes (Grand Est)
Book online