Domaine Villa Bayard

Villa Bayard is situated in a wonderfully rural setting, just a stone’s throw from Maastricht, Liège and Tongeren. The five spacious guest rooms are all on the ground floor and line an imposing, monastery-like corridor. The ceilings are high and the atmosphere is fairytale-like. Each room has a luxurious en-suite bathroom and a separate toilet. In the morning, the long breakfast table is laid with freshly baked bread, croissants and pistolets, butter, local cheeses, ham, homemade jams and a delicious fried or boiled egg from the neighbouring chickens. Food, drink and cooking are a real passion in this house. That’s why, if you wish, you can join us for a wholesome and fresh dinner, where seasonal produce takes centre stage. Groups of four or more can also book a cookery workshop with your hostess, Hilde. In winter, the wood-burning stove is alight indoors, and on summer days, the beautiful inner courtyard is available for guests to enjoy.

Since 2017, a great deal of hard work has also gone into establishing our own vineyard, with the planting of 3,800 vines. These were planted directly behind the villa on the south-facing slope, where the soil is rich in the well-known marlstone. This marlstone is responsible for the fantastic terroir of the wines that you can now enjoy to your heart’s content here.

Eben-Emael (Maastricht), Liège-Ardennes

Maastricht city centre is just three kilometres away, and Liège, Tongeren, Visé and Kanne are also very close by. You can enjoy unspoilt nature in the immediate vicinity. For example, you can go on wonderful walks, cycle rides or horse rides around St Pietersberg or along the River Jeker. There is also something for everyone in terms of culture and history. Maastricht has a number of interesting museums (including the Bonnefanten Museum), whilst Liège is home to the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The Eben-Emael Fortress serves as a reminder of the Second World War. The 18-hole golf course ‘Het Rijk van Margraten’ is about a 10-kilometre drive away.

History

On a sunny day in September 2008, Roel and Hilde set foot in Villa Bayard for the first time; a stately mansion in the Walloon border village of Eben-Emael. Since the mid-19th century, the villa had been the residence of the noble Melotte family of Liège. Although time had clearly stood still there, Roel and Hilde fell head over heels for this magnificent house with its unique atmosphere, rich history and beautiful authentic features. Over the following two years, they set about renovating it with boundless energy and endless love. The villa, the outbuildings and the estate were given a new lease of life. The soul of the estate remained very much alive.