Luxury holidays in Champagne-Ardenne

When to go

You only have to look at the 50-shades- of-green scenery to realise this region gets a lot of rain. Summer months are driest and warmest – any time between May and September – with July and August being peak visitor season.

Getting there

• Planes

  Brussels airport is around two hours from the Ardennes by car. That’s at least 30 minutes nearer than Paris Charles de Gaulle, with no painful Paris traffic.

• Trains

  Take the TGV from Paris Gare de l’Est to Charleville-Mézières or Sedan (each around two hours).

• Automobiles

  You’ll want some wheels to explore the area, if only to get to a carpark from which to hike the forest trails. Hire some at Brussels airport or at the train station in Charleville-Mézières.

• Taxis

  You’ve got more chance of hailing a tractor. Your best bet is to book a cab through your hotel. Sachy Taxi Olivier Philippe, aka STOP, operates out of Florenville (+33 (0)6 83 45 89 70). In Charleville-Mézières, try Allo Taxi (+33 (0)3 24 37 17 17).