The place was perfect as a getaway to relax yet close to the WWI monuments. Boult-aux-Bois is a quiet friendly village with one Main Street. There is a Parcours Artistique with interesting wares including a basketmaker. There is also an artisan baker with amazing loaves of bread available on Friday if ordered through host by Thursday. A friendly restaurant is within walking distance and has a great apple pie. As a runner, every path out of town is uphill, though worth the effort for the spacious views running to the next towns and back. Your reward is that every run home is downhill. The hosts were wonderful and made us feel welcomed and cared for. The goodbye after our 19 days was sad, though we will be back. The gite has a kitchen with modern appliances. Cooking on the induction stove was a breeze. A big criteria for us was whether my husband could get around (he uses a cane or walker.) It was easy for him to enter the gite from the front and move around the large sitting room, kitchen, and bathroom. The large main bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor meant he did not have to navigate the stairs. Upstairs are two large bedroom with lots of room and light. There is a three person jacuzzi though we did not use it because of husband’s mobility issues. We also did not use the large back patio because it was cold when we stayed in November. It has a lovely view over a meadow and part of the village. We enjoyed the view from the kitchen table through large windows. A plus for our long term stay was access to the washer and dryer. As WWI historians, we were within 1/2 hour of the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery, Montfaucon, Sommepy, and Sechault. Besides the delightful hosts, we met the town’s unofficial historian, the mayor, who like the host, spoke English. We also met a few villagers who stopped to chat as we were walking in town taking photos. We’re not sure what they said because we don’t speak French, though the exchanges were very friendly. Overall, the gite and the village were wonderful, welcoming, and made us feel like we were home.
