Feather Down - Domaine Saint-Christophe

No need to leave Feather Down - Domaine Saint-Christophe for walks, as the 220-acre estate is surrounded by unspoilt forest criss-crossed with hiking trails. Other options for getting out and active include kayaking along the River Meuse at Saint-Mihiel (five minute’ drive), and on hot sunny days, pack a picnic and head for Lac de Madine (25 minutes) for sailing, windsurf or sunbathing before taking a dip in the refreshing water. And of course the area is steeped in World War I history. Clamber up to the landmark Butte de Montsec (15 minutes), a neoclassical monument honouring the American soldiers who fought in northern France, and visit the remains of German trenches at the Tranchée de la Soif (10 minutes). See maps, weapons and uniforms displayed in the Musée du Saillant de Saint-Mihiel à Marbotte (15 minutes), and admire the vivid stained-glass windows commemorating those who died. For a change of pace, Metz (an hour) beckons with its historic old quarter, vast Gothic Cathédrale Saint-Etienne and fortified, medieval Porte des Allemands, while art lovers can indulge themselves with modern-art masterpieces at the futuristic Centre Pompidou-Metz.