Chateau de Villette, situated just two hours from Lyon airport and only 75 kilometres from the Burgundian gastronomy and wine hotspot Beaune, is located in the Regional Park of Morvan, close to Autun, also known as an old Roman town built for the Emporer August. Upon arrival at the Estate, travelling guns will be taken back by its charm and breathtaking facade, which overlooks the gardens and glorious greenery and parkland, providing some spectacular views.
The Chateau is a family-owned Estate run by Coen and Catherine Stork, who decided to leave their busy life behind and settle down permanently at the domain after its renovation in the early noughties. Shortly after this time, the Chateau opened for guests, and the prestigious B&B started offering its services as a base for keen hunters visiting the region.
A charming yet exciting shooting estate, it stands alone from others in the region thanks to its semi-wild birds and the fact that shooting and hunting still commence on Sundays. This little gem is an ideal destination for the avid game shooter yearning for the most challenging and most robust birds. Offering world-renowned Pheasant and Partridge shooting and some of the best Duck shooting in Europe. It’s a destination where even the Royals like to and have visited.
Just one of the many great things about the Wing Shooting at Chateau de Villette is the genuine mixed bag of game birds on offer. Depending on the time of year you visit, anytime between September to the end of December, it’s possible to shoot Semi Wild Pheasant, Partridges and Ducks and mixed bag days are achievable.
The shooting on the Estate takes place amongst its grounds, which cover over one thousand acres. As a result, the landscape is vast and varied, and out of the six or seven drives typically shot in a day, each can be different. On one drive, you might be shooting over lakes and ponds, the next you could be over woodland before finishing the day over a plot of agricultural land. This variety, combined with the multi-species element, are just some of the reason why Chateau de Villette is at the top of many travelling guns bucket lists.
As all the shooting grounds get found within the Estate, the hunting commences no more than ten minutes away, and it’s a relatively easy walk to many of the best spots.
To find out more about the mixed bag shooting in France at Chateau de Villette, visit our YouTube channel.
The day will start with a hearty breakfast in the Chateau dining room at around 8:30am, before gathering belongings and meeting in the gun room next to the Chateau for a short briefing by the host. Here, all safety procedures will be discussed, along with a brief itinerary of roughly how the day will play out and what drives will get used for shooting.
Hunters will travel to the first drive on foot, but the Chateau can arrange transport if this is too much. On a typical day, it’s common to walk 4-6 kilometres, but again, if this is too strenuous, vehicles are on hand to help. The only other hardship is carrying guns and ammunition; however, loaders are available if required.
Once on the first peg of the day, shooting commences and depending on what topography you’re shooting over; you can expect a mixed bag of Pheasant, Partridge and Duck. One other drive will get shot before ‘elevenses’ when it’s time for a drink and snack. Shooting will then recommence for another couple of drives before heading back to the Chateau for a hearty lunch around 1:00pm.
In the afternoon after lunch, another two to three drives get shot before you’ll retire back to the lodge around dinner time. Dinner gets traditionally served with pre-drinks at 8.30pm, so there’ll be plenty of time to unwind and spend some time exploring should you want to after your day in the field.
If you want to take your guns to an EU country, you will need to get a European Firearms Pass even if you’re already a GB holder of a shotgun or firearms certificate. This is because the EFP supports your existing firearms or shotgun certificate, and so it will expire on the same date. You should apply for an EFP by requesting your local firearms licensing department, there is no fee, and you should expect the process to take approximately two weeks.
Here is some information you’ll need when travelling to France with your gun but bear in mind that when travelling as laws concerning possession of firearms vary by local state, and international governments.
The glorious Chateau de Villette is a stylish private home to the Stork family and was formerly the playground of the French aristocracy. The Stork family worked hard to renovate and redecorate the Chateau between 2000-2002, and the rooms are exquisite.
Most bedrooms come with private en-suite bathrooms, beautiful period furniture, elaborate drapery and luxury beds with the finest bed linen. Each room comes with spectacular views over the parkland, terraces and the resplendent woodland.
The idyllic gardens have been re-designed by Anthony Young, an English garden architect whose main priority was to respect the view of André le Notre. Several delightful gardens and courtyards surround the Chateau, and the central courtyard is where you will enjoy breakfast in the summer.
The second courtyard lays a little lower, planted with many fruit trees and box hedges- the ideal place to sit, relax and read a book. Next to the second courtyard, you will find the inviting azure pool and its peaceful poolside area, which offers lovely views over the lake and surrounding parkland.
At Chateau de Villette, the food is something they are very passionate about and take seriously. All the dishes they serve include local ingredients typical to the region and are of the highest quality.
Local haute cuisine, combined with the finest wines from the private cellars, can be enjoyed in the candlelit formal dining room or outside on one of the several pretty terraces.
Breakfasts are full of variety and include orange juice, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and fruit juices. There are also plenty of natural and fruit yoghurts on offer, homemade jams, pastries, eggs prepared to the customer’s wishes and fresh bacon to tantalise the taste buds. On Fridays and Saturdays, they serve gastronomic dinners all prepared with local ingredients.
For the wine lovers, the chateau is close to the famous Burgundian wine villages such as Meursault, Pommard, Mercurey, Volnay, Puligny and Monrachet.
One of the great things about Chateau de Villette is the wide range of extra activities on offer for the non-hunting companion or hunter who wants a break from the shooting.
The most popular are tours to some famous places within the region, like the Moutarderie Fallot, the “Edmond Fallot” mustard factory. The Gaugry Cheese Factory, where since 1946 the Gaugry family have been producing Cheese and Veuve Ambal, a family house founded in 1898 near Beaune that has become specialists in sparkling wine.
For your convenience, the Lodge also offers free high-speed wireless access. So you can check e-mails or send bragging photos to your friends, family and fellow hunters back home.
The below itinerary is flexible should you require additional shooting days or additional free days to explore; we can tailor this itinerary to suit you personally. Feel free to talk to our travel consultants who can explain all options available.
Depart Any international Airport (See Details)
Arrive Lyon
A representative from Chateau de Villette will only greet you upon arrival to help assist you with gun clearance should you wish to bring your own. You will then make your way via hire car to the Chateau de Villette estate (2 hours). When you arrive at the estate the staff will allocate you to your room where you will have time to relax, take in the views and unwind and join in for drinks and dinner around 8:30 pm
Overnight Accommodation: Chateau de Villette (Single rooms) F/B
Rise and shine for an action-packed day ahead. Enjoy a wonderfully fresh breakfast in the Dining room at 8:30 am before gathering your personal effects and shooting equipment. You will need to meet for a briefing in the gun room next to the Chateau at the start of the day. From then you will be shooting approximately 6 drives in the day which will consist of hand-picked specials from around the grounds, giving you over 1000 acres of shooting. The first drive will be close by and you will feel the excitement of being escorted to your peg where you will have the chance to shoot an exceptionally mixed bag of a quarry.
Follow on to the next drive where Coen and his team will have yet another spectacular drive planned for you, by this time you will have really got your eye in. After two adrenaline-filled drives, it will be time to break for elevenses where you will get the chance to refuel and catch up with fellow guns. Once you have been refreshed it’s time to move on to the last two drives before lunch where again you will have the opportunity to shoot some amazing birds. Lunch will be held in the chateau at 1:00 pm where you will proceed to further enjoy yet more culinary pleasures. Two more drives follow on after a good feed where you will appreciate the abundance of a mixed quarry that Chateau de Villette has to offer and be able to test your skills over the spectacular presentation of birds.
Overnight Accommodation: Chateau de Villette (Single rooms) F/B
Your second-day shooting will be as spectacular as the first, prepare yourself for a wonderful day ahead with another delicious breakfast in the Chateau dining room at 8:30 am before collecting your personal effects and heading down to the gun room for your pre-shoot briefing by the host. The day will be very similar to that of the previous with regards to the number of drives and elevenses, however, they will plan different drives for you to shoot to keep your trip and shooting as varied and exciting as possible. Lunch will be served back at the Chateau at 1:00 pm where you will be able to catch up with other Guns and reflect on your morning’s shooting. The last drives of the day will be carefully planned so that you will achieve the desired bag and thoroughly enjoy the remainder of the day with some challenging yet fair quarry.
Overnight Accommodation: Chateau de Villette (Single rooms) F/B
Arise and prepare to leave for your return journey making sure that you are ready and packed for your transfer to the airport
Depart Lyon
Arrive Home
The season runs from 1st September to end of December.
Season: September-December
Peak: September
Season: September-December
Peak: September
Season: September-December
Peak: September
Overages are only available upon request on the day but the days objectives are to hit the agreed bag number. Overages are priced at 50 euros per bird and are to be paid after the trip via invoice.
Remember that Sportquest Holidays' services are completely FREE! When you book a trip with Sportquest Holidays, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge and flights independently.
| From | To | Duration | Price | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/09/2024 | 30/09/2024 | 4 | £6,301 | Enquire Now |
| 01/10/2024 | 31/10/2024 | 4 | £6,301 | Enquire Now |
| 01/11/2024 | 30/11/2024 | 4 | £6,301 | Enquire Now |
| 01/12/2024 | 31/12/2024 | 4 | £6,301 | Enquire Now |
| 01/09/2025 | 30/09/2025 | 4 | £6,593 | Enquire Now |
| 01/10/2025 | 31/10/2025 | 4 | £6,593 | Enquire Now |
| 01/11/2025 | 30/11/2025 | 4 | £6,593 | Enquire Now |
| 01/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 | 4 | £6,593 | Enquire Now |
Prices are based on 8 guns sharing transfers and shooting based on two 300 bird-days (unless otherwise stated) and are correct at the time of going to press. Subject to time of year or date and currency fluctuations, these prices may fluctuate slightly due to flight price increases or fuel surcharge.
What a great hunting location. To resume in one word: Sublime!
This place is a jewel in many respects...The most memorable couple of days- Thank you!!
Thank you for having created "A Boys Dream", not the film but the reality. This boy loves it too.
Your friend in spirit, John.
If your'e lucky enough to visit you will certainly have a memorable time.
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