Stay 
Church of Saint-Rémi
approx. 800 m
The town’s parish church, originally Romanesque, was rebuilt in the Gothic style and reached its present form in the 16th century.
Photo: Havang(nl), CC0
Domaine du Pré Dieu: a night in a riverside château in Crécy-sur-Serre
The Domaine du Pré Dieu stands in Crécy-sur-Serre, a small town on the river Serre in the Aisne, about 14 km north of Laon. Expedia lists it as a château on the water’s edge, with a garden, an indoor pool, a sauna and a full-service wellness centre. Little is published about the building’s own history, so this guide sets the stay against the story of Crécy-sur-Serre and the sights around Laon.
At a glance
- Location
- Crécy-sur-Serre, Aisne department (Hauts-de-France), on the river Serre, about 14 km north of Laon as the crow flies
- Accommodation
- Château-style property on the water’s edge, listed on Expedia as “Au domaine du Pré Dieu” in a rural setting
- Highlights
- Indoor pool, sauna, full-service wellness centre, garden, free bicycle hire, free Wi-Fi (over 250 Mbit/s)
- Guest rating
- 10.0/10 from 3 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
- Check-in & check-out
- Check-in 6–8 pm only (no check-in outside these hours) · check-out by 11 am
- Good to know
- No pets · only motorbike parking on site (free parking nearby) · no lift · breakfast made to order at extra cost
Staying at the Domaine du Pré Dieu: a riverside château with its own spa
Expedia describes the Domaine du Pré Dieu as a château standing directly on the water in the countryside of the Aisne, with a garden and sun loungers by the pool. Guests can use an indoor pool (open from 10 am to 7.30 pm), a sauna and a full-service wellness centre that is open every day. In-room massages and mud baths are also listed, along with romance and proposal packages and a champagne service.
The rooms are soundproofed and, according to the listing, offer a choice of pillows, memory-foam mattresses, blackout curtains, a hairdryer, towels and toiletries, plus free Wi-Fi at more than 250 Mbit/s. Free bicycle hire, walking and cycling routes and a washing machine with detergent round off the practical side.
A breakfast prepared to order is served daily from 9 to 10 am at extra cost. Check-in is possible only between 6 and 8 pm, and the building has no lift. The guide could not confirm how many rooms the domaine has or how they are laid out, so check the listing for the room types available on your dates.
Photos of Domaine du Pré Dieu
Crécy-sur-Serre and the history around the Domaine du Pré Dieu
- 1132 – The village is first recorded under the name Crissi; a cartulary of Foigny Abbey names it again in 1184.
- 12th century – The belfry known as the Tour de Crécy is mentioned in records from this period.
- 16th century – After the Wars of Religion ruined the old tower, it is rebuilt in brick as an octagonal belfry with an open lantern and a clock. The Romanesque church of Saint-Rémi, rebuilt in the Gothic style, reaches its present form.
- 18th century – Cassini’s map shows a market town on the right bank of the Serre, with stone bridges, a working water mill and a staging post for horses. The town hall façade dates from this century.
- 1878–1959 – A local railway line serves the town, carrying passengers, sugar beet and limestone.
- 1921 and 1928 – The belfry (1921) and the town hall façade (1928) are listed as historic monuments.
- 19 May 1940 – Colonel Charles de Gaulle’s 4th Armoured Division clashes with the German 10th Panzer Division at Crécy in an attempt to take the bridges over the Serre.
The sources consulted do not document the history of the Domaine du Pré Dieu itself, and Wikipedia has no article on it, so this page does not attribute a date or a builder to the house. What the surroundings offer is plenty of character: a brick belfry, a church rebuilt in the Gothic style and an 18th-century town hall façade, all within a short walk.
The water is part of the story too. The Serre is 96 km long and flows into the Oise; the Souche joins it within the commune, and a water mill that still stands appears on the 18th-century Cassini map.
Facilities and services at the Domaine du Pré Dieu
The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); they may vary from room to room.
Wellness & leisure
- Indoor pool (open 10 am to 7.30 pm)
- Sun loungers by the pool
- Sauna
- Full-service wellness centre, open daily
- Mud bath and in-room massages
- Free bicycle hire
- Walking and cycling routes
Rooms
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (over 250 Mbit/s)
- Soundproofed rooms
- Choice of pillows and memory-foam mattress
- Blackout curtains
- Hairdryer, soap, shampoo and towels
- Tiled floors
Food & drink
- Breakfast made to order, daily 9–10 am (extra cost)
- Champagne service
- Restaurant guide for the area
Services
- Garden by the river
- Washing machine and detergent
- Travel guides
- Romance and proposal packages
- Highchair
- Motorbike parking on site, free parking nearby
- No lift
Where the Domaine du Pré Dieu is: on the Serre, north of Laon
The domaine lies on the edge of Crécy-sur-Serre, a town of about 1,500 inhabitants on the river Serre, some 14 km north of Laon as the crow flies. According to Expedia, Dercy-Froidmont station is about eight minutes away by car and several places to eat are a 5 to 17-minute walk, so a car or taxi is the easiest way to arrive.
Expedia lists Laon Cathedral, two museums in Laon (the early medieval museum and the Museum of Art and Archaeology of the Pays de Laon), the Familistère de Guise, a willow maze, Aqua Mundo at the Lac de l’Ailette, Vauclair Abbey and a butterfly museum among the sights of the area.
Laon, on its hilltop, is the obvious day out. Guise, Vauclair Abbey and Saint-Quentin make good half-day trips, and the town itself rewards a stroll to the belfry and the church.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Distances (as the crow flies from the Domaine du Pré Dieu)
| Tour de Crécy (belfry) | approx. 500 m |
| Church of Saint-Rémi | approx. 800 m |
| Château de Chalandry | approx. 2.5 km |
| Marle | approx. 12 km |
| Laon Cathedral | approx. 14 km |
| Guise | approx. 23 km |
| Vauclair Abbey | approx. 27 km |
| Basilica of Saint-Quentin | approx. 30 km |
| Soissons | approx. 41 km |
Distances calculated as the crow flies; driving and walking times are taken from the Expedia listing.
Things to see around the Domaine du Pré Dieu
Château de Chalandry
approx. 2.5 km
A former fortified manor house, rebuilt in the 16th century. Only its corner turret is listed as a historic monument (1927).
Photo: Enrevseluj, CC BY-SA 4.0
Laon and its cathedral
approx. 14 km
A hilltop town with the largest protected heritage district in France (370 ha). Its cathedral is one of the first major Gothic buildings in the country.
Photo: Pline, CC BY-SA 3.0
Guise and the Familistère
approx. 24 km
The town is known for the Familistère, housing and a cooperative community built by the industrialist Jean-Baptiste André Godin for his workers. A museum since 2010.
Photo: Unknown author, public domain
Vauclair Abbey
approx. 27 km
Ruins of a Cistercian abbey founded in 1134 by Bernard of Clairvaux in the Ailette valley, largely destroyed in 1917 and listed since 1970.
Photo: Nonidentifie, public domain
Basilica of Saint-Quentin
approx. 30 km
A Gothic collegiate church built from the 12th to the 15th century, still with the porch tower of its Carolingian predecessor. Its organ case was a gift of Louis XIV (1694).
Photo: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0
Tours & activities near Domaine du Pré Dieu
Experiences in the region that you can book online with Viator:
Champagne Lamiable: Traditional Tour & Tasting
Discover a typical cellar dug by hand in the Champagne chawlky soil. Taste 3 Grand Cru Champagnes. Looking for an interactive experience with a …
View details ›
Champagne Tasting Class and Lunch near Epernay
Be welcomed in Mareuil-sur-Ay at a typical Champagne House (Le Clos Corbier). After a Champagne quizz, train your nose to identify the different …
View details ›
The Connoisseurs from Epernay (Private Half day Champagne Tour)
Near Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, discovery of the "Côte des Blancs" Grand Cru and the famous village and vineyard of Hautvillers in …
View details ›
Entrance ticket to Pressoria in the heart of Champagne with Tasting
This immersive, fun and interactive experience is made for all audiences. Neophytes and amateurs alike will discover or rediscover wine-making …
View details ›
The Must-sees 3h30 from Epernay (Private Half day Champagne Tour)
Near Epernay, Capital of the Champagne vineyard, discover the most famous Grand Cru/Premier Cru vineyards and villages of the historic hillsides of …
View details ›
Luxury Champagne Tour(All Included): 2 Famous Houses & Restaurant
An Exclusive Journey of Elegance and Prestige: Explore Champagne's Most Famous and Distinguished Houses with private Mercedes car and guide/chauffeur …
View details ›
Afternoon Champagne visit & tasting class near Epernay
Be welcomed at 4:00pm in Mareuil-sur-Ay at a typical Champagne House in the middle of Champagne vineyards (Le Clos Corbier). During the visit to the …
View details ›
Private Champagne tour, family growers and lunch
Enjoy a private day experience in the Champagne region with a local guide. Meet your guide at the location of your choice in the Champagne region …
View details ›Some descriptions are machine-translated.
Who is the Domaine du Pré Dieu for?
Couples
Romance and proposal packages, a champagne service and a quiet riverside setting make it a natural choice for a weekend for two.
Wellness seekers
An indoor pool, a sauna, a full-service wellness centre and in-room massages are all listed.
Cyclists and walkers
Free bicycle hire and signposted walking and cycling routes start from the door of the domaine, according to Expedia.
Heritage fans
Laon Cathedral, the Familistère de Guise and Vauclair Abbey are all within about 27 km.
Good to know before booking the Domaine du Pré Dieu
- Check-in is possible only between 6 and 8 pm; check-in outside these hours is not available. Check-out is by 11 am.
- Pets are not allowed.
- On-site parking is for motorbikes only; free parking is available nearby and in the street.
- There is no lift.
- The indoor pool can be used from 10 am to 7.30 pm; breakfast, made to order, is served from 9 to 10 am at extra cost.
- The domaine is listed as a château, but the details of the rooms vary: check the listing for the room types on offer.
Find available dates at Domaine du Pré Dieu
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at the Domaine du Pré Dieu?
Yes. It can be booked on Expedia as “Au domaine du Pré Dieu”, which describes it as a château on the water’s edge in Crécy-sur-Serre.
Is there a swimming pool?
Yes, an indoor pool that can be used from 10 am to 7.30 pm. A sauna and a full-service wellness centre are listed as well.
Are pets allowed?
No. According to Expedia, pets are not allowed.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is between 6 and 8 pm, and it is not possible outside these hours. Check-out is at 11 am.
Where can you park?
On site there are only motorbike spaces. Expedia notes free parking nearby, including in the street.
What is there to see near the Domaine du Pré Dieu?
Laon and its cathedral are about 14 km away, Guise and the Familistère about 23 km, Vauclair Abbey about 27 km and Saint-Quentin about 30 km.
Room photos, guest reviews and available dates are all in the Domaine du Pré Dieu listing on Expedia.
Fancy a night in a riverside château with a pool and a sauna? Check availability and current prices for the Domaine du Pré Dieu on Expedia.
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