Blissful relaxation in the Flemish Ardennes: B&B and wellness 'Au Porte Bonheur' opens doors in Zwalm

A little happiness in the middle of the Flemish Ardennes: in Zwalm - located between Oudenaarde and Zottegem, opened bed and breakfast Au Porte Bonheur' recently opened its doors. Enjoy the peace and quiet in a beautiful room with its own terrace or in the hyper-equipped wellness facilities offered by this bed and breakfast. The icing on the cake? A cruise on the Ghent Leie with the yacht of owners Guido and Carine. And there are also possibilities for those who want to plan an event (small or large) or a company outing.

More than a Bed and Breakfast

Located in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, in Zwalm, is 'Au Porte Bonheur'. A real 'lucky charm' for those looking for a good dose of rest and relaxation. Managers Carine and Guido made sure of that. They turned this new place into a true 'haven of peace', where you are not only pampered with a beautiful room with its own private terrace and fresh daily breakfast, but also enjoy a hyper-equipped and private (indoor and outdoor) wellness area. With 2 saunas (one Finnish and one barrel sauna), an infrared cabin, a jet stream pool, massage chairs, an experience shower and a steam bath, you will not be short of anything here. Want to book a wellness moment without an overnight stay? That is also possible.

Small fortunes

At 'Au Porte Bonheur', everything revolves around small fortunes. These include picturesque views of the countryside on one side, and of a fantastic garden and view of the village on the other. A plus for animal lovers: a few sheep and goats live in the garden.

Moreover, all meals are prepared by hostess Carine herself. She harvests her own fruit and vegetables and buys fish and meat from local traders. On request, she will prepare a delicious evening meal for you. Would you like a culinary dinner? For that, they work together with B&B 't Burreken at 'Au Porte Bonheur'. Chef Tom, who incidentally is a good friend of Carine and Guido, worked for many years at renowned restaurants and prepares culinary delights in his B&B upon request.

Prices for 1 night for 2 persons, including breakfast, from €150
Prices for 1 night stay for 2 people, including breakfast and with 2 hours of private wellness from €290
A wellness moment for 2 without overnight stay (2 hours)? Then prices start from €140

Penchant for all things French, including wines

For years, manager Carine had dreamed of having her own bed and breakfast and was thus recently able to realise her dream. For this reason, she and her partner Guido chose the name 'Au Porte Bonheur', which is French for 'good luck' or 'lucky charm'. "For me personally, this is great happiness. Something I have dreamed of for years and which is now becoming a reality. We also want to share that happiness with the guests of our B&B: the happiness of being able to unwind and, above all, enjoy," Carine said.

That the name sounds French-speaking is no coincidence. Both Carine and Guido have a great passion for the French language and also for France in particular. So they also serve some French natural wines in their B&B. They chose these carefully at the French wine estate of friends Geert and Mieke, Domaine La GONTARDE in the southern French town of Visan. The menu at 'Au Porte Bonheur' features six wines from the winery: four reds and two whites. Worth noting: the names of the rooms were given the same name as the four red wines also served at the B&B: Au Porte Bonheur (composed by Guido himself), Femme Fatale, Grand Seigneur and Enfant Terrible.

More information on La GONTARDE wines can be found at here.

Enjoying the waters of Ghent

Also for those who like to enjoy the outdoors but have had enough of walking and cycling, 'Au Porte Bonheur' has a fantastic activity in store. For example, you can enjoy a cruise on the Ghent Leie (over the Brugse Vaart or even as far as Zeeland!) with the yacht of owners Carine and Guido. Admire the Flemish Ardennes from the flybridge atop the roof or lay down on one of the sun beds at the front of the boat. Fully equipped with captain and crew, up to 12 guests can enjoy a lovely getaway, with or without bubbles and catering of their choice.

A luxury weekend with a cruise on the yacht? At 'Au Porte Bonheur' you can: step onto the yacht in Ghent and sail to the Bed & Breakfast, enjoy a delicious evening meal, sleep soundly and get a delicious breakfast in the morning. Afterwards, they take you back to Ghent - again by water.

Prices for a short cruise from €490
Prefer a day trip? Then prices start from €1095

Find out more about the options here.

Own events and customised (corporate) events

Looking for the ideal venue for your wedding reception? Or an afternoon party for your 50th birthday? The garden - which covers almost 1 hectare, at 'Au Porte Bonheur' offers many possibilities. By the way, you can also completely fill in your event yourself and dress it up with the catering and decoration you like. Everything is possible. Moreover, a separate terrace has also been installed where a music band can easily set up. Ambiance guaranteed.

For companies too, 'Au Porte Bonheur' offers the ideal venue for external meetings and corporate events. Indeed, the lounge is equipped with a large screen for projection and offers enough space for small and larger teams. A (hot) drink and refreshments are provided on request.

Would you like to drop by 'on the crook' at 'Au Porte Bonheur'? You can and do so without any problem! Enjoy a lovely break while walking or cycling on the open terrace or drop by at one of the events organised by hosts Carine and Guido themselves.

Find more information on events and formulas here.

A little happiness in the middle of the Flemish Ardennes

While the Flemish Ardennes are mainly known for cycling tourism and the big cycling races such as the Tour of Flanders and Gent-Wevelgem that are organised there, the region has a lot more to offer. Do you like walking or cycling? Then enjoy the numerous (short and long) walking and cycling routes through the peaceful countryside. Prefer another activity? The region is also home to many breweries and places where you can be pampered with culinary delights.

A fact for cycling tourists and cycling enthusiasts: manager and owner Guido's great-grandfather, Karel Van Wijnendaele, is the founder of the Tour of Flanders. By the way, you can also find a portrait of him in the B&B. Guido will tell you more about it with pleasure and passion.

Discover the Flemish Ardennes.

More information

Would you like to visit 'Au Porte Bonheur'? Organise an event or take a cruise on the yacht? Then get in touch!

Au Porte Bonheur

Meilegemstraat 26
9630 Zwalm
info@auportebonheur.be
+32 468 22 19 67
https://www.instagram.com/auportebonheur/