Côté Serein hosts residential seminars, team-building days and company or association retreats for 10 to 30 people. The Domaine de Venoise, its largest group house, sleeps up to 31 guests in 10 bedrooms, and the seminar offer adds three meeting rooms and up to 20 bedrooms across the Côté Serein houses. The address is 18 place de l'Hôtel de Ville, in the medieval town of Noyers-sur-Serein, in the Yonne department of Burgundy.
Seminars and company events
The seminar offer is built for groups of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 people. Côté Serein has three meeting rooms with flexible layouts. The two large rooms have daylight and open onto the countryside with a 180-degree view. All rooms come with plenty of sockets and extension leads, paper boards, a printer, Wi-Fi and projection screens, and a sound system is available. Tea, coffee, soft drinks, fruit and snacks are served throughout the day.
For team building, the hosts run Top Brigade, a cooking workshop led by Eve, a food stylist and photographer by trade. Participants share out the tasks and cook together, with balanced and vegetarian recipes chosen from several options. Other activities include boats, kayaks and canoes on the Serein river, a pétanque court, wine tastings in the house cellar or with local winemakers, walks through the vineyards and a visit of the medieval town.
Weddings and receptions
The houses are rented for family gatherings, reunions and private celebrations by groups. The official site does not present a wedding offer or a reception hall for guests who are not staying.
Rooms and capacities
Côté Serein lists three meeting rooms for seminars of up to 30 people; their individual sizes are not published. At the Domaine de Venoise, the dining room covers 100 square meters and seats the whole group for meals. The house also has lounges, a living room and a garden with a pool.
Accommodation
The Domaine de Venoise is an independent building of 900 square meters, approved by the Yonne prefecture as a group house for 30 people, and rented for up to 31. It has 10 bedrooms, kitchens, a living room, lounges and a garden with a pool. For seminars, Côté Serein offers up to 20 bedrooms in single, twin or triple use, in standard or superior categories. Smaller groups can use Le Clos Malo, up to 23 guests, La Tour Cachée, 10 to 15, or La Chapelle, 10 to 12. Côté Serein also runs 21 guest rooms with private bathrooms. Check-in and check-out are self-service.
Catering
The group houses have full kitchens for self-catering, and the 100-square-meter dining room at Venoise seats the group. The Top Brigade workshop can turn a meal into a team activity. The hosts point groups to restaurants in the area.
History and setting
The buildings date from the 13th century and were strengthened in the 15th and 17th centuries. They have been restored in depth for current comfort, with television, Wi-Fi and mobile coverage from several operators. At Venoise, the walls are lime-washed, the ceilings have exposed French-style beams, large windows look over the countryside and a wide Burgundy fireplace warms the house in winter. Noyers-sur-Serein is listed among the Plus Beaux Villages de France. Chablis, Irancy and Saint-Bris vineyards, the basilica of Vézelay, the caves of Arcy-sur-Cure and the Château d'Ancy-le-Franc are within reach.
Getting there
Noyers-sur-Serein is about 2 hours from Paris and Lyon by the A6. Leave at exit 21, Nitry, then take the D49 for 11 kilometers. Two stations serve the area: Tonnerre on the regional TER network and Montbard on the TGV line, about one hour from Paris. Parking is available.
