OVER ONS

Over ons:



My name is Ilse Smits and I have been living in this beautiful country with my two children since 2004. I built La Petite Étoile and the vineyard houses myself. When we viewed this house in Miklósi I immediately felt that this was our home!

The house was a case of “a ruin sought and found” but with Hungarian builders we had it the way we wanted it in just under three months and I could get started with a whole lot of painting! With László, our all-rounder, I have renovated a total of 22 houses and we have been friends for years.

Also when I decided to save a number of vineyard cottages, László was the brave man who took on the challenge to renovate them according to my instructions and wishes, without electricity or running water. There too there was a lot of painting and staining to be done, but the cottages have now each become a little paradise in themselves.

Of course we learned Hungarian to feel completely at home and in the meantime we have many Hungarian friends 'through thick and thin', who help with our arrangements. They like to let our guests experience the real Hungarian village life!

The children have flown the nest, but Hungary remains the country where they were raised. Erwin, my husband since 2012, also spends all his free time in Miklósi and helps out where he can.

We have been welcoming our guests to camp with us for 20 years now. We have a lovely apartment and three unique vineyard cottages available for lovers of peace, space and a Burgundian life. At one of the vineyard cottages we have our own artisanal winery and vineyard with old Hungarian grape varieties. This vineyard was also seriously neglected but now produces about 500 liters of wine per year that our guests also like to taste. In the meantime, our wines also win prizes and I am very proud of that. This year we are even allowed to participate in 2 international wine tastings!

About the first two years in Hungary I have written a book full of humorous adventures. It can be ordered through us:

“La Petite Étoile, a new life in Hungary”