For one night only, a stay at the home of the founder of the modern Olympics is just an Airbnb away.
Related: These Celeb-Owned Airbnbs And Resorts Can Be Your Next Summer Destination
While the 2024 Paris Olympics is still a year from now, the legendary sporting event has already got people talking thanks to Filipino athletes already booking their tickets to the City of Light. Most notably, EJ Obiena made headlines and added another W to his haul when he became the first Filipino athlete to be qualified for the 2024 Olympics. The Olympics fever is slowly heating up, so why not jumpstart the hype by experiencing where it all began? And you don’t need to be a world-class athlete to do it, just have an account on Airbnb.
THE OLYMPIC CHATEAU
While the Greeks were the first to start the Ancient Olympic Games, it wasn’t until Baron Pierre de Coubertin started the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and held the first modern games in Athens, Greece two years later that the Olympics as we know it was born. Now, as we inch closer to the 2024 Games, history’s doors will be opened, literally, as Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s home, Château de Mirville, will be transformed to take guests on a journey through time. For one night only, guests will be able to immerse themselves in Olympic history as his home becomes available to rent on Airbnb.
Built in the 16th century, Château de Mirville, which is nestled deep in the Pays de Caux valley in Normandy, France, is where the young Coubertin was raised and where he developed a love of sports that would eventually inspire him to revive and evolve the ancient Olympic Games.
This July, the home was recently restored to its original grandeur with the support of the IOC and Airbnb’s Heritage and Local Tourism program as it will be made available for a unique overnight stay on Airbnb in honor of Paris 2024. And, as the gold medal on top, Jacques de Navacelle, Coubertin’s great grand-nephew, will serve as the host of the stay and share with guests tales of how the château inspired his celebrated forebear.
MVP TREATMENT
If you’re one of the lucky few who manage to book a stay, prepare to experience a once-in-a-lifetime sporting experience. For starters, guests will be treated to a private tour of the entire estate by Coubertin’s great-grandnephew, Jacques. Afterward, go punting on the lake where Coubertin developed his love of rowing, followed by a picnic of French delicacies on a specially constructed floating pontoon. Finally, guests will have the opportunity to play with n°1 French professional tennis player Caroline Garcia on the grounds where one of the first games of lawn tennis was supposedly played in France.
For history buffs, the knowledge doesn’t just end at the château itself. Coubertin’s private study has been transformed into a remarkable sporting suite that pays homage to the building’s legacy in the modern Olympic Games. Guests will also have access to memorabilia such as Coubertin’s 1892 Olympic Manifesto, a personal document featuring the rings for the first time as originally sketched by Coubertin and an original ticket from France’s first Games in 1900, as well as a selection of items from the very latest IOC Olympic Collection named in honor of Pierre de Coubertin. Talk about the MVP treatment.
Airbnb is no stranger to giving us one-of-a-kind experiences. After all, they did recently have the Barbie Dreamhouse in Malibu, California, available to rent. This one is definitely up there. If all this has gotten you excited, you can request to book this overnight stay on July 18, 2023, here. The unique overnight stay will take place on July 26, 2023, and cost a sensible 24 euros (around 1,500 pesos), in honor of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. The maximum occupancy is two persons. Do note also that guests are responsible for their own transportation to and from Château de Mirville, France.
Continue Reading: #LabanFilipinas: Philippine Women’s Football Team Sweeps First Olympic Qualifier Round
