la Maison Ravoux Bed & Breakfast 316 North Beaumont Road Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin 53821 (608) 326-0458 (608) 326-6626 Fax: 608-326-8225

Meet . . . Greg and Mary Antoine de Julio, owners/hosts, and . . .

After years of hard labor in the fur trade, many voyageurs settled at Prairie du Chien. They built hand-hewn log houses and decorated them with simple furnishings reflecting the homes they had left behind in Montreal. At la Maison Ravoux you will be surrounded by hand-hewn beams, wide plank floors, and French-Canadian furnishings. la Maison Ravoux is in the historic LaRiviere-Ravoux House. Completely restored, the house was constructed about 1840 on land owned by Michel LaRiviere. Tradition says that the house was used by the priests who served St. Gabriel's parish and in the spring of 1843 Pére Ravoux stayed in the house. For several months Ravoux carefully translated the Catholic catechism into the Sioux language, then left Prairie du Chien to return to his mission in Minnesota.

la Maison Ravoux is located in old Prairie du Chien. St. Gabriel's Church, the oldest church in Wisconsin, is one block away. One block to the south is the Crawford County Court House, with its dark dungeon. Crawford County once encompassed the western half of Wisconsin. Other French-Canadian log houses are located close by.

Each morning you will be treated to a breakfast with French-Canadian dishes that highlight the recipes of the fur trade era and include local produce such a fish freshly caught in the Mississippi, Brisbois' Coulee asparagus, or apples grown on L'Emerie's farm lot, depending upon the season.

Enjoy . . .

• One room with half bath
• Two rooms with shared bath
• Roll away available
• Central air-conditioning
• Large meeting area with a capacity of 12-15
• Common areas: living room, dining room, voyageur history room
• Gift Shop with select items
• Antiques- fine selection of 19th century prints and maps of the western Great Lakes - Upper Mississippi River region, and coin silver
• Smoke free environment with smoking permitted outside only

Satisfy your appetite . . . with a full breakfast of French - Canadian dishes, regional produce and fish depending upon season. Cheese and fruit served on arrival and evening dessert is Truffles. For a sneak preview check out la Maison Ravoux's French-Canadian Crepes.

Things to do and see . . .

• Mississippi River - 2 blocks, walk along waterfront, marina, docking, fishing facilities
• Pikes Peak State Park - 6 miles, great view of confluence of Mississippi & Wisconsin Rivers
• Effigy Mounds National Park - 6 miles, figural mounds of Native Americans
• Miss Marquette Riverboat Casino - 2 miles
• Fort Crawford Museum - 8 blocks, 1829 fort site, exhibits, local history
• Villa Louis - 4 blocks, restored Victorian country home
• Other: historic sites, nature cruises of Mississippi River, annual Rendezvous in June, Rodeo in July, magnificent fall foliage

*Not appropriate for children or pets