Discover the history of Villa Thaïs, our charming guesthouse and meet your guides and hosts, Olga and Yuri Praushkin

We first saw Villa Thaïs in 2015 and instantly felt it was our home. By a lucky coincidence it was on sale, the purchase went easily and smoothly.
The Villa’s charm, comfort, and prime location inspired us to create a guesthouse in Tonnerre. After a few years of reconstruction we welcomed our first guests in 2019.
Today our mission at Villa Thaïs is to create unique tours of Burgundy and Champagne fusing the beauty and history of these two regions with their finest gastronomy and wines.
Our acquaintance with Burgundy began in 1992 when Yury came here for the first time for his internship. He immediately fell in love with the region's beauty and charm. Olga, born in Moldova and familiar with wine from childhood, soon shared his passion
Together we made our dream come true moving from St-Petersburg to Burgundy. We brought our expertise and love for the region to Villa Thaïs, making it a place for unforgettable experiences.

Villa Thaïs is a historic mansion built in 1893, during the period known as “ La Belle Époque ”. The house stood out for its beauty among other magnificent buildings in the town of Tonnerre and featured on a postcard from the late 19th century.
We restored the Villa, preserving its historic style while adding modern amenities, including double glazing and fast Wi-Fi with a fiber-optic connection.
The Villa is conveniently located in the center of Tonnerre, near historical monuments, restaurants, and shops. The train station is just 300 meters away, providing direct connections to Paris, Dijon, and other cities. 
Situated between Northern Burgundy and Southern Champagne Villa Thaïs is a short drive from Chablis and Les Riceys, the largest winemaking commune in Champagne. Nearby you will find a number of historical castles, four of France’s most beautiful villages, UNESCO sites, and famous vineyards and wineries. The Villa is easily accessible from Paris airports and the French capital by car or direct train from Gare de Bercy.

Receiving guests is a responsible business, so we decided to take our hobby to a professional level.  In 2016, we went to study at the international SWISSAM University in St. Petersburg.  Olga received a diploma as a chef, and Yuri a diploma as a restaurant manager.  The knowledge and experience gained came in handy and was fully utilized in our work at Villa Tais. 

Training in SWISSAM allowed Olga to equip a professional kitchen according to the guests' requests.  Olga is constantly improving her skills.  The interiors of Villa Tais are another facet of Olga's talent, she has put her whole soul into the decoration of Villa Tais.  This process is constant and each new touch adds charm and comfort to our guests. 

Yuri's passion for wine allowed him to discover a new talent - he became a wine journalist and started writing articles about wine for specialized magazines.  He was lucky enough to meet and interview some of the most famous winemakers in Burgundy and Champagne.  Participating in international tastings has also contributed to his professional development.

On warm evenings, we serve dinners in the garden on the covered terrace, on other days in our veranda.

At Villa Thaïs our guests plunge in a cosy and comfortable world of hedonism, where they enjoy discovering stories, legends and amazing places and also making new friends at dinners accompanied by signature cuisine and specially selected wines from the hosts personal collection.