 |
Direct booking, independent holiday breaks throughout France, in privately owned self catering country houses, cottages, gites and apartments, villas and traditional farmhouses, or in a choice of delightful Bed and Breakfast Chambres d'Hôtes. | |
Holiday Homes In France 1998-2008 |
|
Renaissance Château with Heated Pool in the Western Loire
Faye d'Anjou, near Thouarcé, between Angers and Saumur
5 bedrooms with private bathrooms, sleeping up to 14 people
Château de Chanzé
Meticulously restored in the original Renaissance style, the Château de Chanzé has stood on the banks of the River Layon, a tributary of the Loire, since the 11th century. A significant night in the château’s history was when King Henry IV slept here in 1576 on a journey south. It is through castles such as this that the history and culture of the region live on and our château offers you the chance to experience a unique part of life here in the Pays de la Loire.
The château lies between Angers (30 km) on the Loire river and Saumur (35 km). Thouarcé, 2 km from here, is a village at the centre of the Layon wine producing area, celebrated for its Bonnezeaux crus, has a supermarket, butcher, bank, Post Office, pharmacy and a bakery. Market day is every Tuesday. The village has several restaurants, one of which is the Cheval Blanc, which has generous, reasonably priced menus. Another is the Le Relais de Bonnezeaux, which has lovely views over the vines and a good reputation for its food and vintage wines (early booking is wise). The château has splendid views over the river and surrounding countryside and every modern comfort, while still retaining the original character and grandeur preserved in the two metre thick walls, high ceilings and seventeenth and eighteenth century antique furniture. There is ample living space both inside and out, so that you and your guests can enjoy a degree of privacy when needed and all ages can enjoy their own activities and pursuits.
The banqueting hall is the showpiece of Chanzé and the place where everyone comes together around a five metre long oak dining table and the largest fireplace in the region. There is also a separate, comfortable sitting room with television, video, a library and some children's games. Listening to music from the CD player or live on the grand piano in the hall, is an unforgettable experience. The well equipped kitchen lives up to even the most demanding cooking enthusiast's needs, should you or one of your friends want to try out some local delicacies, and includes a dishwasher and washing machine, a fridge, freezer, oven and hob, microwave, a coffee machine and toaster amongst other things. The Relais de Bonnezeaux in Thouarcé can also provide excellent catering for feasts in the banqueting hall. The five bedrooms take their names from famous visitors of the past and are listed here according to their size of beds. You will sleep in Nordic style with queen sized duvets measuring 220 x 220cm. Blankets and sheets are available for hot summer nights, a hairdryer is provided and all the bathrooms have underfloor heating. Suite Henri IV is a prestigious suite with its own sitting room and en-suite bathroom. Four poster double bed 150 x 200cm and additional bed 100 x 200cm in an alcove. Suite Cossé-Brissac has its own sitting room and en-suite bathroom. Double bed 140 x 200cm and additional bed 90 x 200cm. Suite Aménard is bedroom with a wardrobe, en-suite bathroom and wc. Double bed 1.50 x 2.00m, single bed 1.00 x 2.00m. Bedroom Montalais with furniture á la Bretagne, a Queen sized bed 1.80 x 1.95m, a wardrobe and a separate bathroom and wc. Bedroom Du Bellay has a double bed 1.50 x 2.00 m, a single bed 90 x 2.00m and a separate bathroom and wc. There is over an acre of garden private to the château to wander through. The large, 6 x 14 metre swimming pool is shared with bed and breakfast guests on another part of the estate. There is also a sauna, jacuzzi and hydro massage shower. An English speaking couple living on the estate, responsible for pool and garden maintenance and running the B&B, will be happy to share their knowledge of the area and help with anything you need to know.
The Area
There is good fishing in the Layon river beside the château and the valley is ideal for walks, cycling, or canoeing. The Club de l'Orchère riding stables at Notre Dame d'Allençon are about 5 km from here and the Angers Golf Club at St Jean des Mauvrets is roughly 15 kms away. There is also a hot air balloon base at Chemellier and St Aubin de Luigné (20 km). The Layon Valley is synonymous with the sweet white wines and Anjou rosés it produces, an area of vine covered hills that makes a particularly attractive landscape with a succession of wine villages. The best place to taste the Bonnezeaux wines is at the Château de Fesles, which dates back to the 11th century and, given the rarity of its sweet wines, you will also have the chance to taste other Anjou wines. Other villages that stand out for the quality and strength of their wines are Beaulieu, Rablay and St Aubin. Doué-la-Fontaine is famous for growing roses and millions of them are grown around the town. The Chemins de la Rose, off the road to Cholet, is a wonderful rose garden planted with rare and botanical varieties. Other gardens worth seeing are the aromatic and medicinal gardens at Chemillé and the oriental gardens in Maulévrier. Château de Brissac is enormous, a mixture of classical and medieval architectural styles, which gives it a marvellous eccentricity. It claims to be the tallest in the Loire Valley, reaching seven storeys in one part. Still in private hands, some of its sumptuous 230 rooms are open to the public. The châteaux at Angers (famous Tapestries of the Apocalypse and the even more famous 'Mille Fleurs' Gobelins) and Saumur, Serrant and Montreuil-Bellay (famous for its dreamy Disney-like turrets), are also worth seeing. Travel Information
Availability Check
Prices and booking information
All prices are per week Saturday to Saturday arriving at 4pm departing at 10am Discount on second week Prices include bed linen, towels, electricity, heating and weekly cleaning and/or cleaning on departure. Alternative days of arrival and departure are possible, please enquire prior to booking. A deposit of €500 is requested on booking to confirm.
Telephone: 02 41 54 41 88 (International + 33 2 41 54 41 88) Fax: 02 41 54 41 89 (International + 33 2 41 54 41 89) Please mention Vacation France when contacting the owner
|
| Site Endorsements | About Us | Travel Directory | Terms and Conditions | |
| 1998-2008 Copyright Vacation France Limited | |
