Wow, never realized we don't have much in terms of reviews for the Loire (so if you rent this place, please tell us about it afterward). That said, if no one replies here, I'd contact the owners and ask for
1) E-mail addresses of previous guests who you can contact for referals 2) More pictures - I didn't see any on the website for any bathrooms or kitchens, which always concerns me. I'd especially ask for pictures of the specific gite you're interested in renting. 3)They also don't give dimensions for the gite's, I think asking for sq meters or feet a fair question.
Last December my sister's family and I rented the "dépendance" of the "château de Vaugaudry" compound, a chateau-vineyard just south of Chinon, a very pretty town itself.
It was lovely and actually quite inexpensive. The 4 of us paid 250 euro for the weekend (nearly the same as its weekly rate):
The rental is very spacious and airy, - 78 square meters, - with 2 bdrms, big living room, equipped kitchen + a 2000 meter garden. The enclosed photo is the house. It is actually divided into 2 rentals. We were in the right wing. The left wing has 3 bdrms.
It's funny that the Moulin de Maulne web site doesn't tell you what village the gîtes are in or closest to. It doesn't seem to be too far from Château-la-Vallière (a town that does not have a château, by the way).
From the driving directions on the Travel tab, it seems the place must be near the villages of Lublé or St-Laurent-de-Lin, but it doesn't really say so.
Forty minutes from Tours and Saumur and 30 minutes or more from sights like Langeais, Chinon, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, etc. means you will do a lot of driving if you want to see such places. Le Lude is closer and has a beautiful château.
I like Americana's place better. Being closer to Chinon puts you nearer many interesting sights. The Chinon vineyards are beautiful, and the wine is fantastic. The Chinon countryside is outstanding.
indeed Ken it is close to the town of Chateau-la-Valliére right off the banks of the tributary Maulne of the Indre river.
D959 takes you to Tours on its western suburbs. I agree the area is a bit off the chateaux trail, something west of Tours along the Loire river would be a better location.
Hello Swagman I shall let you in on a little secret....an absolute gem of a Chambre d'Hote between the Loir and the Loire...within striking distance of many chateaux. Take a look at the website...yes ! E38 for a double and a fabulous dinner on the weekends for E14 pp.We dined at a long table with people from Canada, France,Austria,Poland...and we were "the Australians !" It was truly a highlight of our 5 weeks in France. We had the most fun there...Danny is a fine host and has a fountain of knowledge about the area and where to go. http://www.lamarechalerie.com/ :-) Judith.
Posts: 31 | Location: Lesmurdie. Western Australia. | Registered: 08 March 2007
My husband and I spent two weeks at La Barauderie a couple of years ago (and another 4 days there last year) and found plenty to do. We're very slow travelers, though, happy to take our time visiting gardens, chateaus, nice little villages, etc, at a slow pace.
Swagman, have you been to France before? Chris asks a very good question. Two weeks in the Loire Valley can be long or short, depending on what you want to do and see.
I just posted a review of a very nice gite we rented a couple of yrs ago but will take awhile to get on - check it out at www.chateaulavauguyon.com - sounds like it is quite close to the one Americania wrote about. both in a very nice central area to explore the Loire- I think you could find plenty to do for 2 weeks if you wanted to stay in one area with not too much driving between sites - mainly great chateaus to see, vineyards, etc - we did a week there before moving on to Normandy for another week before heading home via CDG - only problem was taking the wrong turn just outside paris and ending up downtown - scary!! would do a train to a Loire town and pick up a car there and dropping it off there vs Paris!
Posts: 25 | Location: Florida | Registered: 01 April 2007
