allwhowander123

We will be staying at Chateau de Bournand (http://www.au-chateau.com),south of Chinon for four days, before taking a 7 day Burgundy Canal cruise on La Belle Epoque.
We have hired a vehicle to take a group exploring for two days, one day heading east and one day west.
My group does NOT want to visit more than 1 castle daily. Our day heading East will likely consist of visiting Chenonceau, then on to Amboise where everyone can explore independently for awhile (I will sneak away to Le Clos-Luce), then perhaps lunch. Afterwards, possibly visit 2 wineries, I am considering Le Clos du Tue-Boeuf and Domaine Vigneau-Chevreau.
On a 'free day', meaning no group activity, I plan to taxi to Chinon to visit the fortress, shop, have lunch and either rent a bike or go canoeing in the afternoon. There is also a winery south of Chinon I'd like to visit, Domaine de la Noblaie.
Any comments/suggestions on the above are welcome.
What I need to work on next is the day tour West of our accommodations. I'd love to visit some small towns, go somewhere nice for lunch, have time to shop and visit wineries.
Can anyone give recommendations based on their experiences? Really would like to focus on small towns if possible on this day.
thanks.

MmePerdu

Quite near Chinon to the west is the Abbey of Fontevraud (Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud), burial place of Henri II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and son Richard the Lion-heart & wife. The monastery has been converted to a hotel and very nice restaurant and with the church and grounds an imposing place to visit.

http://www.fontevraud.fr/en/Visit-Fontevraud/Welcome

PalenQ

Saumur is a neat town on the Loire -known for its many mushroom caves hewn out of the limestone mini cliffs lining the river -stop in for tours and tastings - not wine but novel.

Angers for a bigger town is wonderful.

PalenQ

Not sure how much west of Chinon Bourgeuil is - more south than west or east I think but it is a great small wine center - encircled by vineyards and many producers to stop by - great by car - poor by public transit.

StCirq

Saumur and Angers, for sure. In Angers, visit the château for the tapestries, then walk across town to Jean Lurçat's atelier to see his famous interpretation of them.

kja

Seconding the Abbey of Fontevraud and Angers (tapestries and Jean Lurch's atelier).

michelhuebeli

If your gallivants take you a bit to the east-north-east, just past Blois, include the most unique of all those castles, Chambord. See www.chambord.org/en

kja

Jean Lurçat, not Jean Lurch.. autocorrect is a double edged sword!

annhig

two places not mentioned - the wonderful gardens of the Chateau of Villandry, and the Puy de Fou at Cholet.

http://www.chateauvillandry.fr

http://www.puydufou.com/en/

Neither are necessarily suitable for your group but IMO should always be mentioned in threads about the western Loire.

PalenQ

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ire-valley.cfm

For something totally unique and very different from other Loire things check out Richelieu - right close to Chinon.

annhig

oh yes, i agree with you, Pal. the Cathedral is very impressive and we found a lovely "bourgeois" restaurant that did proper french food like a huge vat of potage, terrine, lamb chops, and my all time fave pud, iles flottants.

MmePerdu

I can't say that Îles flottantes is my favorite, too, but the only time I had it was a memorable experience, 30 years ago in a small restaurant on Mont Saint-Michel in March (my birthday visit), the only ones in the place. I've never forgotten it, any of the 24 hours on the mont.

annhig

Mme P - thanks for the tactful correction of my spelling [I always get that one wrong]. there is something about Îles flottantes which I just adore so i will always have it when it's on offer. I'm glad that it brings back good memories for you.

PalenQ

scrumptious:

https://www.google.com/search?q=iles...HW7TDVQQsAQIHQ

MmePerdu

Annhig, left to my own worse-every-year spelling it would have ended with the final "t". I had to look it up, assuming I was likely wrong. I corrected us both.

schnauzer

More great Loire Valley ideas for next year...thanks.

TPAYT

We stayed in a cottage outside of Chinon for a week. Chinon was a lovely small town and our favorite lunch & dinner was at "Au Chapeau Rouge" where we sat outside in the square under some huge trees.

West of Chinon we had dinner at "L'Helianthe" in the small town of Turquant. The restaurant was located in a cave, most fun & interesting.

Also west of Chinon we had dinner at "Manoir de Restigne". Which was absolutely fabulous.

Saumur was a nice town but larger than we were looking for. We did enjoy a visit to the riding academy at Saumur, one of the best in the world & the horses were world class if you are into that sort of thing.

Sounds like you are planning an excellent adventure & I will be watching for your trip report.

annhig

I corrected us both.>>

thank you so much, Mme P!

allwhowander123

Thanks everyone for your input. I will be researching and planning this weekend .
I found a website, Le plus beaux villages de France. Saw a town in Loire called
Candes St Martin, has anyone been there? Really trying to incorporate some small towns on this days touring.

allwhowander123

Also I see i did not copy the link to our Loire acommendations correctly , here it is ;

http://www.au-chateau.com/Bournand.php

It's a lovely place, my group has rented the entire manor. The owner and her husband provide, upon request, elegant dinners in their wine cave. We are doing this our first night, and are really looking forward to it .