worldwidewinetours

I am looking for an intimate, small chateau to stay in for three or four nights in the Loire. I have been to the area before, but never with the beautiful Contessa who will be accompanying me on this trip We will be travelling by car, in early December (for her birthday!!). I have visited sites that give information on large, hotel-like chateaux which have been converted into modern Disney versions of what a chateau should look like. I want something small, more like a B&B. Don't care where in the region, but I would PREFER that it be no further west than Tours, as we will be driving to Versailles to spend a few days, on the day of check-out from the Loire. Specific suggestions (rather than search engines) are preferred, but I'll take all the help I can get! Thanks!

Sarastro

By definition, a château is not small nor like a B&B unless you are referencing staying in one that is operated as a chambre d´hôte. Without budget guidance, specific suggestions could be pointless but you might take a look at these options:

http://www.fleursdesoleil.fr/maisons-hotes-centre.html
http://www.cheznous.com/

There are numerous possibilities if you include the château/hotels but I would not call them ¨Disney versions¨ simply because they have been updated and renovated.

Whathello

All chateaux have been turned into Disney and they produce Coca Cola. With lots of ice.

Underhill

Look here: http://www.bienvenueauchateau.com/en/

halfapair

We stayed at the Manoir Les Minimes and it was lovely. It's not exactly a chateaux, but a beautiful manor. The breakfast was very good and it was close to town, so we walked there for dinner & pastries.

http://www.manoirlesminimes.com/en/

Whathello

Hello half.
We do say 'chateaux' at plural but chateau at singular.
Like drapeaux joyaux etc.

FrenchMystiqueTours

First off, I'm going to break your rule of no further west than Tours but I think I have a château that fits the bill, as I imagine you are seeking an experience rather than a base from which to explore the region and I bet this place can provide that. I remember several years ago I wanted to spend the night in a château with my wife and I didn't want one of those boring Renaissance pleasure palace type châteaux but instead wanted one of those medieval type castles with the towers and turrets and moats filled with pirhanas, sharks and alligators and we were in the Loire region in off season in January and I found just such a place. OK, the moat was dry and didn't have all the vicious animals but it was about as perfect as I imagined. The castle was medieval in style and the hosts were a count and countess and the castle had been in the count's family since about the 16th century, I believe. We were the only guests that night and the count and countess served us a ?five course? meal in their grand dining room with the ancient tapestries and huge fireplace and sat with us and explained the entire history of the château and other stories, which were quite interesting and they were such a lovely couple. The room we stayed in was huge and luxurious and had a great modern bathroom. I don't splurge often but this wasn't even really much of a splurge and in fact was such a great experience that I would have gladly paid more than the advertised price (and I'm a real cheapskate). So if interested click on the following link:

http://www.chateau-de-ternay.com/index.php/en/

nytraveler

There are tons of chateaux that are not Disney like, but neither are they B&Bs. Unfortunately the one we stayed at near Chinon is no longer taking guests due to a change in family circumstances - but it was 15th century with the remains of a moat and arrow-slit windows and had I think about 14 rooms.
They served breakfast every day and did dinners en famille with all guests who wanted 2 or 3 times a week.

If you search you can find a bunch like this - which will probably have a pool and some other activities on site, but are not luxury hotels like the very expensive ones. I know when we looked we had a choice of at least a dozen similar to this - but took this one for the location. Tours is pretty far west to do most of the Loire, we found Chinon to be sort of in the middle.

FrenchMystiqueTours

Chinon is 47km southwest of Tours (a 53 minute drive per viamichelin.com) so not what I would call in the middle of the Loire and the Château de Ternay is another 30km from Chinon.

Whathello

FM
Good advice as usual. You can check relais et chateaux - they specialize in castles and manors.
Logis de France may propose some too.

FrenchMystiqueTours

For châteaux accommodations try these sites:

http://www.bienvenueauchateau.com/
http://www.relaischateaux.com/
http://www.symbolesdefrance.com/
http://www.chateauxdemeures.fr/
http://www.chateauxhotels.com/
http://www.au-chateau.com/
http://www.tablethotels.com/

Saraho

Chateau de Ternay sounds like a good choice.

schnauzer

Looking for similar so bookmarking.

aliced

On a trip some years ago through Normandy, we stayed at three privately owned chateaux through the Bienvenue au Chateau link so recommend you check out that link above.. BUT in Loire is there a more perfect back-in-time lodging than Auberge Au Bon Laboreur in Chenonceaux, directly across the lane from the famed chateau itself? I think not. Tiny hamlet from which to explore and convenient for back to Paris.

nytraveler

Well from Chinon we visited sights that were both east and west of us, including Saumur and the Fontevraud Abbey. I guess Tours is OK but not what we wanted.

worldwidewinetours

As usual the Fodor's community gives a plethora of choices....thank you all. I'll let you know.....