I am going to Paris for 10 days (single woman travelling alone) and thought it would be fun to take 2 or 3 days and stay in a Chateau in the country-side.

Any recommendations?

From a previous post:

Author: Rex
Date: 12/20/2002, 09:36 pm

Message: Here's a suggestion:

www.chateaudejonvilliers.com

On my wanna-try-sometime-soon list.

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and I still have never made it there!

Or alternatively, choose from a hundred or so choices at http://www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com - - I have never stayed at any of these either, but I have read up on some of them - - this one, http://www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com/..._propriete=113 seems like it would be articularly convenient for someone traveling withOUT a car. The entire town of Richelieu is a world heritage site.

Best wishes,

Rex

Second post I've read this morning about a single woman traveling alone for 10 days. I'm getting inspired to try it myself.

Thanks for the direction, Rex!

Travelling alone is great - I did Scotland last year - now its time for France!

You can also check out www.chateauxhotels.com

Hi Mary,

I stayed at Chateau di Chissay in the Loire several years ago and loved it. It's the real thing and has an excellent restaurant. Very near Chennonceau and Ambroise.

By the way, I was on my own driving around the Loire for 4 days and did just fine.

Travel alone is great..I do it all the time..recently returned from a month in Spain/Portugal..have a charming spot rented east of Paris the last half of Sept. and have just rented a place for October, 2006 in the Dordogne area and will then spend a week in the Pyrenees........

On the question of chateaus, we stayed near Caen in one of Bienvenue-au-Chateau's places and had a wonderful evening. I highly recommend it and them.

Their website is good, but they also offer a printed book (catalog) of their 100 plus listings. They have at least two listings close-in in Richilieu (probably taxi or walk from trian station). It really was the highlight of our last trip.

You can walk around the town of Richelieu, and a taxi ride is not unreasonable, but the site says that the closest train station is 15 minutes (drive?) away in Chatellerault - - is that not accurate?

I stayed at Les Crayeres several years ago and thought it was magnificent for food, room size and decor, and service. It's in Reims (Champagne region) which is about 1 1/2 hour drive from Paris. I think you can also take the train.

I believe Gerard Boyer, owner and executive chef at the time I was there, has since retired. From what I hear, it's still a great dining experience, but may have dropped from a 3-star to a 2-star Michelin rated restaurant. If you enjoy champagne and fine dining, this place would certainly make you happy.

The hotel website is: www.lescrayeres.com