Things to do/ places to eat/ wines to drink in Loire Valley area
 

We are spending three nights in the Loire area staying at the Chateau de Noizay with a side trip to the La Rochelle/ Ile de Re area.<BR>Can anyone provide me with suggestions for chateaux etc. that we shouldnt miss, other sites, restaurants ( both fancy and casual) and wines we should drink. Or anything else...

I won't bother with the ch&acirc;teaux because any guidebook or website can show you those,and you can decide what you want to see.<BR><BR>A restaurant you shouldn't miss is Le Cheval Blanc in Bl&eacute;r&eacute;. Another that might pique your interest is Les Caves de Marson outside Saumur, if you fancy eating in a troglodyte dwelling. <BR><BR>Definitely sample the local Vouvray wines, but also the lesser known red Chinons. They're a bit sweet for my taste, but they wash down well with the local cuisine. There's also a Loire p&eacute;tillant but I can't recall the name of it - maybe someone else on the board will know.

From http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34485400

====================================

StCirq

Author: jdm_karen
Date: 03/21/2004, 01:55 pm

Message: Would you tell me a little about Le Cheval Blanc?
jdm_karen

============================

Best wishes,

Rex

My favorite wine in all the world is Sancerre. Lot's of different wineries, hailing from the Loire town of Sancerre. Best when enjoyed with Chevre from the same place. The best food and cheese pairing I can think of!

Am at work, but if you pull up my trip report on Paris/La Rochelle in the search box there are several restaurant recommendations for La Rochelle that are exceptional.

Good luck!

I searched for info on the amalfi coast and came across &quot;you lot&quot;. Thanks for the wine info..will certainly try Sancerre! visiting the Loire vally on May 26 for 3 nights for the first time. Australian wines are excellent too. Gd'Day Mates...

Le Cheval Blanc is in Bl&eacute;r&eacute;, not far from Amboise, in the place de l'Eglise (it's a very small town). Chef Michel Bl&eacute;riot may or may not still have his Michelin star, but it doesn't matter because his cooking is brilliant, his wine cellar expansive, and his collection of armagnacs impressive. And the prices are reasonable for the quality.

Nice hotel, too, though I've never stayed there.

http://www.logis-de-france37.com/fiche.php?num=9

If (and this may be a big assumption) - - if an extensive collection of brandies is connected to the interest by jdm_karen in Le Cheval Blanc, then le Chateau d'Artigny (in Montbazon) is also not to be missed. An eye-poppingly beautiful place in ots own right, and certainly classy, well-above &quot;competent&quot; dining, as I recall it (from about 1996?) - - I realize that much can change in that period of time.

I added the post from jdm_karen to this admittedly rather _old_ thread since it had a post from StCirq regarding le Cheval Blanc. Seemed like it might get additional replies, and I liked the idea of adding to this thread, rather than topping the &quot;other&quot; one.

Not a big fan of threads, &quot;addressed&quot; to a specific person.

I would suggest that you consider a visit to Amboise to see Clos Luce, the last home of Leonard Da Vinci. The home and grounds are lovely and quite interesting and has models of just some of his many inventions.

On the drive to and from Amboise, we stopped along the way in a few trogdelyte dwellings which are now resturants and wine bars. We sampled and bought some very nice wines in these caves. And, as said above, the Sancerre and Vouvray wines are very enjoyable.