Where to stay in Loire?
Feb 14th, 2006, 04:40 AM
#21
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www.chateau-de-beauharnais.com
www.chateau-de-lisle.com
www.chateaudelabarre.com
www.chateaudesormeaux.fr
www.leclosamboise
www.chateau-de-pintray.com
Chateau de Colliers is w/o website, but phone is 33 2 54 87 50 75. Says it is flanked by the Loire and chateau of Chambord.
www.chateau-de-lisle.com
www.chateaudelabarre.com
www.chateaudesormeaux.fr
www.leclosamboise
www.chateau-de-pintray.com
Chateau de Colliers is w/o website, but phone is 33 2 54 87 50 75. Says it is flanked by the Loire and chateau of Chambord.
Feb 14th, 2006, 08:12 AM
#22
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There are some fine suggestions previously given, but mine would be to take the train to Tours if you haven't already rented a car. I was stationed near Chinon at the U.S. Army 7743 Engineers Depot for nearly two years back in the '50s when France was still in NATO so I know the area quite well. My wife and I returned there a few years ago and had a great time, traveling by rental car from Tours to Chinon, staying a small hotel on one side of the Vienne River, a left-bank tributary of the Loire River. Sorry, I forgot the name of the small hotel where we stayed. Chinon has a fortress-type of chateau facing the river that's worth taking in. While in the Chinon area taste the delightful regional wine Vouvray, washing down a picnic meal of French bread, cheese and dry sausage!
From Chinon go to nearby town of Azay-le-Rideau which has the small devine chateau of the same name that's not to be missed. While The Chinon chateau was built for defense in times of war, Azay-le-Rideau was built as a summer home by one of the aristocracy in Paris either for a mistress or as a summer home.
From the town of Azay-le-Rideau drive to the nearby small town of Sache where the Musee Balzac is located. A small colony of artists once thrived there or nearby including Alexander Calder, whose
"stabile" sculptures can still be seen there. Jo Davidson, the American sculptor who lived near Sache at his old home named Manoir de Becheron where his friends Hemmingway and Gertrude Stein visited. Go to:
http://www.loire-france.com/villes/i...che/index.html
for topics related to Sache, including
Calder.
From Sache, return to Azay-le-Rideau and take some side trips to other chateaus in the Loire area such as Angers, returning to Chinon as your homebase.
If you are into classical music, the French composer Francis Poulenc inherited Noizay, a country estate near his grandparents' home, which would be an important retreat for him as he gained fame. You can stay at the rather pricy Château de Noizay for the night. Noizay is a quiet town on the north side of the River Loire to the west of Amboise, which has a chateau worthy a visit. A link for the Château de Noizay is:
http://www.karenbrown.com/property.asp?propid=9733
Meeting people in the small towns and enjoying simple roadside picnics in the countryside is a major form of pleasure that is in store for you. Don't overplan, let the new and unexpected around the bend of the road come into your life!
From Chinon go to nearby town of Azay-le-Rideau which has the small devine chateau of the same name that's not to be missed. While The Chinon chateau was built for defense in times of war, Azay-le-Rideau was built as a summer home by one of the aristocracy in Paris either for a mistress or as a summer home.
From the town of Azay-le-Rideau drive to the nearby small town of Sache where the Musee Balzac is located. A small colony of artists once thrived there or nearby including Alexander Calder, whose
"stabile" sculptures can still be seen there. Jo Davidson, the American sculptor who lived near Sache at his old home named Manoir de Becheron where his friends Hemmingway and Gertrude Stein visited. Go to:
http://www.loire-france.com/villes/i...che/index.html
for topics related to Sache, including
Calder.
From Sache, return to Azay-le-Rideau and take some side trips to other chateaus in the Loire area such as Angers, returning to Chinon as your homebase.
If you are into classical music, the French composer Francis Poulenc inherited Noizay, a country estate near his grandparents' home, which would be an important retreat for him as he gained fame. You can stay at the rather pricy Château de Noizay for the night. Noizay is a quiet town on the north side of the River Loire to the west of Amboise, which has a chateau worthy a visit. A link for the Château de Noizay is:
http://www.karenbrown.com/property.asp?propid=9733
Meeting people in the small towns and enjoying simple roadside picnics in the countryside is a major form of pleasure that is in store for you. Don't overplan, let the new and unexpected around the bend of the road come into your life!
Feb 14th, 2006, 04:38 PM
#23
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Le Clos d'Amboise is an excellent value, with parking included, and some rooms at ground level. It's close to the center of Amboise, but very quiet with lovely grounds. We had a very pleasant stay there last year.
Note that the website reference above is not correct; it should be:
http://www.leclosamboise.com
Note that the website reference above is not correct; it should be:
http://www.leclosamboise.com
Feb 20th, 2006, 07:48 AM
#24
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I suggest you to spend nights in Tours or in Amboise, because these 2 towns are more "central" if you want to visit many chateaux or parcs (for ex the Clos lucé, Chambord, Azay le Rideau, Ussé, Loches,...) with nice gardens. Tours and Amboise are very lovely towns
