Sorry - no pets allowed Suitable for children Not suitable for elderly or infirm No smoking at this property Self-catering
Home description
New for 2008, the Manor House and two cottages in delightful grounds have been beautifully renovated by the owners to provide luxury accommodation in a tranquil setting. With easy access to all amenities and sights including the local markets and chateaux and several excellent restaurants, the retreat is perfect for a relaxing sightseeing experience in France. Situated in a wine making area it is also an ideal base for touring the vineyards, attending wine tastings and purchasing local wines direct from the domaines.
The properties are tastefully decorated and furnished to a high standard. The lovely veranda, enchanting courtyard and private garden are perfect for table tennis, boulles or badminton and for the long lazy lunches so loved by the French or merely enjoying a glass or two of the local wines.
The beautiful pool area provides a stunning location for sunbathing or just relaxing with a good book.
The elegant Manor House
The stunning pool area with loungers and umbrellas
The lovely courtyard outside Montlouis Cottage
The comfortable salon
To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/31316
The Loire Valley / Maine-et-Loire region
There is so much to do in this region of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Within the Loire Anjou Natural regional park, the landscape is unspoilt and an abundance of charming villages and towns add to the attraction of the area. The unusual troglodyte dwellings, dug into the tuffeau rock ,often house mushroom caves that will surprise you. The region is perfect for walking, cycling, fishing, bird-watching and horse-riding.
The area is steeped in history, the Loire being the playground of the Kings and Dukes of France. Saumur Chateau was once the summer residence of the Dukes of Anjou. The plantagenet monarchs, Henry II, his wife Eleanor of Acquitane and their son Richard the Lionheart are buried at Fontevraud Abbey southeast of Saumur. The many Chateaux, Churches and Abbeys ensure some fantastic sightseeing.
Naturally being a wine making region and having around 28 appellations within a relatively small area there are many diverse wines to taste. Exploring and visiting the vineyards for wine tasting is huge fun and the owners can arrange tours for you.
The temperate climate results in warmer seasons and less rainfall than the UK. In addition to the hot summer months, spring and autumn are often wonderfully mild.
Saumur area
Five miles north of Le Manoir is the market town of Doue La Fontaine with good shops, cafes and restaurants. The town is famous for its splendidly unusual Zoo where animals are housed in a troglodyte environment. Doue is also the main centre of rose production in France and is known as "the City of Roses". It hosts a Rose Festival every summer when local caves are majically transformed by elaborate and exquisite displays. Monday is market day when the town comes alive with roadside stalls selling everything from local produce to French berets!
The charming medieval town of Montreuil Bellay with its fairytale Chateau, antiques market, pretty squares and fortified walls is 5 miles east and well worth visiting.
Saumur, on the banks of the majestic Loire, and its surrounding area, with its wealth of Chateaux, Museums, Art Galleries, chic shops and Michelin star restaurant is a tourist paradise. It is the National Equestrian Centre of France and home to the Cadre Noir Regiment. During the season the Cadre Noir present regular shows of outstanding horsemanship and offer guided tours of the school.
Throughout the summer months annual events are held to celebrate local produce and customs including Art, Music and Wine Festivals. The superb fete Grande Table de Saumur Champigny, a wine and food evening in Saumur with music and dancing is held in July. Locally, in the same month, is a quite unique, classic car "Grand Prix" race through the ancient streets and around the beautiful old church of Le Puy Notre Dame. A marvellous and enjoyable spectacle. Please contact the owners for more information on dates etc. of these and other events.
How to get there
Budget airline Ryannair flies from Stanstead to Tours and to Poitier airports. Both airports are approx an hour's drive away. Flybe fly from Southampton to Angers airport which is slightly nearer. Cars may be hired from the airports and details can be provided to you.
By car from Calais the route is simple, by motorway via Rouen all the way to Beaufort en Vallee, 29 miles from here.The journey should take between 5 or 6 hours allowing for refreshment and fuel stops.Detailed travel directions noting service stations (Aires), toll booths (Peage) and junctions can be provided with your confirmation of booking.
P&O and Sea France have frequent sailings from Dover to Calais. Speedferries operate from Dover to Boulogne.
Eurotunnel have half-hourly crossings from Ashford (Folkstone) to Calais and the owners find this the quickest way to get here.
Eurostar from St Pancras London to Lille or Paris and then TGV to Angers /Saumur is another good way to travel. Again a car can easily be hired from the stations.
Brittany Ferries have regular crossings from Portsmouth to Le Havre and a speed ferry from Portsmouth to Caen.
Nearest Travel Links
Airport:
Angers, Tours, Poitiers: 55 km
Railway:
Saumur: 22 km
Ferry:
Caen, Le Havre
Activities near Saumur
Sports: Tennis in town Horse Riding Golf within 30 mins drive Fishing
Great for: Walking holidays Rural / countryside retreats Cycling holidays
Facilities
Luxuries:
Log fire, Internet access, DVD player, Private outdoor pool (heated)
General:
Central heating, CD player, Table tennis, Satellite TV
Single beds (4), Double beds (4), Dining seating for 16, Lounge seating for 14, Sleeps maximum of 12
Other:
Linen and towels provided.
Outdoors:
Balcony / Terrace, Private garden, BBQ
Access:
Secure parking
Further details indoors: The 19th century manor house has been sympathetically renovated and retains many original features including a lovely tuffeau fireplace with log fire in the dining room and beams in the kitchen/breakfast room. The rooms are elegant with high ceilings and large windows. The large family kitchen is equipped with new units and appliances. The salon has comfortable sofas, satellite tv and dvd and quality hi fi system. A selection of books and board games cds and dvds are provided for your enjoyment. Broadband Internet access is available. All the ground floor rooms have french windows leading out to the veranda.
With four large double bedrooms, two en suite shower rooms (with walk in showers) and family bathroom, Le Manoir provides versatile accommodation suitable for 4 couples or extended families. King size beds or singles if preferred are provided in three of the bedrooms. The fourth bedroom has a double bed. The manor house sleeps 8 comfortably. An additional young child may be accommodated. Luxury bed linen cushions and throws and quality towels (except pool towels) are all provided.
The two, one bedroom, cottages in the converted coach house retain some of the character of the beautiful old buiding having painted wooden floorboards, honey-oak exposed timbers and galleried first floor bedrooms. The open plan sitting rooms are spacious with contemporary furniture, flat screen tv. dvd and cd players. The stylish fully fitted kitchen areas are equipped with fridge, hob, extractor and oven. The shower rooms have large showers and towel rails and are supplied with luxurious white cotton bathsheets.The lovely bedrooms on the first floor have comfortable, king-size beds with crisp white cotton linen, duvets, large pillows, cushions and throws. If desired twin beds can be arranged.
Further details outdoors: The long veranda along the rear of the manor house provides a shaded area furnished with armchairs for relaxation and dining tables and chairs. It opens onto the lovely lanscaped rear garden with barbeque and further tables and chairs for alfresco dining. The rear garden area is secluded and exclusive to the manor house with direct access to the pool.
The pool area is furnished with stylish wooden loungers and cushions, tables and umbrellas and has a lovely roofed seating area in the shade for most of the day.
The two cottages share a lovely sunny courtyard furnished with tables, umbrellas and chairs for al fresco dining whilst listening to the relaxing sounds of water trickling from the charming fountain set in one corner.
Boules, badminton or table tennis may be enjoyed.
Guests may use the external laundry room with washing machine for a small additional charge.
Secure parking is provided within the grounds entered through a gated drive.
Further details
The owners stay in one of the cottages and will be on hand during your stay to answer any queries and look forward to welcoming you with an aperitif in the evening of your arrival. An arrival pack can be provided to your order.
Conditions
Sorry no pets. Strictly no smoking inside the properties. A deposit of 25% of the rental is payable on reservation. The balance is to be paid 8 weeks before your arrival date. We recommend you take out holiday insurance to cover cancellation. A £600.00 security deposit against damage or breakages is payable on booking.
Rental rates
Rental prices originally quoted in: British £
Convert to:
Period
From
To
Weekly
Nightly rate
Minimum stay
Weekday
Weekend
April
5 Apr 08
3 May 08
1650£ 1,650
0-
0-
1 Week
May
3 May 08
31 May 08
1800£ 1,800
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0-
1 Week
June
31 May 08
28 Jun 08
1950£ 1,950
0-
0-
1 Week
July and August
28 Jun 08
6 Sep 08
2100£ 2,100
0-
0-
1 Week
September
6 Sep 08
27 Sep 08
1950£ 1,950
0-
0-
1 Week
October
27 Sep 08
1 Nov 08
1650£ 1,650
0-
0-
1 Week
November and December
1 Nov 08
20 Dec 08
1500£ 1,500
0-
0-
1 Week
Xmas and New Year
20 Dec 08
3 Jan 09
2100£ 2,100
0-
0-
1 Week
January and February
3 Jan 09
28 Feb 09
1500£ 1,500
0-
0-
1 Week
81
NB: Prices may be subject to change at the owner's discretion. Includes quality bedlinen and bath towels and cleaning pre and post departure. A discount is offered for a second week. The manor house and the cottages may also be rented separately please see our adverts home Nos. 31313 and 31314. Payment to be made in sterling directly into UK bank account.
Guestbook
May 08 "Fantastic. A perfect honeymoon. Lovely hosts and a beautiful place." Angie and Will, Appleton, Cheshire, UK
June 08 "We had a great week at your place. Thank you very much." Andrzej and Olga, Warsaw, Poland.
June 08 "Thank you so much for sharing your beautifully elegant home with us." Peter and Petal, Starvale, mowbray Hill, Mortimer, Berkshire, England.
June 08 "We apologise if we have been rather noisy but it is because we have loved every minute!!" Alison and Lorenc, Berkshire, UK.
June 2008 "Thank you Karin and Simon for a superb holiday here in Montlouis Cottage. Everything has been perfect from your welcome when we first arrived ( wine and chocolates) to your advice on places to visit etc. We have seen so much & found this to be the ideal base for the chateaux & gardens in the surrounding beautiful countryside. Our times spent around the pool have been very relaxing too." Beryl and Ken Delgado, Essex, England
June 2008 Karin and Simon, we,ve had such a lovely 10 days in the Loire. Anjou cottage was perfect for our stay - comfortable and homely. And the grounds are so beautiful ! Thank you for always being so helpful and approachable and for making us feel so welcome. Jo and Paul, London, UK
Availability notes
To see availability please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/31316
Click to view availability for this property.
Contact owner
To contact this owner please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/31316
Contact details for home 31316
Please mention Holiday Lettings
Name:
Simon & Karin Grainger
Tel:
+44 (0)29 20218398
Be aware of time-zones
Languages:
Contact Notes: E mail preferred as we may be in France
Advertiser joined: 19 Nov 2007 This property added: 10 Jan 2008
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