The estate of L'Isle covers 1.6 hectares which is bordered by a small river. The grounds are home to countless fruit trees and rose bushes, a vegetable garden, two large grassed areas, a pond, a boules pitch and an impressive beach volleyball court. You can choose whether to just laze about, walk, play badminton, football, boules or of course volleyball. You will find peace and quiet, sun and shade, lounger and hammock, plus plenty of space for parking and activities. With a bit of luck you’ll also see deer around the grounds.
The buildings themselves are a very old farm, built in the traditional style and renovated and modernised without sacrificing any of the original character and charm. The walls are half a metre thick, constructed of tufa, with oak-beamed ceilings. Central heating throughout and the renovated and insulated slate roof means the house is pleasantly cool in the summer and warm in the winter, whilst the convenience of the modern features ensures your comfort.
Loire River: The Loire River is the longest river of France, rising in the southern Massif Central and flowing north and west for 1,020 km to the Atlantic Ocean. The most famous part of the Loire river valley is the château region— the 150 km section of the valley, between Angers and Blois—once home to France's kings, and now a striking reminder of the spacious, courtly lifestyles of the 15th and early 16th century aristocracy. In addition to Châteaux, this part of the Loire also contains attractive cities and towns, some charming countryside, art treasures, and delicious cuisine.
Ranked one of the top 10 places to go cycling in France, the Loire River area is a must do. Most of the Loire River runs through flat plains, rolling meadows, and in very low populated country side. Thanks to this simple terrain, cycling the Loire River in France can be achieved by even the most novice of bike riders. If you would like to try it, just for one day, we can provide you with bikes and maps.
Castles and Gardens: Everybody knows that the Loire Valley is home to some of the most beautiful French castles and gardens. The most famous castles, like Amboise, Blois, Chambord, and Chenonceaux are maybe too long a drive from our estate, but that still leaves plenty of others to discover. Within one hour drive you can find the castles of Montgeoffroy, Baugé, Angers, Brissac, Saumur, Le Plessis-Bourré, Montsoreau, Fontevraud, Ussé, Langeais, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, and Villandry. Villandry is one of our favourites. Best known for its gardens, a French archetypal potager, a kitchen garden, elevated to a regal plain and Frenchified to the maximum, with its seemingly endless geometric parterres edged in immaculately clipped boxwood. But the potager forms only part of what in fact is a painstaking and loving restoration of the gardens of a Renaissance château, fraught with romantic symbolism and amenities, features designed for pure pleasure and an absolute joy to take a stroll.
Wine: The Loire Valley is also home to some fifty wine regions including Anjou, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon, Coteaux de l'Aubance, Coteaux du Layon, Saint Nicolas de Bourgueil, Saumur-Champigny, Savennières, Touraine and Vouvray. All of these are within an hour’s drive of our house and we’ll be happy to take you a local grower if you would like to sample the range available. White, rosé and red, sparkling or still, and a couple of very famous dessert wines are all produced locally and with great care. We can take you to small, family businesses or bigger and more famous enterprises. Every week we organise a tour at Domaine de la Tuffière or one of the other vineyards nearby. We can also provide you with a map so you can discover the wine regions yourself.
