The Locality :
The nearest supermarket – Super U (pronounced Ooo!) – is just 4 minute drive away and is well stocked and has an excellent seafood counter, and well-priced petrol.
There are local sporting attractions including golf at Sept Tours and Bauge, tennis courts in the village, swimming in the local lake and horse riding not far away. There are also a couple of bikes at the house as the area is a cyclist’s paradise with quiet roads to explore.
Wine tasting combined with visits to the local chateaux is an absolute must. In easy distance are three of the major ‘appellation controlee’ wine regions – Saumur Champigney, Bourgueil, and St Nicholas de Bourgeuil.
Eating out in France is always a pleasure – and there are some great restaurants close by which we will be delighted to recommend – there is something to suit all ages and budgets, and if you really get home sick, there is always the curry house in Saumur! Curry – not quite as we know it, but still very enjoyable.
Places to See - Saumur and Tours:
Places to see: Le Clos is perfectly placed to visit many of the interesting towns in the region. From our experience we suggest you try to include visits to the following:
Saumur: Saumur is best known for its sparkling wines, mushrooms and fine horse riders. The towns rich history is easy to see during a walk through the attractive streets of the old quarter.
The story book chateau is set on a hill high above the town; making is easy for visitors to locate Saumur’s old quarter which lies between the chateau and the river.
Tours: The mediaeval old town is full of narrow streets lined with beautiful half-timbered houses. Now sensitively restored, it is a lively area crammed with little cafes, bars and restaurants that attract locals as well as tourists.
There are also numerous chic fashion boutiques and small shops devoted to craftwork and kitchen equipment. At its heart is the attractive Place Plumereau, which in fine weather is filled with parasol-shaded cage tables
Places to See - Chinon and Angers:
Chinon: The Chateau of Chinon stands on a gold coloured cliff above the River Vienne. It is here that Joan of Arc began her transformation from peasant girl to warrior saint.
A walk through the narrow streets to the east of the Château shows just how much the city has to offer. High above the place Jeanne d’Arc is the Chapelle de Ste Radegonde, carved into the limestone cliff. Behind this 12th century frescoed chapel are ancient hermit caves and winding steps to make you feel quite dizzy to the well below.
Angers; Situated on the River Maine, only 8kms before it joins the Loire, Angers was once the power base for many of the notorious mediaeval counts of Anjou.
Today it is a thriving university town, with wide boulevards, beautiful public gardens and narrow older streets evocative of its long history.