Paulette presents her recommendations in the Loire Valley. A hotel? A restaurant? A visit? Everything is informed here!

ACCOMODATION

We do not know about you, but we like to try the castle life. After all, the banks of the Loire are the perfect place to try the experience.

Nantes – Hôtel La Pérouse 

Embark on an urban and architectural experience in the center of Nantes, a stone's throw from the Dukes of Brittany castle. With its "20th Century Heritage" distinction, the hotel's architecture pays tribute to Nantes' heritage.

Varades (Saint-Florent-le-Vieil) - Le Palais Briau

Spend the night in a 19th century manor house, in the middle of an 18-hectare park! Sleep in luxurious Napoleon III style rooms and suites for an unforgettable experience!

Angers – Château des Forges 

Taste the castle life in a huge house renovated with style and modernity. A small corner of paradise located at the gates of Angers, which you will reach by following the banks of the Marne.

Saumur – Hôtel Anne d’Anjou 

Close to the city center, you will have a breathtaking view of the Loire or the castle! You can also enjoy the wellness area!

Rigny-Ussé – Le Clos d’Ussé 

Spend the night in a typical house of the region, two steps away from the castle of Ussé, known as "Sleeping Beauty"!

Tours – Hôtel du Cygne 

Stay in an elegant 18th century residence, close to the castle, the banks of the Loire and its guinguettes! A bohemian spirit and a luminous patio welcome you for a well-deserved moment of relaxation.

GASTRONOMY

Now it is time for a feast! Here are our recommendations for eating like kings!

Nantes – Art N’ Blum 

Creative cuisine, inspired by the chef's experiences and travels. The dishes are matched with wines selected from the producers. Everything is gathered to spend a warm and greedy moment.

Varades (Saint-Florent-le-Vieil) – La Closerie des Roses 

This gastronomic restaurant welcomes you on the banks of the Loire in an exceptional setting. The menu evolves with the seasons and honors the best local products.

Angers – La Rue Sauvage 

An inventive, healthy cuisine, based on seasonal, local and organically grown products! What to make your taste buds melt with pleasure!

Saumur – Le Pot de Lapin 

A must-see address as much for the human aspect as for the pleasure of the taste buds. The restaurant offers a traditional cuisine based on local products but an explosion of flavors.

Rigny-Ussé – La Cabane à Matelot 

La Cabane à Matelot gives back to the fish of the Loire their letters of nobility! The menu is adapted according to the fishing and the arrival of selected producers for your greatest pleasure!

Tours – Les Canailles 

Because the simplest things are sometimes the best, Les Canailles offers you a fine, tasty and balanced cuisine, quality being the key word.

POINTS OF INTEREST

Here are our top 10 things not to miss in Anjou!

The island of Béhuard

Classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, Béhuard is the only commune to be an island on the Loire. Labelled "Petite Cité de Caractère", this small town of about a hundred inhabitants welcomes many visitors for a fishing trip, a stroll, a gourmet break at the guinguette or a pilgrimage. It's your turn to succumb to the charms of the city!

The national domain of the castle of Angers

Built under the reign of Blanche de Castille in the 13th century, the castle of Angers is somewhat intimidating and dissuasive: on its rocky promontory, it is not far from 500 meters long and has 17 massive towers! You enter through the drawbridge and discover the gardens, filled with laurels and roses. Do not forget to admire the famous tapestry of the Apocalypse, a unique masterpiece of medieval art.

Saumur

Known as the "pearl of Anjou", Saumur is an elegant city with its castle and its tufa houses. It also has many talents: the art of living, the art of wine, the art of horsemanship. On the wine side, many renowned houses are located on its lands, Gratien & Meyers, Veuve Amiot; and a whole underground life is dedicated to bubbles. As for equestrian art, the academy was founded in the 16th century. Today it is an institution in the equestrian world. Guided tours, presentations and galas are offered by the famous Cadre Noir.

The Abbey of Fontevraud

Built almost a thousand years ago, the Abbey of Fontevraud is a singular place, with impressive dimensions and unique architecture. It is the largest monastic city in Europe preserved in its original state, once hosting a mixed monastic order, which was led for two centuries by abbesses of royal blood. Today, it is a place of history, culture, and gastronomy, housing the graves of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart.

The villages of Montsoreau and Candes-Saint-Martin

Located at the confluence of the Loire and the Vienne, in the heart of the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park, these two charming villages will be the places of a well-deserved break in your itinerary. They will know how to fill your eyes!

The castle of Ussé

The castle of Ussé seems to come straight out of a fairy tale. In fact, it is said to have inspired Charles Perrault's tale of Sleeping Beauty. Its interior is impressive, and its magnificent gardens descend in terraces to the Indre river. A visit that is worth the detour!

The castle of Langeais

It was the place of marriage of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VIII. If its facade can seem massive and austere, the castle of Langeais gathers, in its interior, true treasures: old furniture, colored tapestries... It is extremely well preserved. Moreover, its drawbridge is still in working order! Take advantage of your presence to walk in its beautiful park with trees.

The castle of Azay-le-Rideau

The castle of Azay-le-Rideau was built during the reign of François 1er. The building has all the charm of the Renaissance: it is an architectural masterpiece paying tribute to the 16th century style. Inside, you will find historical decorations retracing its 4 centuries of existence, magnificent collections of objects, tapestries and furniture that will put you in the atmosphere of the past. The residence is surrounded by an English garden extending over 8 hectares and offering numerous viewpoints on the castle. Ideal for a romantic stroll.

The castle and the gardens of Villandry

The visit of the castle and the gardens of Villandry is a must! The gardens are organized in four terraces: the ornamental garden, the water garden, the garden of the simple, and the sun garden. With its labyrinth and its colorful vegetable garden, the site, enchanting, seems to come straight out of a fairy tale. As for the castle, it dates from the 16th century and houses beautiful Spanish and Louis XV furniture as well as an interesting collection of paintings. The terrace of the dungeon will offer you a sublime view on the gardens.

Tours

The former capital of the kingdom of France will charm you with its medieval cobbled streets, its lively downtown, its gourmet markets, and its rich cultural life. You will go to the Saint-Gatien cathedral with its richly decorated façade. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries on the remains of the Gallo-Roman city, it houses the tomb of the children of Anne de Bretagne and Charles VIII. Adjacent to the north side, is the cloister of the Psalette, which is also worth a visit.  Do not miss the royal castle, witness of a rich past: it hosted the wedding of Marie d'Anjou and Charles VII as well as the return of Joan of Arc, victorious on her return from Orléans. End your visit with a stroll in the botanical garden, a must-see place for a walk! Finally, stop time in this city of centuries of history with a glass of Vouvray or Chinon wine.

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