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Markets - Activites - Family Attractions - Places to visit
French markets there is usually one in each town every week, here are a few to choose from.
Bourgueil: Tuesday morning until 12.00pm, a superb market and one of our favourites, with a superb range of fresh produce, crafts etc.
Vernantes: Wednesday morning until 12.00pm, a small friendly market.
Saumur: Saturday morning throughout the beautiful town centre a lovely bustling market, with a superb range of stalls and produce, until just after lunch. Also situated on the island between the old bridges Thursday mornings until 12.00pm.
Noyant: Friday mornings until 12.00pm, a good market with a wide choice of stalls.
Langeais: Sunday mornings until 12.00pm, a lovely market in a picturesque and friendly town.
For those of you who like your English tea, sauces biscuits etc but don't want to be bothered with bringing them with you, there is a lovely shop in the nearby village of Vernoil Le Fourrier opened in April 2005 it sells a good variety of English products and some beautiful regional products including pottery, soaps, etc, all made by local artisans which can make lovely gifts to yourself or others!!!
For those of you who enjoy sport, you will find nearby, a whole range of activities, including: -
- Tennis: This can be arranged on the courts in the village.
- Swimming: In our private pool or a choice of nearby lakes.
- Fishing: Again at nearby lakes, Homme the easiest being the "pay as you fish".
- Canoeing: On the River Loire, from Chinon or Saumur.
- Cycling: This area is superb for cycling, as it is quite flat and the roads don't have much traffic.
- Walking: is very popular, should you wish there are various trails to complete for ramblers.
- Golf: There is a choice of superb courses, please see below for golf information.
- Horse riding: This is available at the nearby village of Vernoil Le Fourrier, where you can pay for an hour's lesson no matter what age, or to go riding by yourself.
Golf du ChĊteau des Sept Tours.
It is about 14 miles in distance and 25 minutes in time. The course comprises 18 holes with par 72 over 6200 metres. There are three practice holes, a driving range and a practice chipping green and bunker.
Golf d'Ardree.
A charming ChĊteau, rolling parkland and natural lakes provide the backdrop for the truly beautiful course of Golf d'Ardree the course comprises 18 holes and is par 71 covering a distance of 5804 metres.
Golf de Loudun.
Situated south of the river Loire, Golf de Loudun is about 30 minutes drive, and well worth a visit. The course comprises 18 holes with a par 72 over 6400 metres. It has some 20 covered practice boxes and a practice putting green.
Anjou Golf & Country Club.
Venturing further a field is the Anjou Golf Club, some 40 minutes drive, it offers a technical course which is, nevertheless, ideal for golfers seeking relaxation.
Golf Club de Baugé - Pontigné.
The course is a par 72 over a distance of 6287 metres and, while it does not yet offer full club house facilities.
Golf de Touraine.
Situated south of the river Loire about 5 miles from Tours, To combine a game at Touraine with a visit to the old town of Tours is a must.
There are lots of attractions to see in the Loire but families with children realise that that they require something more than Châteaux to keep their interest. Over the last 10 years the tourist industry has become aware of the need to entertain the children on holiday and there are now many activities that are either solely for families or attractions that have an area of interest to children.
Zoos are ever popular with children, and adults, and offer an ever changing scene to the visitor.
- La Fléche There are 800 wild animals here and also a museum.
- Doué-la-Fountaine is one of the best in Europe and uses the old caves where the tofu was quarried to house some 500 animals.
Another theme park with a difference is the Puy du Fou, situated in the Vendee, between Cholet and La- Roche- sur-Yon, there is so much to see and experience here from Jousting, and Chariot racing, recreated gladiatorial combats, to interactive displays, workshops, and the new authentically recreated 1900’s village, definitely not to be missed though is the amazing Cinèscenie, a finely choreographed action display in the open air performed by actors set to cinema-quality sound, then in the evening the spectacular Son-et- Lumière,- simply outstanding.
Lulu Park - Ideal for children from 3 to 14, this is not a swimming pool but a park full of inflatables with water running down or around. Your children will enjoy bouncing and jumping around the huge shapes and shooting down the slides.
Aquarium du Val de Loire is Europe's biggest fresh water aquarium. Here you can see some of the giant species that live in the Loire also tropical fish, turtles, alligators, piranhas and even sharks from around the world.
Park Mini-Château - All the family will enjoy walking around this lovely park filled with miniature replicas of the magnificent chateaux of the Loire. A model railway runs around the chateaux, through the countryside and over the streams.
No need to explain about Disneyland Resort Paris, located at Marne La Valleé, is approximately 3 hours by car, one and a half hours by T.G.V. from Tours.
 Château de Villandry.
A wonderful restored Renaissance château and garden, built on flat land by the banks of the River Cher near to where it joins the River Loire. The property passed through many hands and suffered many changes before it was bought in 1906 by the present owner's grandfather Dr Joachim Carvallo, a Spaniard who had come to France to study medicine. He meticulously restored the buildings and made the garden that we see today, influenced by the book 'Les Plus Excellents Bâtiments de France' by J. A. du Cerceau (c1515-c84).
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 Château d'Ussé.
This Château was the inspiration for Charles Perrault's folk tale "Sleeping Beauty".
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 Château de Chenonceau.
In a superb setting and very romantic on a summers evening, everyone loves this Château, and gardens, you can hire rowing boats or take boat trips on the river, which the children love. There is also a good restaurant in the grounds, or if you prefer to picnic there are a number of tables in shady places, situated near the main gates.
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 Château d'Amboise.
Although all but the royal apartments are still in ruins, this 15th century structure, is an awesome site. Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life here. The main street, which lies along the base of the Château at first seems quite touristy, but there are some nice shops, wonderful cafés, and a few terrific restaurants. |
 Château de Brßzß.
For those of you with children the Château de Brßzß, is in two parts, both above and below ground, where there is an old medieval château, where hundreds of people lived many years ago, this has proved very popular with guests children, as their imagination goes wild!! It's also great for the adults as you can taste and buy the wine they have for sale, which is a lovely fruity white, superb on a summers evening. |
 Château de Saumur.
A majestic Château, with stunning views overlooking the town and River Loire, in the Château itself there is a porcelain collection of miniatures. In the grounds there is a lovely tearoom restaurant where you can sit on the terrace and enjoy the spectacular views.
There is much to do and see in Saumur which is our nearest town, it is home to the famous Cadre Noir, who host horsemanship shows each July, for more information visit www.ville-saumur.fr |