On 18 April 2010 there is the daytime Carnival – i.e. a parade of floats with music and dancers during the daytime starting at 2.00pm

On Wednesday 21 April 2010 there is a parade for Children (Carnaval des Enfants) starting at 11.00am

On Saturday 24 April 2010 the (Parade nocturne) nighttime Carnaval starts at 9,00pm

For more info see www.nantes.fr

Saumur  (49 Maine et Loire, Pays de Loire)

Where to stay

Where to eat (recommended):

Le Bellevue (above) also offers Tables d’Hote (“host’s table, fixed price menu – booked in advance) – their “Découverte du Terroir’ is something you won’t find in a restaurant.  Carefully selected by Gérald the large plateau of local delicacies and handed down recipes from Grandma ensure a true French supper.  Accompanied by a complimentary bottle of AOC Saumur wine, dine leisurely in the peaceful grounds of ‘the Domaine.

Where to eat (gourmet):

l’Hélianthe (The Helianthos) – for good food and a fabulous setting,  a  “restaurant troglodytique” (set in troglodyte caves).  Highly recommended.

Place Antoine Cristal, Turquant - about 10km south-east of Saumur along the river valley.
T: 02.41.51.22.28

La Licorne – a Michelin starred restaurant serving modern French cuisine  in the historical town of Fontrevraud l’Abbaye (abput 15km southeast of Saumur)

Restaurant la Licorne, Allée Sainet Catherine, Fontrevaud l’Abbaye
T:02.41.51.72.49

Where to eat (value for money):

For a picnic or snack between sight-seeing visits step into any boulangerie for a sandwich, quiche or slice of pizza followed by a mouth watering pastry.

Local food:

The specialty of the Saumur region are les Fouées, hollow unleavened breads filled with rillettes and confit de canard, served hot and accompanied by another specialty, large grilled mushrooms dripping with garlic & parsley butter – yummy !!

Local wine:

Saumur has its own appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC Saumur) and produces a wide variety of wines including sparkling, white, rosé and red.  For those interested in learning more about wine the Beaumonts (above)  offer private wine tours & wine tastings and vineyard visits.

Market:

Saumur hosts a fabulous Saturday morning market full of fresh produce, livestock! and stalls with plenty of goodies you’ll want to take home with you.

Must See:

Château de Saumur – dominates the town of Saumur at the edge of the Loire river
Cadre Noir at the National Equestrian School of the elite French Cavalry
Visit a Loire Valley vineyard
A Loire Valley wine tour & wine tasting

When to come :

Saumur’s Wine Festival “La Marché des Vins de Saumur” which takes place the first weekend in September (4-6 September 2009)

Getting around:

Why not try cycling – the well-established Loire à Velo scheme  which offers cycling along the gentle banks of the Loire  with well-signposted cycle paths and itineraries.

There are also plenty of well-marked footpaths in the area – along the river and away from it – see www.saumur-rando.com (in French)

Local Tourist Office -

and remember this section of the Loire Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site – The Loire Valley is noteworthy for the quality of its architectural heritage, in its historic towns such as Blois, Chinon, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours, but in particular in its world-famous castles, such as the Château de Chambord.

Thanks to Sarah-Jane Beaumont at Le Bellevue for some of these recommendations

This comes at the same time as Ryanair has also announced the cancelling of many flights from Stansted over this winter.

So, much will depend on when you want to fly and how much you are willing to pay – and as always with Ryanair make sure that you take into account the additional costs that will be added to the headline price – i.e for online booking, baggage, priority boarding etc. However, the new Ryanair destination airports are local to the named city – but some airports can be some distance from the named city- e.g. Paris Beauvais is 50 miles (80km) north of Paris and takes about an hour and 15 minutes by bus.

For more info on Ryanair flights and destinations see www.ryanair.com
Air routes to France

Meanwhile budget airline Easyjet starts flights from London Luton to Montpellier in southern France from 7 July 2009 – well-positioned for the mediterranean beaches and the other joys of Provence and the Languedoc. – see www.easyjet.com

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For 10 days visitors can explorethe biggest ornamental flower show in France. This year’s theme “Pouvoir des fleurs” – or roughly translated as “Flower Power”! or to put it in the usual French  “flowery” phraseology:

“The power of plants in their own right and their contribution to our life on Earth”.

The Show takes place at the Parc des expositions, La Beaujoire in Nantes
Hours : from 9.30 am to 11 pm

For more info see www.comite-des-floralies.com

set in a quiet hamlet in the  beautiful Mayenne countryside, on the border with Normandy and Brittany.It  is only 20 minutes from the A84 autoroute, which links the Channel ports of Cherbourg and Caen with Brittany and the Loire Valley…has five bedrooms on the upper floor, including a family suite. On the ground floor, there is a large dining room and a comfortable lounge area for guests to relax in. The extensive landscaped gardens have a beautiful terrace for outdoor eating or relaxing, and a lake completes the idyllic countryside setting

This English-owned B&B has five tastefully decorated double or twin bedded rooms, including a family suite, suitable for families of up to 6 people and makes an ideal base for touring the many delights of the area or as a stop-over on the journey west or southwards.

Le Mont St Michel is 40 minutes by car. Other towns in the area are Fougeres, Rennes, Dinan, St Malo and many more.

The famous racing circuit of Le Mans is an hour and a half away, as are the beaches of the 1944 Normandy landings and the Bayeux Tapestry.

To find out more about the B&B use the enquiry form below:-

cforms contact form by delicious:days

For more info on the region see www.tourisme-mayenne.com

For 2009 the dates are April 9, 16 and 21; May 2,9,14 and 28; June 4,11,18 and 25; July 2,23 and 30; August 27; September 3,10 and 24;October 1

As if there was not enough to see and do in the Loire Valley with Chateaux, wineries and great scenery!

For more info see www.cadrenoir.fr

Throughout 2009 the Chateau d’Angers (49 Maine-et-Loire) in the heart of the Loire Valley, celebrates the 600th Anniversary of King René, Duke of Anjou and “Knight of the Arts” who was born there on 16 January 1409.

Ten sites in the province of Anjou invite you to celebrate this 600th anniversary through a wide range of events recalling this multifaceted and remarkable character.
All through the year 2009, let you be driven to an unexpected tour: tournaments and exhibitions, concerts and falconry shows, conferences and outstanding visits.

The venues include the sites of Angers, Baugé, Chanzeaux, Launay,(Villebernier)les Ponts-de- Cé, Montriou( Feneu), Saumur.

For more info see www.monuments-nationaux.fr/

Laval is also well-known for the extravagance of its Christmas lights which adds a festive atmosphere to the town centre from 29 Nov 08 to 5 Jan 2009

For more info see www.laval-tourisme.com

However at Domaine du Closel/Chateau des Vaults at Savennières AC (west of Angers) in the Loire Valley are offering enthusiasts the opportunity to get closer to the harvest and wine-making process with their “Harvest Adventure”

Take part in the celebration of the centuries-old tradition of grape harvesting hosted by the winemaking team of Domaine du Closel – Château des Vaults.
On the 27th of September and 11th of October Domaine du Closel-Château des Vaults invites you to spend the day at the historic 17 hectares (42-acre) vineyard in the Savennières appellation of the Loire Valley; a vineyard with the best terroirs of the region.
Space is limited ! To reserve your space for the Harvest Adventure, please contact Audrey Vergondy
on +33 (0)2 72 81 00 or request your booking form via email at chateau.des.vaults@orange.fr

This could be quite an experience – you are not expected to do the back-breaking work of picking the grapes, but the programme for each day does include an introduction to wine-making, a go at sorting grapes picked from 100 year-old vines, a chance to crush grapes with your feet, a vineyard brunch with music and dancing, a tasting and finishes off with a Gourmet Harvest Dinner with one of the region’s top chefs.

Savennières AC is a small prized wine area which many consider to produce the finest Chenin Blanc wines in the world. The stony vineyards lie on slopes of slate and sandstone which must be worked by hand, as they are too steep for machinery. Situated close to the Loire river, warmer temperatures and early morning fogs protect the vines from frost, a common problem in the area. The stoney soil retains heat from the sun providing warmth at night. At one time, Savennières was made sweet, but the style has evolved over the years to a point where Savennières is now made fully dry. (For more on Savennieres and the wines of the Loire Valley see www.loirevalleywine.com

There’s a new free map and guide available from InterLoire (the official wine body for the region) to the vineyards of the Loire Valley available to download and in English:-

The light glistening on the river and its tributaries is a wonderful sight. The cellars carved into white limestone, magical châteaux, magnificent gardens, hillsides covered in vines ; hundreds of sights that still hold the memory of kings, queens, princes and artists like Rabelais, Ronsard, Balzac, Leonardo da Vinci, and Joachim du Bellay… The Loire vineyards offer charm, grace and surprise around every corner. It is a region for good living, a valley of abundance, a source of flavourful wines and generous aromas,and we would like to share all that with you.

This wine region (which does not include other appellations which are nevertheless close to the River Loire such as Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé, Quincy, Menetou-Salon etc – these are all classified as “Vins du Centre” ) does cover the Loire from the Atlantic to Orleans and includes 68 separate appellations and has more than 7,000 wine producers making it France’s third most important vineyard.

For each winemaker there is a comprehensive entry – e.g. for one of our favourites, the Domaine Leduc-Frouin in Anjou:-

Domaine Leduc-Frouin
The Leduc-Frouin estate invites you to discover its wines in a guided tasting session. Guided tours upon request. Groups: tours and wine tastings, reservations necessary for meals.
Monday – Friday: 9 am -12 pm / 2 pm – 6 pm, Saturday: 2 pm – 6 pm, and mornings by appointment only.
AOC Anjou Blanc ; Anjou Gamay ; Anjou Rouge ; Anjou Villages ; Cabernet d’Anjou ; Coteaux du Layon ; Rosé d’Anjou ; Rosé de Loire ; Saumur Brut.
Antoine et Nathalie LEDUC La Seigneurie – Sousigné
T:02 41 59 42 83
info@leduc-frouin.com
www.leduc-frouin.com

This is an invaluable guide to wine touring in the region, which does offer many delights for the wine and food enthusiast and others.

Download the map and guide
For more on Domaine Leduc-Frouin see www.frenchduck.co.uk

Over 40,000 visitors attend this magnificent display of rose designs and rose sculptures held in the underground caves of the Roman Arena.
Enjoy the variety of aromas, harmony of colours and multitudes of intoxicating perfumes.

See our customised map of the area

For more info on the Journeees de la Rose see  www.journeesdelarose.com/

Doué’s other main attraction is the Zoo de Doué (or Bio Park as they call themselves!) – but you are also close to the vineyards of Anjou – why not visit our friends at Domaine Leduc-Frouin – see our map for other ideas

More than 8,000 eggs are broken to make the omelettes to eat at the fete, also there is a grand show of birds, parrots and fancy fowl! For more info see http://www.beaulieu-sur-layon.com

It all started in Paris with the Velib’ Scheme – an amalgam of Velo (cycle) and Liberte (free), which has been a tremendous success.

Vélib’ is a Self Service “bike hire” system available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Multi pick up and drop off location allows you to pick up your bike from one service point and drop off to another.

You need to subscribe, but for visitors there are 1-day and 7-day subscriptions and after the first 30 minutes you pay by the half-hour – e.g. a 90-minute hire will cost just €3 and you can pick up and drop off your bike at any of the hundreds of self-service stations across the city.

The Velib’ scheme has been based on a similar scheme VeloV in Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes) France’s second city. The combination of these eco-friendly and fitness focussed schemes is now spreading throughout France:-
VeloCite in Mulhouse (68 Haut-Rhin, Alsace) and Besancon (25 Doubs, Franche-Comté)
Vhello in Aix-en-Provence (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Le Velo in Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence)
Velo in Toulouse (34 Haut Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees)
Nantes (44 Loire-Atlantique, Val de Loire)
Rouen (76 Seine Maritime, Normandy)
Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine)
Velostan in Nancy (54 Meurthe et Moselle, Lorraine)
Velo+ in Orleans (45 Loiret, Centre)
Velomagg in Montpellier (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon)

This is clearly a popular scheme, mainly aimed at local residents but may also offer a different way of seeing some of France’s major cities from a different perspective. However, I would recommend choosing a city with good cycle lanes and paths – you do get the impression that traffic in many of France’s cities is not very forgiving with errant cyclists – so do not try cycling around the rond-point of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris!!

Inevitably there are some urban myths developing – such as the fact that there are always plenty of bikes at the bottom of the Butte de Montmartre, but none at the top – for obvious reasons. And you can get caught out in busy locations if you cannot find an empty slot in which to return your bike!

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Information on domestic flights in France is not easy to come by, one reason being that Air France has such a dominant position in France and already have flights on most internal routes.
Plus the French market is not as competitive. The French Railway system between major cities is both fast and competitive, especially if starting from Paris.
I have only been able to uncover a couple of airlines which offer domestic flights in France:-
http://www.easyjet.com/ – Toulouse to Lyon, Paris, Nice to Paris; Lyon to Biarritz, Bordeaux; Biarritz to Paris

http://www.twinjet.net/
Toulouse (32 Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees) to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse, Brest; Marseille to Metz/Nancy, Mulhouse; Paris - Perigueux, Cherbourg

http://www.airlinair.fr/ Brest,(29 Finistere, Brittany) Bordeaux (33 Gironde, Aquitaine), Agen (47 Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine), Lyon (69 Rhone, Rhone-Alpes), Poitiers (86 Vienne, Poitou-Charentes), Brive (19 Correze, Limousin) Beziers (34 Herault, Languedoc-Roussillon) etc

http://www.ryanair.com/ now also has links from Marseille (13 Bouches-du-Rhone, Provence) to Lille (59 Nord, Nord-Pas de Calais) and Brest (29 Finistere, Brittany)

You can try sites like http://www.expedia.fr/ but even a price comparison site like http://www.baisse-de-prix.com/voyages.php seems to offer little new – it looks like Air France have cornered the market with little opportunity for discounting.

For more info on the race see www.lemans.org

When the town is not full of racing enthisuasts, it is well worth a visit with a fine old medieval city centre to explore – see www.lemanstourisme.com

For more about the region and our customised searchable map CLICK HERE
Find best rates for hotels in Le Mans

12th & 13th JUNE 2010 – The Le Mans 24 Hours

The 78th running of the greatest endurance race in the world will take place on the big 13,629-km circuit, which also uses part of the Bugatti layout (built in 1966), and a section of the main Le Mans-Tours road closed to traffic for the event.

On this layout, the record for the greatest distance covered in the race is held by David Brabham, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz, the 2009 winners; they covered 382 laps, a distance of 5.206,278 kms at an average speed of 216,664 km/h. 2010 will be the last year for the current LM P prototypes and grand touring cars (LM GT), as a new set of technical regulations will come into force in 2011. Every year, the Le Mans 24 Hours attracts a big crowd, 234 800 spectators in 2009, for example. Topping the 2010 bill is the revenge match between Audi and Peugeot so there is every likelihood this figure will be exceeded.

Since 1994, the village of Rablay-sur-Layon has rallied round to organise a free festival of theatre, music and singing. For 2 days, twenty or so different shows are put on in various areas and squares around the village.

The winegrowers of Rablay play an active part in preparing for the event and organize aperitif concerts and a vintage wine tasting area.

Rablay-sur-Layon (49 Maine-et-Loire, Val de Loire) lies due south of the city of Angers and not far from our favourite Anjou wine producer – Antoine Leduc at Domaine Leduc-Frouin who makes an excellent Coteaux du Layon AC.

Antoine is a very talented and respected winemaker, and also a delightful host if he happens to be around when you visit the cellars. He is ably assisted by his enthusiastic sister Natalie and their mother. We imported their wines for many years and often the wines were truly superb.

For more info on Rablay and its festival see www.rablaysurlayon.com
For more on this area see our customised map

A car & minibus hire company in Port Vallières (37 Indre-et-Loire, Centre) just west of Tours on the Loire offers self-drive hire of the Citroen TA which could offer a great way to explore the vineyards and chateaux of Touraine (Touraine AC, Vouvray AC, Cheverny, Cour-Cheverny AC etc).

Quart de Tours, 184 Quai des Bateliers, Port Vallières, 37320 Fondettes

Other options for drving classic cars in France can be found at the  Chateau Hotel de la Barre near Le Mans (72 Sarthe, Val de Loire) :

Test drive your dream car across 200 km of scenic roads and reach full acceleration and performance during two laps on the legendary 24 hours Le Mans circuit. Or go straight to the track for any number of laps from 4 to 24! A Ferrari 430 or 599 GTB, a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 530, a Porsche 997 GT3)

Or for a more british experience see www.the-classic-route.com where you can hire a classic Morgan sports car from the British owners and tour the delightful roads of SouthWest France(32 Haute Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees).

And in Brittany (and  other locations including Paris and Amboise) you can hire and drive classic Citroen TAs with Vintage Roads

For more info see www.vinsdeloire.fr

Yapp is good with Loire wines and offers a Muscadet de Sevre-et-Maine from Domaine de la Morlaine at £6.95: “Bone dry with a subdued saline nose and a braving citric zest on the palate.”

For more info see Nantes Tourist Office

For more on the Tour de France 2008 see www.letour.fr/
For details of coverage on ITV see www.itv.com

For more on the Tour de France 2008 see www.letour.fr/
For details of coverage on ITV see www.itv.com

For more on the domaine see www.domainedufontenay.com

South of the Angers and the Loire river, near Martigne-Briand in the heart of the Anjou and Coteaux du Layon appellations, the domaine is situated at Sousigné. The domaine produces Anjou red, Anjou-Villages red, Anjou Blanc Sec (dry white), a Chardonnay, Cabernet d’Anjou, Rosé d’Anjou, Rosé de Loire, Coteaux du Layon (dessert wine) and sparking Saumur.

Visitors are always welcome – but do phone ahead in case they are busy in the cellar or vines.

“La Seigneurie” was the property of the Marquis de Becquedelivière until 1933 when the Leduc-Frouin family, who had cultivated it since 1873, became the owners. The vineyard has been using “natural” techniques for over 4 years now with a regime known as “Terra Vitis” – a charter for production which respects both the soil and the vine.
The domaine is run by Madame Leduc, her son, Antoine and his sister Nathalie – in the village of Sousigné to the east of Martigné-Briand and south of Angers.

The domaine is quite a beauty-spot with remains of numerous troglodyte dwellings dug out of the sedimentary rock.The 32 hectare vineyard itself is situated on a gently-rising slope facing south. For reds the Cabernet Franc and Grolleau grapes are grown, whilst for the whites it is predominantly Chenin Blanc with a small amount of Chardonnay.
All harvesting is undertaken by hand (about 30 people are required) enabling careful selection and cutting of the bunches.

For the white wines a delicate pressing is undertaken as soon as the grapes arrive in the cellar. The temperature during fermentation is kept between 15o and 20o. Rosé wines are obtained by a brief maceration of the skins for between 24 and 36 hours. For red wines the bunches are de-stemmed followed by maceration for a period of 10-15 days. The juice is pumped over daily to ensure that the maximum extract.

Anjou AC Rouge Domaine Leduc-Frouin
extraordinarliy fresh and fruity – tons of raspberry juiciness make this a delightful red and great example of a different style of Cabernet Franc than the 1998 vintage which we also listed. Significantly, this wine is made under the names of Antione & Nathalie Leduc – the younger generation – although the nature of the vintage is probably more significant, as Nathalie and Antoine have been actively involved in the domaine for many years.

Anjou-Villages AC Rouge Domaine Leduc-Frouin
This is an excellent example of Cabernet Franc – the red grape of the Loire. With some bottle age and older vines,the ripe raspberry fruitiness is blending wonderfully with the tannins to produce a seriously good wine with great depth and complexity – great with roast lamb!
“A light spicy aroma leads to a palate of blackcurrant fruits and ripe tannins”
Only Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are used – Cabernet Franc for elegance and smoothness, Cabernet Sauvignon, harvested from vines on stony hot soils, is responsible for the wines’ structure and tannins.
It is clear from its garnet red and intense colour that this is a fine wine of rich complexity, Its distinctive nose – the Cabernet Franc providing notes of violet, iris, strawberry and raspberry, combines with the Cabernet Sauvignon from which it takes its powerful aromas of blackcurrants and dewberries. The wine-making process and its maturing for at least 12 months in oak, result in a wine with smooth tannins, rich in substance and enabling it to age up to 15 years.

Cabernet d’Anjou AC Domaine Leduc-Frouin
A rich, sweeter rosé with delicate acidity and buckets of summerfruit flavours (Loire). This is not one of those indifferent Loire rosés we used to find in the supermarket – this has tons of character and a multiplicity of flavours AND, although sweetish, it is not a cloying sugary sweetness – more the natural sweetness of summer fruits. Don’t disregard it as a “wine for granny” (although Grannies will enjoy it I’m sure) – try it with spicy, exotic foods such as Thai or Chinese dishes where the flavours will both enhance and contrast with the wine.
UK Wines Online says “A blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The climate during 2003 has brought plenty of colour to this rosé; even with just 2 days maceration (colour extraction). Sweeter grapes too has boosted this wine, which, as Antoine Leduc stated is “fruity, sweet and fresh”. Quite light in body and very drinkable. While medium in style the touch of tannin on the finish gives the wine more substance than many a cheaper alternative.”

Domaine Leduc-Frouin, Sousigne, 48540 Martigne-Briand (see map)
T:+33 241.59.42.83
F:+33 241.59.47.90
E: info@leduc-frouin.com

For more info see www.leduc-frouin.com

This family run domaine is totally focussed on producing quality wines. They adhere to the TERRA VITIS approach, which whilst not truly organic, is a system which minimises the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, with a view to ensuring that the soil and “terroir” remain healthy and productive for future harvests and generations. Two-thirds of their production is for white wines (i.e. Sauvignon)

The Loire Valley is often over-looked for good quality wines, but this is changing as some of the better winemakers are really concentrating on good quality, small yields and careful vinification. The climate here is more influenced by the continent rather than the Atlantic Ocean compared to the rest of the Loire Valley, and hence is often a little warmer and drier.
Sauvignon Blanc is the star grape variety in this region, but very good reds are also produced.
TOURAINE SAUVIGNON AC – Domaine Octavie
The combination of soil and climate make this region especially good for Sauvignon Blanc. Being cooler than wine regions further south means that good crisp, full-flavoured Sauvignon can be made, but without excessive acidity which can sometimes spoil these wines. (The area is close to the classic Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé areas, which arguably produce the best northern hemisphere Sauvignons, albeit at a price.) This wine from Domaine Octavie is delightful – dry, fresh, clean flavours with well-balanced acidity. On the nose it is quite complex and aromatic – grassy, gooseberry tones.

TOURAINE AC Cuvee Fragrance, Domaine Octavie
Despite a relatively cool climate, the region (and this domaine) can also produce good reds, which tend to be less tannic than wines from further south in France. As always it is a matter of choosing the right grape varieties which have the potential to produce wonderful wines.
This cuvée is a very successful blend of Gamay (immediate and accessible fruitiness), Cabernet Franc (the red Loire grape – raspberry, earthy tones) and Cot (also known as Auxerrois or Malbec) which brings body and structure to the wine. Skilled blending by Noe Rouballay yields a lovely fruity, classy red with lots of upfront fruit, yet satisfyingly long in the mouth. Great with cold meats, pasta etc.
CONTACT -
Isabelle & Noe Rouballay, Domaine Octavie, 41700 OISLY SEE MAP
TÉL : 02.54.79.54.57 FAX : 02.54.79.65.20
www.domaineoctavie.com

Brief Summary:

Unless you are lucky enough to live within an hour or so of the English Channel ports, the annual trip to and from France can be a bit of an ordeal. Dover crossings may be short, but tend to leave you with longer to drive on both sides of the Channel. The western Channel crossings are longer, but can be expensive, especially if you reserve a cabin for an overnight crossing. And, whilst parts of northern France don’t always tempt you to pause, the routes through Brittany and Normandy offer a host of places which would be worth a linger! An ideal stop-over to break the journey – just 90 minutes or so (135km) south of the Caen ferry terminal) at Ouistreham. Le Basse Cour is run by Phil and Jude Graham at Ancinnes (72 Sarthe, Pays de Loire) near Alencon (61 Orne, Normandie), just 10 minutes from the new A28 autoroute, and right on the border between Normandy and the Loire Valley (Sarthe).

This picturesque  18th century Normandy farmhouse has three guest rooms with private bathrooms.  Guests have access to a sitting room/library, terraces and extensive gardens equipped with tables and chairs by the side of a small fishing lake.

“Choose from three comfortable en-suite guest rooms with a three star Gites de France rating. The house is in a peaceful, quiet setting surrounded by wooded and planted gardens on the fringes of the magnificent Forest of Perseigne. You’re welcome to make yourself at home on the terrace with a glass of wine (or try the local Normandy cider) or enjoy a game of boules on the lawn.” As Michael said ” it was so good that we stopped over for two more days on the way back to the port at Caen. Genial hosts, wonderful setting, super rooms.”

A welcoming and friendly area, which is unspoiled by commercial tourism but rich in tradition, with an abundance of interesting places and sights to see.

Location of la Basse Cour at Ancinnes For more on the region including our searchable customised map see www.frenchduck.co.uk/wp

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