The Grenier is the smaller sister of The Grange (see separate posting) and is part of a group of farmhouse buildings providing self catering accommodation for couples, families and small groups.

Our self catering properties with their contemporary facilities keep the feel of days gone by – warm tuffeau stone, traditional oak beams, historic buildings in rural countryside. Whilst you watch hen harriers, hares and buzzards you can almost hear the rattle of the hay cart or the turn of the wine press.

The Grenier is quite private with its own charming courtyard,a relaxing area to barbecue, sunbathe or enjoy the shade of the vines. The courtyard leads on to the potager and gardens at Les Mortiers and is separate and totally private from both The Grange and farmhouse, where we live.

It is so easy to relax in this peaceful environment and enjoy the region’s excellent wine and good food, or just sit and watch the stars at night in the clear sky. Here on the doorstep is delightful countryside and forests to walk, cycle and birdwatch, whatever your pace. A game of boules, tennis or pony trekking in the forests, perhaps?

Dip your toes in our superb heated pool (12m × 5m) and enjoy the soft oxygen treated water, kind to sensitive or young skins. Our “space dome” extends the season of the heated pool for swimming uninterrupted from mid-March to early November.

Parçay Les Pins is the nearest village, only one kilometre away, with a boulangerie for fresh bread, a cafe, a village shop and a small market each week. Two market gardens provide fresh fruit and vegetables plus offerings of seasonal vegetables from our potager. Asparagus, strawberries, apples and pears and vegetables are all grown locally.

Just saunter down to the café bar in the village for a drink or a reasonable meal, visit the Museum of Jules de Bois or wander a little further to find a wide range of restaurants offering you all the delights of Loire cuisine. There are 17 chateaux under 1 hour from the door. The historic towns of Saumur, Angers and Tours are all within easy reach.

Loire Valley wine – superb! We have devoted a page on our website www.frenchholiday.co.uk to it! Guided wine tours and recommendations are freely shared. (To be added in 2010)

To pamper you there are Egyptian cotton bed linen, kitchen towels and necessities are all provided, along with a Welcome Pack of goodies.

We are eco-friendly and family friendly too!
For busy parents we offer a pack of Child Friendly equipment and there’s free internet access and bicycle hire. Let you children share the joy of collecting a newly laid eggs from our chickens.

If the picture in your mind for the perfect holiday is relax, gites Loire Valley, then The Grenier offers a sense of privacy and a peace, rural peace, without being overlooked. At the end of the private drive , surrounded by fields, is a safe and tranquil, family friendly environment. The nearest neighbours? The horses in the fields!

Additional Photos (click to enlarge & for slideshow)

The comfortable lounge has an open fire, with to access the dining room and fully fitted kitchen. The stairs from the open plan lounge leads to two spacious bedrooms, one double and one twin, both with full ensuite facilities.

If you want to just relax and not stray too far, then there is a café/bar just a few paces away, along with the bakers for fresh croissants and a grocery store. The village market takes place one afternoon each week.

Visits close by are the Musee Jules de Bois, about 50 paces away from La Josephine or the delightful Chateaux of Giseux and Breil, both under 4 miles away.

Within easy reach and worth visiting are the markets of Bourgueil and Saumur, summer gourmet evening markets, antique markets on the banks of the Loire and numerous chateaux. No lack of excellent restaurants to sample the delicious Loire cuisine!

You will find it so easy to settle into La Josephine, be part of the relaxed way of life in this area and enjoy the warm welcome from Marinette and Stephane.

And what is included?

• Television – French and English
• Video, CD and DVD players.
• Good supply of Tourist Information
• Bed linen
• Towels by arrangement
• Welcome bottle of wine

• Fitted kitchen
• Full oven
• Microwave
• Dishwasher
• Washing Machine
• Tumble Dryer

• An outside terrace sheltered by a magnificent wisteria
• BBQ and outdoor furniture

Plus, well documented information and assistance in English for those with just a few French words!

Chambre d’hote (B&B) available on request.

Pets by prior arrangement.

Additional Photos (click to enlarge & for slideshow)

Our self catering properties with their contemporary facilities keep the feel of days gone by – warm tuffeau stone, traditional oak beam, historic buildings in rural countryside. Whilst you watch hen harriers, hares and buzzards you can almost hear the rattle of the hay cart or the turn of the wine press.

Both The Grange and The Grenier (see separate posting) are separate and totally private from each other, but together can offer comfortable accommodation for a small group.

It is so easy to relax in this peaceful environment and enjoy the region’s excellent wine and good food, or just sit and watch the stars at night in the clear sky. Here on the doorstep is delightful countryside and forests to walk, cycle and birdwatch, whatever your pace. A game of boules, tennis or pony trekking in the forests, perhaps?

Dip your toes in our superb heated pool (12m × 5m) and enjoy the soft oxygen treated water, kind to sensitive or young skins. Our “space dome” extends the season of the heated pool for swimming uninterrupted from mid-March to early November.

Parçay Les Pins is the nearest village, only one kilometre away, with a boulangerie for fresh bread, a village shop and a small market each week. Two market gardens provide fresh fruit and vegetables plus offerings of seasonal vegetables from our potager. Asparagus, strawberries, apples and pears and vegetables are all grown locally.

Just saunter down to the café bar in the village for a drink or a reasonable meal, visit the Museum of Jules de Bois or wander a little further to find a wide range of restaurants offering you all the delights of Loire cuisine.

Loire Valley wine – superb! We have devoted a page on our website www.frenchholiday.co.uk to it! Guided wine tours and recommendations are freely shared. (To be added in 2010)

To pamper you there are Egyptian cotton bed linen, kitchen towels and necessities are all provided, along with a Welcome Pack of goodies. We are eco-friendly and family friendly too!
For busy parents we offer a pack of Child Friendly equipment and there’s free internet access and bicycle hire.

If the picture in your mind for the perfect holiday is of relaxing gites in the Loire Valley, then The Grange offers a sense of privacy and a peace, rural peace, without being overlooked. At the end of the private drive ,surrounded by fields, is a safe and tranquil, family friendly environment and the nearest neighbours? – the horses in the fields!

Additional Photos (click to enlarge & for slideshow)

With an emphasis on community, family and quality holidays at affordable prices, Le Chant d’Oiseau has become THE destination for families to return to, as friends, year on year.

Providing guests with homes from home is what we do. Bed linen, towels, gas, electricity, free WiFi – these are all things you’ll not find hidden as ‘extras’. As well as family essentials such as safety gates, cots, high chairs, and even a stroller, the gites all have modern conveniences where possible, such as dishwashers, washing machines, UK TV via satellite, and DVD players. Gite ‘Hibou’ even boasts a 50″ plasma TV!

We can offer you the choice of Chardonneret (sleeps 2), Héron (sleeps 5) or Hibou (sleeps 7). Héron & Chardonneret are ground-floor, and are wheelchair disabled-friendly, with many appliances fitted that help everyone to enjoy their holidays!

The gites are shared with a small (but perfectly formed) camping ground of just 10 emplacements, adding to the community feel. It’s fun, friendly and relaxed here. Children love running freely, or playing in the tree-house, or on the swings. Bracken, our friendly dog loves kids (she can’t eat a full one though…), and kids love her too! Fully fenced, with secure gates, your children are safe, without even knowing it. They’ll enjoy a sense of ‘freedom’ that’s becoming rare in the modern age!

Fresh bread and pastries are delivered daily. We hold twice-weekly plat du jours, as well as wine tastings organised on site and weekly pizza/fouée bakes in our home-built bread oven!

Please accept our invitation to find out why we have so many returning guests, and to sample the ‘douceur Angevin’ here in the heart of the Valley of Kings, the Loire Valley!

Additional Photos (click to enlarge & for slideshow)

Les Epinais is situated in the beautiful region of the Alps Mancelle, Sarthe, an area of outstanding beauty.
There is a comfortable lounge with TV, Video and DVD player, with a selection of family and children’s films. There is also a dining area.

The kitchen has an electric oven, Gas hob, washing machine, and microwave.

The master bedroom is upstairs and also has bunkbeds.
There is a separate bathroom with bath/shower.
Downstairs is a double bedroom with seperate shower room.

All bed linen is included free of charge.

Situated in the Garden are two French chalets. They are for your use and will not be let to any other party.
(Chalets do not have private facilities. Guests will need to use the bathroom or shower room in the main house.)
Chalet One has two single beds, chalet two has a double bed.

Outside is a Private pool with superb views over the surrounding countryside(pool not heated. There is also a dedicated bbq area.
In the barn is a half Size snooker table and 3/4 size table tennis table.

Coeur de Chéne sleeps up to 5 and baby in 3 bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. The cottage is detached and stands in an acre of land, there is a large patio area leading into the garden and it contains a bench seat, picnic table, BBQ, an ornamental well and washing line. The new living room has a high vaulted ceiling with exposed oak beams, is triple aspect with patio doors leading to the garden. There is a wood burning fire, a two & a three seater sofa, TV (receives satellite free 2 view BBC channels plus some others), Video, CD player, selection of books, Videos and CDs. The kitchen is fully fitted with modern units with electric hob, fan assisted oven, extractor fan, fridge with freezer compartment, microwave, toaster, cutlery, crockery and utensils. The dining area has a log burner, and a table and chairs to seat 6, a child booster seat or high chair is also available on request. The ground floor twin bedroom has an adjoining family bathroom with washing machine, iron and ironing board. First floor\’s romantic and spacious master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with exposed oak beams, wardrobes and chest of drawers, period chair to enjoy the views from and an en-suite shower room with basin and WC. There is also a lovely small separate single bedroom with views over the garden, with clothes storage. A cot and stairgate is also available on request

Chateaubriant and the surounding area is full of interesting historical places to visit, throughout the summer months the château and bandstand within the grounds are host to numerous open air concerts and theatrical productions, many of which are free. There are a variety of restaurants and street cafés which suit all palettes and pockets. You can sample the world famous “Chateaubriant” steak and don\’t forget to try the “Galette de Ble Noir” (a pancake made with buckwheat flour) served with a bowl of cider Activities include 18 hole swin golf, croquet, archery, waterskiing, karting, paint-balling, paragliding, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing and boating. It is also an ideal place for trecking, and horse riding. There are 4 riding centres within reach. Chateaubriant also has a racetrack where trotting races are held, The regions also offers beautiful lakes, rivers, markets, fetes and the famous Foire de Bere (country show) which has been held in Chateaubriant since 1050 is in September and not to be missed.

La glycine at les Quatre Cles, provides all creature comforts for a wonderfully relaxed self-catering holiday in a tranquil but not isolated location. Set in a large garden with plenty of grassed area for sunbathing and a huge grassed field for sports and games. Outside there is a paved patio area separated by planted trellis fencing for privacy. The gite benefits from a large library of DVDs, books and indoor games for less clement weather as well as outdoor games and children’s toys. These are all available for guests free of charge. La glycine sleeps up to 5 and contains a spacious living/dining room with a wood burning stove and a kitchen area. Comfortably furnished with a large sofa, armchair, coffee table, rug and TV (DVDs only), CD player, dining table and chairs. The kitchen contains an electric cooker, toaster, microwave, electric kettle, fridge/freezer, washing machine and all necessary pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and utensils. The spacious master bedroom is on a mezzanine floor in the converted loft (grenier) and has a vaulted ceiling with exposed ancient oak beams, bedside tables with lamps, a set of drawers, clothes hanging area and, an ensuite shower room with WC and basin.
The twin bedded room is downstairs, accessed by a couple of steps down from the living room. It has a set of drawers with bedside lamps, a wardrobe and an ensuite bathroom with shower, WC, basin and bidet. We also have a folding bed, 2 cots and booster/high chair available for the younger member of the family.
Les Quatre Cles is situated on a quiet country lane, surrounded on 3 sides by fields and a neighbour\’s (very quiet family) drive on the 4th. Our drive ends in a large parking bay on the right and the longere on the left, you can drive up to the door to unload your car. The play field is divided in half and the other side is my veggie plot and weather willing I hope to have surplus fresh organic veggies to sell to my guests.

Guemene Penfao is on the river Don and there is something for everyone; wonderful walks through forests, ancient chateaux, chapels and churches to visit, water sports of every kind, Karting, micralights, aqaujets and a lake with a safe beach area in nearby Plesse, 4 riding stables to suit all abilities, and there many restaurants. Les quatre cles is about a 3 minute drive from the town centre or easily reached on foot along a riverside path in about 15 minutes. Or how about spending a day in Paris, under 3 hours away direct from Redon Station which is only a 15 minute drive away. Rennes, Nantes, Vannes are all within easy reach for day trips. A 45 minute drive leads you to the banks of the river Loire, deep in the heart of the wine growing area around Nantes. Kilometres of sign posted scenic drives around the wine growing areas of Muscadet and Anjou, explore the vineyards whose owners extend a friendly welcome and advice whilst inviting you to taste the wine at their local “caves”. Discover the sumptuous Châteaux and ornamental gardens, glorious relics of France\’s regal past, situated in the vicinity of Angers and Saumur.

Take to the skies in a Micralight from nearby Plesse and see the region from a birds eye view or take a ride in a horse and cart and have a wonderful guided tour of Guemene Penfao. Go to Nantes and see their fantastic new attraction – a huge mechanical elephant you can ride on and a collection of superb weird and wonderful mechanical underwater creatures Jules Verne would be proud of. The newly restored castle is also a \’must see\’ and good for a whole day\’s fascinating entertainment. The huge plus in visiting French cities is that parking is easy, accessible and cheap – go for the underground variety and pay as little as €6 for the whole day – NCP take note! It\’s not so much a question of \’what shall we do on holiday?\’ as \’how will we manage to do everything we want to in the time?\’ – Solution – book 3 weeks and/or come back again next year. You\’ll still find plenty to do and see.

Rates are fully inclusive of all utilities, bedding, linen, towels (if requested) tea towels and a comprehensive supply of cleaning and other sundry goods such as loo rolls, bin bags, kitchen towels, detergent & fabric softener, washing up liquid as well as cooking & olive oils and condiments. Basically we try to provide everything other than food, drink & personal toiletries so that there is no need for our guests to stock up on things they won\’t be able to use up in the space of a holiday. A 25% deposit secures booking; £100 refundable security deposit is required prior to commencement of holiday. Short and long break available of peak season, please contact us for details. Peak season changeover is Sat but flexible otherwise.

By Ferry to St Malo – 1hr 45mins. (save 20% on Brittany Ferries by booking with us) to Cherbourg – 2.5 hrs, to Roscoff or Le Havre – 3 hrs, to Calais – allow 7 hrs with stops.
By air to Rennes or Nantes – 45 mins/ 1 hr.
By train to Redon from Paris – 3 hr train journey and 20 mins from Redon.