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)