Off to Loire - suggestions welcome

[Dr Imran T]

Hello chaps

My wife and I are off to are going to Ecommoy (near the loire)next week. Can anyone suggest some good places to visit? We are driving and thus have the flexibility to drive around a bit.

We both enjoy visiting castles/ medevil towns etc..

ALso looking to hire a boat for a day - any ideas chaps?

Thanks Dr T

[dougc]

Le Mans museum.

[Puggit]

That's our patch.

Sadly this time of year there isn't much to do off the beaten track, the Loir valley (for that's where you really are) is very much ferme out of the peak season.

Do visit La Lude for the Chateau, La Chartre sur le Loir for the little square and Hotel de France with all the historic pictures of Le Mans in the bar. There's a great zoo at La Fleche, and you must go to Tours and visit the historic quarter.

2 towns to visit are Vendome and Amboise - both have great markets (Vendome on Friday and Amboise on Wednesday). Chateaux at Chenonceaux and Amboise are worth a tour. Go to Vouvray and enjoy the wine tasting (fizzy stuff!).

Finally - the Foret de Berce is huge, go and get lost

[rlw]

Chinon (lunch at Au Plaisir Gourmand)
Fontevraud if you are into history - amazing place where Richard the Lionheart is entombed
Villandry is a fantastic chateau and ground
Le Mans for the catherdal and the old town
Condes St Martin for the view of the confluence of the Loire and Vienne from the belvedere
The little green stripe road that runs along the south side of the Loire from Usse to Villandry (even in a GT3)
The D30 from Ecommoy to Chateau La Valiere (especially in a GT3)

[DangerousMike]

what about leonardo da vinci's house? I think it is in blois but I am not sure.

[Puggit]

DangerousMike said:

what about leonardo da vinci's house? I think it is in blois but I am not sure.

Amboise - just a short walk from the Chateau

[Dr Imran T]

thanks chaps - my wife and I have already been to chenonceau. Amboise looks like a good option so we will give that a go.

We are also off to Orleans, Blois, Chambord.. We have also been to Tours and the Le Mans museum before..

I am just having a look at other places of interest..

Have any of you chaps been to Chinon before?

cheers.

[Dr Imran T]

edit - RLW is Chinon worth a visit, can you spend a day there?

[Puggit]

To my shame, we haven't been to Chinon, but have heard good things - especially if you're a wine drinker.

[rlw]

Dr Imran T said:

edit - RLW is Chinon worth a visit, can you spend a day there?

You can go to the chateau, go to the old town, sit in the old square and sup wine, definitely lunch at Au Plaisir Gourmand though. Maybe not a whole day but combine it with Villandry which is just down the road.

Edited by rlw on Thursday 29th October 11:42

[joncon]

we had lunch at the chateau in villandry, a group of 12 or so. very good.
during le mans week.
lovely chateau, well worth a visit.

[Dr Imran T]

ah some fantastic food for thought chaps - no pun intended

Villandry is on the list for sure. I will jot down a few of the areas you kind gentlemen have brought to my attention!

Puggit - I was going to stay at you place as I liked the look of it. We decided to go to our 'usual' instead and play it safe as my wife is expecting..

My wife and I are muslim and therefore have to pick some places where we can get halal food easily... we know lots of places in and around Le Mans where we can achieve this.

cheers.

[AndyAudi]

I remember visiting vast caves where they grew different kinds of mushrooms in the Loire.

[Puggit]

Dr Imran T said:

Puggit - I was going to stay at you place as I liked the look of it. We decided to go to our 'usual' instead and play it safe as my wife is expecting..

My wife and I are muslim and therefore have to pick some places where we can get halal food easily... we know lots of places in and around Le Mans where we can achieve this.

cheers.

Hope you enjoy the trip - our house is somewhat desolate, and mobile phone reception is patchy - so I can't blame you.

However, the hospital at Chateau du Loir is top notch (yes, we've had to use it!).

I guess my wine links might not be useful then?

[Dr Imran T]

Puggit said:

Dr Imran T said:

Puggit - I was going to stay at you place as I liked the look of it. We decided to go to our 'usual' instead and play it safe as my wife is expecting..

My wife and I are muslim and therefore have to pick some places where we can get halal food easily... we know lots of places in and around Le Mans where we can achieve this.

cheers.

Hope you enjoy the trip - our house is somewhat desolate, and mobile phone reception is patchy - so I can't blame you.

However, the hospital at Chateau du Loir is top notch (yes, we've had to use it!).

I guess my wine links might not be useful then?

lol - indeed the wine is off limits I'm afraid. I am sure we will have a great time, we always do.

Thanks for the suggestions - perhaps next year we will use your place!

[V8mate]

France is st. Over-priced, miserable, rip-off merchants.

Just an opinion, of course.

regards

V8mate (sitting typing this communique from his hotel room in Epernay)

[rlw]

Dr Imran T said:

Puggit said:

Dr Imran T said:

Puggit - I was going to stay at you place as I liked the look of it. We decided to go to our 'usual' instead and play it safe as my wife is expecting..

My wife and I are muslim and therefore have to pick some places where we can get halal food easily... we know lots of places in and around Le Mans where we can achieve this.

cheers.

Hope you enjoy the trip - our house is somewhat desolate, and mobile phone reception is patchy - so I can't blame you.

However, the hospital at Chateau du Loir is top notch (yes, we've had to use it!).

I guess my wine links might not be useful then?

lol - indeed the wine is off limits I'm afraid. I am sure we will have a great time, we always do.

Thanks for the suggestions - perhaps next year we will use your place!

Had I put two and two together, I might not have suggested the restaurant in Chinon which is most definitely not halal....probably not even the water there...

Have a great time

[Dr Imran T]

hello chaps, well we are back and had a splendid time. Many thanks to all those who made suggestions, and were glad you did too.

As suggested, we went to La Chartre Sur le Loir and went to the Hotel de france - great idea chaps we both loved it!

We also went to VIllandry and thought the gardens were stunning. Amboise was also lovely and the Château d'Amboise was amazing.

We also went to Orleans which I can recommend if you like historic and medevil towns etc..
The weather wasn't great but France delivered the goods as usual that is why we go there and love it so much..

We are always made to feel very welcome there, indeed we both feel more comfortable there than over here. The French are such a decent bunch

Cheers

Dr T

[Puggit]

[leyorkie]

Am sat here near Le Lude nice and dry 21C this afternoon.
Travelling back Sunday weather warnings permitting.
Glad you had a good time there is more to this area than a couple of races at Le Mans.