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A |
Allonnes |
our nearest town for food and essential shopping |
Allonnes - the Mairie
Chinon
Montsoreau: models of traditional boats on the Loire
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Azay-le Rideau |
The château is a Francis I masterpiece, and there is a museum for all ages |
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B |
Bicycles |
This area is justly famous for cycling |
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Baugé
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slightly further - 35 minutes - but Baugé with its castle, museum and beautiful old town this is well worth a visit. |
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C |
Chinon |
The town is beautiful and the castle magnificent |
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Châteaux
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Montsoreau,(a good one or children), Montreuil Bellay, Brézé, Saumur and Chinon are perhaps the best known Brissac, the tallest castle in France, is 30 miles away |
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Churches
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three in Saumur alone, of which our favourite is Notre-Dame des Ardilliers. Cunault is well worth seeing |
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Cavalry School |
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D |
Dolmens |
pre-historic burial mounds, in Saumur at Bagneux |
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Doué la Fontaine |
infotourisme - there is a day's worth here for the whole family |
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E |
Events: |
the tourist offices and websites will help you plan
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F |
Fontevraud |
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Farm |
enjoy the river, lake, spring and swimming pool, without leaving the Chapy |
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Farm |
La Ferme d'Antan - at Doué-la-Fontaine for children to cuddle animals |
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G |
Gardens |
Parc Maupassant in Allonnes and a rose garden at Doué-la-Fontaine |
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Gennes |
- Megaliths |
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H |
History |
- including much to do with England, for example Richard the Lionheart is buried at Fontrevaud |
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Horses |
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I |
Indre |
the department next to ours also known for its vineyards |
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J |
Joan of Arc |
exhibition, in the awesome Clock Tower of Chinon Castle |
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K |
Kayak |
Canoe and Kayak club at Saumur |
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Kepis |
you'll see these in Saumur too! |
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L |
Levée |
travel along the Loire on the levée - recently strengthened and renewed - and enjoy the splendid views from the raised road. |
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Langeais |
Château, unchanged since the C15th. |
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M |
Museums |
of fine art and horses in the chateau, plus Tanks and mushrooms - and that is just in Saumur. |
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Music |
There is plenty going on. Fontevraud has regular concerts, for example. |
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Markets |
Saumur on Saturday, Bourgueil on Tuesdays and Montsoreau on Sundays |
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N |
No problems with parking and nice empty roads |
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O |
Organized tours |
one of our friends leads a local wine tour, to name just one example |
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P |
Picnics |
by fantastic sites or on the farm |
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Pedal Boats |
at Montreuil-Bellay |
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Pierre et Lumière |
the first underground miniature park in miniature in the world - near Saumur |
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Q |
Quality |
food at low prices in a multitude of restaurants |
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R |
River |
boat trips in Saumur in season |
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Richelieu
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the great Cardinal's model town. A bit far, 30 miles, but where else would you see obsessive town planning - 1630's style? |
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S
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Saumur
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St Nicholas de Bourgueil |
a town based on wine with a fountain that gives the game away. |
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T |
Troglodyte |
traditional cave communities: ROCHEMENIER and LES PERRIÈRES are great examples |
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HOLLYPARK to the north at Echemiré. |
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U |
Ussé |
the romantic château that is said to have inspired the sleeping beauty fairy tale |
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V |
Villebernier |
local town with château - the MANOIR-DE-LAUNAY - 4 miles |
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Varennes |
typical local town to explore - 4 miles |
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W |
Water |
are two key features of the area. In all its moods the Loire is impressive, and you could spend a week on vineyards alone. |
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Wine |
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X |
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Y |
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Z |
Zoo |
Doué la Fontaine superb |
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Aquarium
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the biggest freshwater collection in Europe is at Lussault-sur-Loire, near Amboise, but that is just more than 15 miles away! |
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