LeClos-Charming Centuries-Old Wine Maker's Cottage

Description from the owner

When we first saw Le Clos, it was love at first sight! This is a stone double-cottage surrounded by gardens, with all of its historic charm intact, but beautifully restored and with all the modern conveniences added (including new plumbing, all-new electric service, and new, state-of-the-art central air and heat).

Overlooking the Loire River in a picturesque hamlet, in the zone recently listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, this is the perfect starting point for an enchanting visit to France s glorious historical past. The royal river flows majestically through its castle-studded valley and past the foot of the hillside wh...ere Le Clos nestles among the vines and flowers.

Inside this non-smoking cottage, you are greeted by the cheerful, fully-equipped kitchen and the ample dining area (seating up to eight). The stairway leads up to the loft bedroom with a queen bed (and its very good, firm mattress) and dormer windows looking out over the Loire valley to the north and the secluded courtyard to the south.

Adjoining the dining area is the living room with fireplace, convertible sofa which sleeps 2--but remember, it's just a sofa bed!--, and French doors opening onto the courtyard on one side and onto a stone staircase leading to the lower garden on the other. From the living room, the stairs lead to the twin-bedded upper bedroom (again, 2 new, firm mattresses) and its connecting bath with shower.

Outside, we have planted the garden with roses, fruit trees, herbs, flowering shrubs and annuals. Depending on the time of year, you can help yourself to cherries, plums, grapes, apples or figs. We love to relax under the rose arbor while enjoying some of the local specialties which abound here in the Garden of France, and which you can choose at the twice-weekly Amboise farmers market (one of the most popular in the area).

Discover the sparkling white wines of Vouvray and Montlouis, the full-bodied reds of Chinon and Bourgueil, the cheeses and charcuterie for which the area is famous. An on-site tasting visit to some of the many producers is a rewarding and delightful experience.

The area is also famous for its wonderful restaurants in all price ranges, from the deliciously simple to the gastronomical splurge.

Culture and history buffs might like to know that our little hamlet was once a refuge from the hectic Paris art scene. Picasso, Matisse, Marie Laurencin, Cocteau, Poulenc, and others spent time in the houses on either side of us, visiting with Guillaume Apollinaire's widow ("La Jolie Rousse," from the poem by the same name), and the painter/sculptor couple, Paul & Gertrude Bret.

Besides the well-documented cultural outings (castles, many with sound and light shows, of Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois, Chaumont, Azay-le-Rideau, Usse, Villandry, to name a few, the home of Leonardo da Vinci in Amboise, numerous museums, monuments, and open-air markets in Tours), there are many recreational attractions as well, the aquarium, the mini-chateaux, Fantasy Forest (an amusement park for children), and swimming within fifteen minutes of the house, Dining out becomes a fine art with many nearby restaurants in all price ranges, from the deliciously simple to the gastronomical splurge, For the shoppers, there are many gift and specialty shops in town and large department stores in Tours, plus regular flea markets and special town fairs with their parades, medieval jousts, or vide-grenier (village-wide flea markets) in Spring and Summer

We have totally succumbed to the enchantment of our little corner of Touraine and all it has to offer, and we think you will love it, too.

Michael & Lenita LoceyRead more

Additional Location Information

Location Type Away from it all, River, Village

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

Change day is Saturday.
Rates are for up to 4 people. 25 EUR supplement each for person 5 and 6 (max).
Ask us about reductions for stays of two weeks or longer.
Pay by check or PayPal in dollars, or in euros by bank transfer or check.
There is a $200 security deposit, entirely refunded with no loss, damage,
deterioration of equipment, or non-included phone usage

What Past Guests Are Saying

• Richard D.
  Toronto, ON

  It was an adorable experience.

  Left on 07/15/2010 for a stay in August 2009
  
  

  It was an adorable experience. We stayed in "Le Clos" for a few days and nights and we enjoyed it entirely. The location is perfect, providing intimacy and silence, yet close to all sort of restaurants, bakery, grocery stores and of course castles and museums.

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• CCR
  Melbourne

  Excellent for 2 adults + children; but not for 2+ adults

  Left on 07/07/2010 for a stay in September 2009
  
  

  Fantastic setting and welll equipped; but uncomfortable and cramped for ore than two adults. The people looking after the cottage were really accommodating and helpful.

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• LeeAnnG
  Portland, Oregon, USA

  charming historic cottage

  Left on 07/07/2010 for a stay in August 2009
  
  

  Stayed here in aug-Sept 2009 for about 5 nights and loved it! The location is perfect- two minutes drive to amboise town, a marvelous home base for seeing the Loire Valley chateaux. The cottage and grounds are like stepping back into time, but at the same time are modernized and very comfortable inside. My kids (age 7 & 12) loved playing in the courtyard and in the the loft-like bedroom (up a narrow, ladder-like set of stairs). I loved the big kitchen, the antique-y furniture and having a laptop that was available for our use. The driveway was a little tricky to manuver our rental car in and out of, but we got used to that. Communication with the owners was great; we would absolutely stay there again if given the chance.

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

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  Was this review helpful? Yes