Vernantes - all within 10 minutes walk....
The village of Vernantes is less than 1 Km away with a range of local shops, a bank, a tabac and a couple of bars, a restaurant and hotel. A super Boulangerie for fresh bread and croissants each morning is just ten minutes walk from the house (1 minute by car!).

In the next village, 3 Km away is a large supermarket, SuperU, which sells everything from a screwdriver to fresh food, wine, barbecue coals and petrol/diesel at super market prices. They also have replacement gas bottles, which the gas cooker uses.


The tourist information office page on Vernantes can be found here


The Saumur Office de tourisme home page is here - http://www.ot-saumur.fr/  this site (in French with some pages translated to English) includes all sorts of local information including local leisure services, local clubs and a practical section including information on Pharmacies, Doctors, Dentists, etc.


In Saumur, ten minutes to the south, is every shop or service you could possibly need, including large hyper markets, other super stores and the nearest large hospital (there is a local medical centre and pharmacy in Vernantes). In Saumur itself there's a large tourist information office on the town side of the river, close to the bridge.


Tourist office online Guide -  Click here to view Grand Saumur Online Brouchure


Other tourist information sites for the region are;

http://www.anjou-loire-valley.co.uk/

http://www.touraineloirevalley.co.uk/

Walking, Cycling, Fishing....
The house is surrounded by wide open fields and tracks ideal for walking and cycling, with woods just 500 yards away. 


WALKING/RAMBLING - For the dedicated walker, there's lots of websites offering route maps within easy reach of the house. These include;
A route from Vernantes - https://www.ot-saumur.fr/Circuit-de-randonnee-a-VERNANTES-131-km_a21977.html
http://www.experienceloire.com/walking-in-loire-valley.htm


CYCLING - The "Loire a Velo" website is a great resource for information on cycling in the region. Click here for their site  -   http://www.cycling-loire.com/


Cycle hire and more cycling information from -

https://cyclodeloire.fr/   

https://saumurbikehire.com/ 

https://cycle-obsession.com/

 

Ebikes can be hired in Saumur fromhttps://www.ezbike.fr/location-velos-electriques/49400-saumur



FISHING - Rivers and Lakes in the region are well stocked. There's trout streams and larger rivers with pike. And over 50 species of fish can be found nearby - there are migratory species such as mullet, shad, lamprey and eels as well as sedentary fish such as carp, pike, perch and bream.


You'll need a permit - advice on where to get them can be found at  -   http://en.cartedepeche.fr/  with further advice on our region at  http://www.fedepeche49.fr/  (in French)


Just 5 minutes from the house, there are two small fishing lakes Carp and Roach. It’s found behind the Camping site near the Health Centre and Tennis Courts between Vernantes and Vernoil. A day licence for 3 rods can be purchased from the camp site reception.


Just 15 minutes drive to the north east, you can find the Lac du Rille  ( Click here for Lac du Rille Website information ). As well as a super fishing lake where Carp up to 40lb are often caught, the banks of the lake offer walks, cycling and peaceful picnic areas. There's also an active steam train - more details at -   http://www.ot-saumur.fr/TRAIN-A-VAPEUR-DU-LAC-DE-RILLE_a17226.html  and a wake boarding experience on the lake, as well as crazy golf and a snack bar/restaurant - click here for details

Sports and Activities....


At the house we have Table Tennis, Table Football, Cricket, Petanque, outdoor games and enough space to play safely within our gardens. 


A 9 metre x 4 metre heated pool with terrace around it was installed in Spring 2016 and is exclusively available for you throughout your stay.


Sports facilities near to the house include;

 

 

Chateaux of the Loire Valley....
Home to tens of beautiful chateaux, the Loire Valley offers amazing visits of these former residences of French Royalty in the "Garden of France". Many of the chateaux are privately owned, while some, such as the incredible masterpiece at Chambord, are major tourist sites, managed by the government.


Many websites offer information on the chateaux - a useful map of most of the larger chateaux can be found here;  

http://www.experienceloire.com/loire-valley-chateau-map.htm


Another good site is at  -   https://www.leschateauxdelaloire.org/en/


Some smaller chateaux found within easy reach of the house are in neighbouring villages at Gizeux, Bauge, Breil (Chateau Lathan) and Saint Martin de la Place (Chateau de Boumois)

to view Grand Saumur Online Brouchure

Wines, Tours and Vineyards....
For information on the wines of the Loire, tours, visits and tasting, visit "La Maison des Vins de Loire", next door to the Tourist Information office beside the river in Saumur, near the bridge
http://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/en_EN/decouvrir_vdl/carte.aspx


" A major winemaking region"

"The Loire Valley (Val de Loire) is France’s third most important winemaking region and is included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List (from Chalonnes-sur-Loire to Sully-sur-Loire). It is a land of balance between North and South, smooth and crisp freshness, art and literature, tradition and modernity.

These harmonious blends, enhanced by a mild climate and rich terroirs, help to produce a vibrant, diversity of wines."


Saumur offers three or four major vineyards and distributors, all of which offer tours, tasting and sales....


Our local favourite - Louis de Grenelle - https://www.louisdegrenelle.fr/en/


Ackerman - http://visite.ackerman.fr


Langlois-Chateau - http://www.langlois-chateau.fr


Gratien et Meyer  -   http://www.gratienmeyer.com


In addition to the larger distributors, almost every local vineyard will host you for tasting as you pass… the vineyards of St Nicolas de Bourgeuil are world famous – and one cave visit on a Friday offers a chance to drive down into their cave for tasting – see Vignoble de la Jarnoterie https://www.jarnoterie.com/en/book-your-visit/65-tour-and-wine-testing.html


Saumur's Distillery Combier offers a tour around their Liqueur distillery, along with a shop to buy some of their famed orange liqueur....

http://www.combier.fr/fr


For a wealth of information on wines of the Loire and lots of tours, courses and trips see " Le Tasting Room "  -   http://www.letastingroom.com/


Local Markets....
You could visit a different market in the local towns and villages on each day of the week if you wished. Generally in the morning, but not always.... 

Sunday
Langeais — near the chateau,    Bagneaux, Saumur — smallish on Sunday mornings, 
Saumur — La Brocante du Theatre takes place in front of the Mairie in Saumur, close to the River Loire and the Old Town. (4th Sunday each month)

Monday
Château La Vallière,   Baugé — an afternoon market.

Tuesday
Bourgueil — a great market, well worth the visit

Wednesday
Giseux — and an opportunity to visit the château,   Vernantes,   Beaufort — in the main square with cafes all around,   Fontrevaud l’Abbayé

Thursday
Chinon — another town well worth the day trip,   Le Vieil-Baugé — visit the site where there was a major defeat for the English in the Hundred Years’ War,   Le Lude — a pretty, historic town,   Longué Jumelles — another lovely little town,   Parçay Les Pins — small market in the afternoon.

Friday
Noyant,   Beaufort en Vallée — organic market in the afternoon.

Saturday
Saumur — in the old quarters,   Cande St. Martin — Marché Paysan every Saturday morning,   Baugé — “Produits de Terroir” market selling local produce.

Antique and Flea Markets
These are known as Les Puces (flea markets) and are a glimpse of days gone by in France, with some bargains to be had for collectors. Nearby local markets include;

1st Sunday each month  -  Antique market in the streets of Montreuil-Bellay.
2nd Sunday each month  -  Les Puces de Monstoreau — around 65 stands with furniture, books, lace, bric-a-brac along the banks of the River Loire.
3rd Sunday each month  -  Chinon holds an Antique market in the Promenade des Docteurs Mattrais (opposite the place Jeanne d'Arc).
4th Sunday of the month  -  Brocante du Théatre in Saumur — held at Place de la Bilange and Rue Franklyn Roosevelt.

Attractions

 

The Zoo at Doué-la-Fontaine is unique for its remarkable troglodyte setting  -   http://www.bioparc-zoo.fr/en/


There's another super Zoo at La Flèche   -   http://www.zoo-la-fleche.com/


The Rose-Trail, also at Doué-la-Fontaine, is a magnificent 5 hectare wooded park with more than 10,000 rose bushes  -   http://www.lescheminsdelarose.com/


Stone and Light Miniature Underground Sculpture Park  -   http://www.pierre-et-lumiere.com/


Museum of Motors in Saumur - http://www.museedumoteur.fr/


Cadre Noir Equestrian School - http://www.ifce.fr/en/cadre-noir/


Musuem of Tanks (Saumur) - http://www.museedesblindes.fr/en/

 

Theme Parks

 

Futuroscope, near Poitiers - http://en.futuroscope.com/


Le Grand Parc du Puy du Fou - gladiators, chariot races, medieval battles, falconry - http://www.puydufou.com/en/


Mini Châteaux and Aquarium at Amboise  -   http://www.decouvrez-levaldeloire.com/


Tree adventure centre at Parc Anjou Aventure - http://www.parcanjouaventure.fr/


Lac de Maine theme park, watersports, swimming, walks near Angers - http://www.lacdemaine.fr/en



For a complete list of attractions in easy reach, see the Saumur Tourist Information website