Leisure Activities
For guests of every age and taste, there are marvelous things to see and do in and around the Chateau. Consider the sampling below.
Sport
• All-weather surface tennis court on grounds. Dries quickly. Racquets available.
• Swimming pool on grounds.
• Fishing in local rivers, licenses easily obtained
• Golf at Loudon, twenty minutes by car (please bring your own clubs)
• Bike rides through the countryside with stops for refreshment (see
enclosed list)
• Excellent jogging on soft ground beside the rivers or through the
woods
• Kayaking
• Interesting walks through the woods or across the fields
Of Historic Interest
• Visit Renaissance Chateaux: Chambord, Chenonceau,
Amboise, Blois, etc.
• Tombs of the Plantagenets at the Abbaye Fontevraud (fifteen minutes
by car)
• "Ecole Nationale d'Equitation" home of the highly trained
horses, the famed "Cadre Noir”.
• The chateau at Chinon where Charles Vll ordered Joan of Arc to fight
against the British.
Just to relax
• Picnic beside the river Vienne
• Visit open air markets and brocantes
• Shop in Tours, from souvenirs to "haute couture",and
everything in between
• Tour small (non tourist) wineries with a local guide and meet
the winery owners
To Visit
• Paris (55 minutes by TGV from Tours)
• Futurescope at Poitiers 60 minutes by car.
• Villandry to view the world famous gardens
• Various "son et lumiere"
To Learn
• Cooking class with local chef
• French language
• Painting in oils and watercolours
• Horseback riding
Or You Can Stay 'at Home' at the Chateau
• Enjoy the pool
• Listen to music in the chapel
• Wander the rose garden and grounds
• Eat and drink on the terrace
• Throw a party in the orangerie
Regional Information
To the east there is Tours (where it is reputed the finest French is spoken), with its large selection of shopping. Closer to the Chateau is Azay Ie Rideaux with its famous Chateau. Not to be overlooked are the famous gardens of Chateau Villandry and the Chateau D'Ussey which inspired. the
"sleeping beauty" novel.
Within 7km is the medieval town of Chinon with the ruins of its massive castle where Charles VI in 1429 gave a commission to Jean D'Arc to go and fight the British. In about the same distance is the Abbey of Fontevraud where the Plantagenets, Henri II, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lionheart are buried.
To the west is Saumur with its castle overlooking the town and river. Further west is Angers, again with a famous castle.
The whole of the Loire valley is steeped in history with many memorable sights, its is a tourists delight.
This area of France is often referred to as the "garden of France". There are a multiplicity of vineyards, cheese makers, the mushroom capital, etc, etc. They are many tours available through either the local tourist offices or the house manager.
Local Area Information
Monday Richelieu
Tuesday Bourgueil
Wednesday Azay Ie Rideaux
Thursday Chinon
Friday Thours, Avoine
Saturday Saumur, Chinon
Sunday Chinon, Montsoreau
For regular shopping there is a small supermarket in the village of Avoine (3km away); larger supermarkets are in Chinon and Bourgueil.
Local Activities
Within 10 miles the following activities are available:
- Horseback riding, including dressage
- River fishing, Golf, Quad track biking
- Wine tasting and visit to mushroom farms in caves
Within 20 miles
- Boat trips, hot air ballooning, micro flights
- Visit the famed Cadre Noir (French equivalent of the Austrian Lipzinger)
Summary of Activities
| On Site | Locally |
| Baby
Sitting
|
Arboretum
|
| Badminton
|
Archaeological
|
| Board
Games
|
Ballooning
|
| Catering
upon request
|
Boat
Trips
|
| Cooking
Classes
|
Canoeing
|
| Bycycles
|
Fishing
Coarse
|
| Bocce
Court
|
Flea!
Antique markets
|
| Conference
Facilities
|
Gardens
to visit
|
| ExercIse
Equipment
|
Golf
Courses
|
| Flower
arranging
|
Historical
Buildings
|
| Games
Room
|
Horse
Riding
|
| Meeting
Room
|
Fayaking
|
| Painting
instruction
|
Language
course
|
| Party
room
|
Leisure
center
|
| Religious
center
|
Musuems
|
| Snooker/pool
|
National
Park
|
| Swimming
pool (heated if required)
|
Pony
Treking
|
| Table
soccer
|
Quad
biking
|
| Table
Tennis
|
Sailing
|
| Tennis
Court with Coach
|
Shooting
|
| Weding
Reception
|
Theartre
|
| Wine
Tasting
|
Vineyards
|
| Zoo
|
|
| 4x4
Driving
|