Domaine De La Tortiniere
France: Loire Valley: Montbazon-en-Touraine
In a beautiful countryside setting on the banks of the River Indre, this lovely and historic château (archives mention the Domaine as far back as 1562!) is family owned and managed. The atmosphere here is warm, friendly and unpretentious. Parkland surrounds the property and during the fall the woods are abloom with pink and white wild cyclamen. In addition to the main château, accommodations are located in two other buildings - Les Tilleuls (where there is a view of the Château d'Artigny from some rooms) and Le Vieux Logis, where there are two-bedroom, two-bathroom accommodations for families. Antiques are used throughout the property, and some rooms in the château have a beautiful view of the river. While the château itself has no air-conditioning (the walls of this building are very thick minimizing the need for it), all accommodations in Les Tilleuls are newly redone, have air-conditioning and new bathrooms with separate tub and shower. The glass enclosed restaurant serves as the breakfast room in the morning. In warm weather, breakfast and dinner can be served outdoors on the terrace overlooking the swimming pool and countryside beyond. The chef is excellent! The restaurant was very busy when we were there, but the service and cuisine were both memorable, as was Jeremy, the hotel's hospitable maitre d'.

NOTE: MAP required from June through September. Property is NOT appropriate for persons with limited mobility. Best way to arrive from Paris/CDG is via TGV to St. Pierre des Corps (Tours).