An Aussie invasion.
Review Submitted: September 15, 2009
Date of Stay: August 2009
We found that the property was all it was advertised to be. The location, layout, wonderful ambience of St. Aignan and its closeness to many chateaux and wineries, the local train station, tourist office, and access to local Doctors, was excellent.
The facilities of the old boulangerie are all in good condition and clean. (Although all brick floors and top shower needed an extra spruce up on arrival, most likely due to the fact that previous tenants left same day as our arrival, but not enough to put in a complaint:-) The views from all windows was interesting and entertaining at times, The beds very comfortable and plenty of clean towels and linen, lots of chairs and sitting space for 6 or more adult people in the kitchen and sitting rooms.
It was lovely to be woken by the gentle tolling of bells (but not too early) to enjoy the atmosphere of living on a busy square in the old town of St. Aignan in time to wander down to the local boulangerie to purchase bagette and croissants for brekky.
Both Starr and Douglas were excellent in both the way we were welcomed and with their ongoing help and advice with our queries and suggestions with our stay. They were easily contactable and made themselves available both by mobile and personally.
We had a most enjoyable week, the locals are mostly very friendly, except for one young man on a motorbike who vented his anger at us in the 1st hour of our arrival. The local gendarmes soon sorted him out and we had no more problems with him or anyone else.
We visited Chateuxs, and enjoyed the local cuisine. We can certainly recommend the local pizza shop on the opposite corner, enormous meals and wonderful aromas, the owners very friendly and helpful.
Chez Constant restaurant another favorite, the duck is to die for as well as the steak. The wonderful ambience under the trees on a balmy night, the food, the wine, and the wonderfully friendly service saw us return several times. But a warning both the pizza restaurant and Chez Constant are very popular with the locals, and one must reserve a table earlier in the day, to be sure of getting one.
One can explore St. Aignan on foot and enjoy coffee and cake at the many local street cafes. St. Aignan Church is a very interesting and well worth an hour or more of exploration. As is the walk up to St. Aignan Chateaux, although not open to the public the grounds are, and the views along the river are breathtaking.
Our recommendation. We will return.
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Helpful votes: 3/3
marks the location of the property in Loire Valley
