Charming Cottage in Chinon - pool and air conditioning in heart of Loire Valley — Property 89596

Charming Cottage in Chinon - pool and air conditioning in heart of Loire Valley

This charming self-catering cottage in the heart of the Loire Valley in Chinon, France is perfect for independent travelers who wish to explore the area’s many châteaux and vineyards. The house is a 15-minute walk to the center of historic Chinon and all services. The area boasts miles of foot and bike paths along the Vienne and Loire rivers as well as throughout the countryside. On the ground floor, a spacious living room looks out onto a sunny terrace that leads to the private 22-meter lap pool, a shower and toilet are adjacent to the stone-walled kitchen and a library with a sofa bed provides access to the Master Suite via a spiral staircase. The Master Bedroom is equipped with air conditioning and a Tempur-Pedic memory foam mattress for your comfort after a long day of exploration, and the en suite spacious bath boasts a modern steam shower, an antique bathtub and a double sink.

Location Chinon Indre-et-Loire < Loire Valley < France

Chinon Indre-et-Loire < Loire Valley < France

 marks the location of this property in Indre-et-Loire

Availability for the cottage in Loire Valley, France

Last updated on:

Thursday, 15 May 2008

Changeover day:

Saturday

Rental rates for the cottage in Loire Valley, France

^*Please Note: The owner of this property accepts payment in the original currency specified, before use of conversion tool. The conversion tool is provided for your convenience only. The owner may accept other currencies if specifically agreed in advance.

Accommodation and Facilities for the cottage in Loire Valley, France

A Day Out in Paris

Chinon is a 35-minute drive from Tours (train service also exists) and Paris is just an additional hour away on the high-speed TGV (train de grande vitesse) which makes it more than possible to head to Paris for a day's shopping or sightseeing. TGV service also links Tours to Disneyland Paris, Charles-De-Gaulle (Roissy) International Airport, Lille, Poitiers and Bordeaux, as well as London, England and Brussels, Belgium. If driving to Paris, please allow 3 hours.

Chinon and the Area

Chinon is a town rich in both culture and history. The old town – la vielle ville – is nestled in between the Château on top of the hill and the river Vienne. For many generations, it was the home of kings and the seat of the government. Interestingly, it was the home of the Plantegenet Kings (yes, of England). Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine resided in and kept the Royal Treasury in Chinon. Their son, Richard the Lionhearted, was also born here. Westminster Abbey houses all but these two English Monarchs (and it is said that they occasionally ask for them). The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, approx. 30 km from Chinon, houses their life-sized 'gisants.' This 12th centuray abbey, to which Eleanor retired, is well worth the visit. If you want to get a feel for Chinon and this period of its long history, see the film 'Lion in Winter' with Katherine Hepburn.

Rabelais

Chinon was the birthplace of François Rabelais (1494-1553), renaissance man, monk, doctor, philosopher and writer. You can visit his country home, La Devinière, which is just a few miles away. Rabelais made Chinon famous by using it as the center of his Picrocholine War with his gigantic heros Gargantua and Pantagruel.