Beautiful Gite, near Samur, Loire Valley

In this very nicely renovated apartment with a charming host you will feel entierly confortable during your stay around Saumur. Super clean and nice rooms contribute to a great impression with 2 TV's and a fully equipped kitchen. Higly recommended to anyone who wants to have a central base for their cultural trips to the castles and other beauties of the region. Bring your bike along for sports adventures. We loved it!

After a nice gentle drive down from Cherboug on the minor roads of Normandy and the Loire enjoying the villages and countryside, it was nice to arrive at the Le Grenier to a friendly welcome from our host Debbie. The Gite is more than big enough and very comfitable, basically it has every thing you need for a relaxing break. Outside the gardens are large enough for the kids to enjoy themselves (sandpit. swings etc, oh yes, donkeys as well ), you can catch the morning sun out front and the afternoon sun, out back, so its great for barbeque. Set in a small commune in an agricultural landscape it is very peaceful. Its a great base for going out for a walk (the land is fairly flat) and seeing the local vineyards, of which there are many.
There are many things to do and places to visit in range of a short car journey, the Zoo is spectacular and the Rose Gardens are heaven on a hot calm day (try the Rose Icecream, the most refreshing icecream I have ever had. The towns of Cholet, Angers and Saumur are easy drives and worth going to (Saumur is home to the Musee de Blindes, which is the main reason we were here but also has the Cavalry School).
We stayed for a week, no way long enough to fully enjoy what the area has to offer and we would certainly like to return for another stay.

Thank you to Debbie, Dennis and the boys who are all excellent hosts

Adrian, Jacqui and Evie

Having travelled over from Champagne, it was wonderful to arrive at Le Grenier and a warm welcome from Debbie and Dennis.

We had chance to explore the grounds before it went dark and quickly realised that the information available on the website does not really do Le Grenier justice.

A really enjoyable five days followed, exploring chateaux, vinyards and the area surrounding the gite, always with the knowledge that a warm welcome back was guaranteed from the donkeys (as long as stale bread was provided).

Being the first Dutch tenants we spent a week at Le Grenier and certainly without any regrets. First of all we had a warm welcome from Debbie and Dennis and the two great guys Matthew and David. They showed us around and although we had seen the photos on the internet we were still surprised by the cosy and spacious rooms and fully fitted kitchen. Usually photos make things look better, but reality is often disappointing. This was absolutely not the case here. Everything was clean and tidy, Beds made, big towels ready to be used in the bathrooms. As if we had booked a hotel. A surprise packet on the table added tot the feeling of being welcome.

There was an information map plus loads of leaflets giving plenty of details about things to do and see and Debbie was around all week to be helpful when necessary. One evening we had a very nice meal with her and the kids who were lovely little hosts. It was nice hearing them speak both English and French fluently.

We toured the region by car (you can't do without unless you bring your bikes), but also had restful moments in sun or shadow in the great garden. The nights were dark and quiet. We weren't bothered by the donkeys or the neighbour's roosters at all.

A place to recommend friends and family and everybody else interested! For a quiet and relaxing holiday, but also if you want to go out and explore the region. With or without kids. A place to remember!

My wife and I were after a quite spot in France to get away from it all and chill out. The added bonus for me was that it was only a short drive away from the Tour de France time trial stage at Cholet! The gite certainly hit the spot on both accounts and was also an ideal base for visiting the may lovely towns, villages, abbeys and chateaux which are abundant in this part of the Loire Valley. The gite was probably the nicest rented accomodation we have ever stayed in, clean, roomy, newly developed, well equipped and in its own private grounds. The British owners live next door and were always available without ever being intrusive. Although there was only the two of us, the gite would comfortable sleep 6 adults and there were ample other equipmet to support such a number there. Young children would espeically like the play area at the rear and the two donkeys in the field at the back (make sure you leave them some stale baguettes!!!). Our favourite local vists were to Montrieul Bellay, Saumur and the Abbey at Fontevraud, but there were many other great locations within an hours drive. As far as cycling is concerned, there are loads of quite lanes and not too many hills making it ideal for either the competent or novice cyclist. Touring cyclists could make it a base for some fine long distance loops to the Loire and there is ample covered space for bikes.We would certainly recommend this property to everyone and would only be too happy to stay there again.

What a wonderful home away from home. The pictures on the website that we saw did not do the place justice. The gite was brand new, and had been decorated to a standard that was far better than anything else we have seen, it was good enough that I would have been happy to call it home. Everything was spotlessly clean and without fault.

We have been on the road travelling out of suitcases for 5 weeks out of an 8 week round-the-world trip with two children (7&9). We had been on the lookout for a gite to break the monotony of hotels and to have a little more space. From the moment that we made our first phone call to Debbie, everything about our visit was made simple.

We arrived mid-afternoon and were welcomed by Debbie, Dennis and their two boys. Our children were delighted by this, in particular as it meant that they had other children of similar ages to play with. After dispensing with the formalities we were left to our own devices. Imagine our delight to find a fully fitted out kitchen, equipped with induction hotplate, full size oven and microwave, as well as enough pots and pans to cook a three course meal (we did on two occasions). Everything was clean and new, as well as being easy to maintain.

The layout of the gite had kitchen and meals area downstairs, along with a downstairs bedroom which that the children occupied and a bathroom with toilet and washing machine. Upstairs was a huge master bedroom (I would love one that size in my home) and attached en-suite, and a living area with wood heater, TV (DVD+satellite) and stereo system. At the back of the gite was an area that the children were able to play outside, secure away from the road. It comfortably fitted our family of four.

The owners reside in an attached building, but at no stage did we feel encroached on at all, we were left alone we initiated contact. Debbie and Dennis were a mine of information about local activities, including children friendly options. I had need to contact a hotel that I had booked over the internet to cancel it, Debbie did this for me (my French leaves something to be desired).

We used the gite as a basis for exploring the region. Doue-la-Fontaine was a short distance away with 2 reasonable size supermarkets and most of what we needed for provisioning.

I highly recommend this gite, although a car is essential. If I gush about this location, I do so unreservedly, it deserves it.

Nous sommes le premiers Français (Bretons!) à habiter "au Grenier". Quel Bonheur!
Nous avons découvert un cadre magnifique où il fait baon vivre un gite décoré avec goût et un accueil fantastique.
Nous espérons y revenir un jour.
Merci à Mme et Mr Bowes.
"Kenaro"
le Groupe de Bretagne