Wow WOW WOW WOW! is all i could think and say as we pulled into this amazing Chateau after our 3…read morehour drive from Paris to this beautiful "little town, in a quiet village." The near by town of Chinon is out of a movie set. I would never have imagined this could be real. Beware: our navigation took us to the wrong location and we were very confused and lost. However, we asked people on the street which way to go and they were all very knowledgeable and about Chateau Maracy and had great things to say about it. As we pulled in, we were al in shock! the first glimpse of this Chateau is magical and awesome! We were taken care of very nicely and professionally. The hotel staff is gracious and friendly and kind. They break every "french stereo type." We were able to check in right away and we had a 2 story cute room with stone walls. The master bedroom was on the top and 2 pull out beds were on the 1st floor. The towels and linens were clean, white, fluffy and much more plush than I expected. The views from our room was magnificent. You could see the beautiful french countryside and French sky for miles. I'm convinced that the sky looks different in France. I need to look this up because I understand it odd it sounds, but really, it looks different than our American sky. it seems lower set and wider. The Chateau had e-mailed us earlier about reservations at their restaurant and I wish I had booked it. They were completely booked at the restaurant and I now understood why. This remote Chateau had a michilin rated restaurant!!! Although they were booked, they agreed to provide my kids with a 3 course meal in the Parlour room! The meal was licked clean by my extremely picky and anorexic kids. We were served by 2-3 waiters in tuxedos in the parlor room of an 11th century Chateau! 1st course was cantaloupe (melon) slices. I swear, it was not your typical melon (lol, as Max Amini says, "I am not your typical Persian girl"). It was the most delicious cantaloupe and I am usually not a fan of the orange melon. Next course was Sea bream with Ratatouille and pasta with the most delicious white light sauce. Yes, my kids were thrilled to have ratatouille and they ate up veggies for the 1st time and LOVED IT! All 3 plates were licked clean and the kids sat in anticipation of dessert. Vanilla ice cream. How could vanilla ice cream be any different than all the vanilla ice cream you've ever had? Thats what I thought too! trust me, this WAS different. so freakin good! all the portions were relatively small for American Standards but to was enough. we left very satisfied and not stuffed/gross. They had turn down service with little chocolates on our pillows. We woke up to roosters and the beautiful silence of the country. They were able to squeeze my kids in and take them horse back riding. They had a beautiful pool and some outdoor toys and balls you could borrow. My kids loved walking around and petting the horses. My sister bought back pizza from Chinon for my kids and the hotel restaurant held it for us and then served it to us outside, warm on a beautiful tray! I will never forgot the kindness and grace of the staff and the breathtaking beauty of the Chateau. Our room lacked hot water so they refunded part of our stay.

I am just back from vacation in France. I wanted to make sure I wrote a favorable review for the…read morechâteau de marçay. We stayed there for a night and had dinner. We actually arrived after the noon meal, but before dinner was available. The staff told us they could provide us with some cheese to get us through until dinner. I came to find out that they are well known for their cheese monger because they brought us the most incredible cheese platter I have ever seen. There were like 20 some different kinds of cheeses. They also brought some wonderful bread and we had the house red that they produce which was actually quite good. Near by Chinon is not as famous for their wine as other regions of France, but as we were traveling through Loire, we drank a lot of it, and were not displeased. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that even the average wines are quite good. That night we had dinner. I think it was the best meal we had in France. I got a set menu that had well paired elements starting with foie gras, followed by a fish dish, then duck, a for dessert a soufflé. Clearly a traditional french menu, but all the preparations were inspired and subtle. Also, the house served small dishes in between courses that were equally unique and inspired. The staff is quite young, but very professional. The service was excellent. We got what we needed just as we were about to ask for it. It is such a pleasure being served this way. Just when you think you need more water, you look down and someone has filled your glass. The owner came and spoke with us prior to dessert. She was wonderful and inviting. After meeting her it was clear to me how they maintained there strong level of service. It is clear that the château is very important to her and she delights in its maintenance, improvement, and stewardship. I have nothing but good things to say.

WOW !! Unbelievable place incredible Hospitality. The Chateau is outstandingly beautiful. The…read moreservice was a amazing everyone is so friendly and welcoming. The tour is also great including humor, and a antique pinball machine in action.

We decided to stay in the Loire Valley for our honeymoon, which spanned the month of July, 2012…read more Lucky for us, David and Lise's studio was available for the whole time, so we snapped it up and descended on Monts without really knowing what we were getting into. Lise picked us up at the train station, and we sighed a comfortable breath of relief once we saw our new digs! The apartment is simply but elegantly decorated with furniture and other touches from France and Morocco. The kitchen was stocked for at least a day, and we gratefully relaxed into a different rhythm of life. Cut to the first weekend: we are sitting on their sun-dappled terrace, sipping Vouvray kir and meeting wonderful people who grace us with boundless hospitality and thoughtful recommendations for how best to enjoy our respite in Touraine. Our four weeks in the mill are a lovely, hazy memory now, but watching the evening sun on the Indre while eating something--anything--from the market was like living in a painting. We biked to local towns and castles, took the bus line farther afield, and always felt like we were coming home after a weekend away. This is an extremely unique property, made incomparably special by its proprietors. The region is worth visiting, but we couldn't recommend seeing it any other way.

Le Moulin de Monts is a wonderful haven away from the hustle and bustle of travel. Located within…read morean easy drive of all the Loire Valley sights this place is highly recommended for a short or long stay. It is set right on the banks of the river. From the main bedroom of the apartment we could watch the river flowing past, the children playing with their canoes and even the fish swimming in the water. I cannot recommend highly enough the peaceful nature of this place. David and Lise are both gems and offered so much assistance. On arrival Lise briefed us thoroughly on all the main places to visit, to explore, to eat at and more. We did not need to do any further research for our weeks stay. The fridge was abundantly stocked and a light meal and wine was there to greet us. After a long day travelling it was so appreciated and typical of the generosity of spirit of Lise and David. I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone looking for comfortable, quiet, low key accommodation in an area rich and diverse in attractions.

We made a reservation for a large group (11 people including 3 pre-teens). The team worked to…read moreaccommodate some uncertainties around the date for our lunch (COVID pandemic!) which was great. Only for COVID time: The staff is extremely well-trained and invites you to sanitize your hands as you walk-in. Sanitizing stations are across different locations in the restaurant. All staff was wearing masks and guests were wearing masks when not at the table (going to restrooms or going out). We also have our meals outdoor on the terrasse which was even more re-assuring and the view of the Cher was beautiful. The Restaurant: The building offers everything you can think of for the Loire Valley. Ardoise roof, beautiful stones walls, troglodyte caves, etc... The menus: Having different options based on season availabilities or what the Chef is in the mood for is awesome. So many options... The wines: A great selection of Loire Valley wines and suggesting pairing in a beautiful way to please the most difficult palates. We had a Chinon on the recommendation of our waiter and it was perfect for such a large table with many dishes. The food: now this is the experience. From the presentation to the texture to the taste, everything brought me back to my childhood memories (I grew up there until I was 7 and came back later for few years). The mushrooms, the vegetables, the cheese, everything that was put on our table was impeccable and only tempting to figure out how to get a taste of everything. Always well-balanced, the full menu allowed us to feel satisfied, yet not like we did any excesses. The staff: Impeccable attention to everyone even in difficult conditions around the pandemic, perfect delivery of all dishes at our table in a timely manner, not rushing us, not pushing us, patiently advising us and best of all, having a lovely conversation with Chef Frederic Arnault for a trip down memory lane. This restaurant made the top 5 list of recommendations from 2 French Master Chefs. They know their craft and I trusted them. They were absolutely right. Make the stop, enjoy the view of the Cher while having a great experience tourangelle.

I love this little treasure situated on the banks of The Cher. While the exterior river views are…read morevery pretty its chef Frederci Arnault's cuisine that you'll be admiring. The chef, Frederci's, has a small but enticing menu that perfects french dishes such as 'tournedos' and 'poitrine de pigeonneau'. Each season the 'carte' reflects the best quality produce of the Touraine. Desserts are equally magnificent, if not the highlight. In winter there's the ambiance of an open fireplace while the warmer months allow for dining 'sur la terrasse'. All this at more than reasonable prices: (25 for two courses or 35 euros for three), now that leaves room for an excellent bottle of local wine recommend by their Sommelier. Just don't tell anyone about this restaurant: there's already a 2-week waiting list so book ahead for a memorable french meal. Closed Wednesday, Saturday lunch and Sunday evening. See their website for booking details - also in English http://www.lamaisontourangelle.com or http://www.myweekin.net

What a splendid find ! The hotel gets the balance of professionalism and relaxation just about…read more right - and with plenty of style, in a village with great character. Such a peaceful stay in the peacock blue Excellence suite - although the hotel was busy it was so quiet up there out of the way. Breakfast staff needed to be a bit more proactive in restocking as they had to be reminded every day but always produced the goods when asked - including going to the bakery next door and returning with a fresh bag of croissants ! The restaurant was consistently excellent - we ate in every night rather than risk being disappointed elsewhere - and it was full every night with contented diners having a great time.

What a great find from my wife! This hotel has a great character and charm about it.Right opposite…read moreThe Abbey also and so convenient. Our excellent room over looking the square made our stay all the more the more pleasant.Friendly reception staff and spotlessly clean also! One tiny thing for us was that the bar closed for residents quite early, which was slightly annoying as we do like to finish our evening reflecting in the bar...........Would certainly return though!

An absolute gem right outside Chinon. A great spot to stay…read morewhile touring around the Chateau/Loire region of France. Jerome and Charlotte are the lovely and gracious hosts of this beautifully renovated chateau dating back to the 12th Century. Every detail has been carefully attended to including huge, updated bathrooms and bedrooms equipped with down duvets, Nespresso machines, kettles, fluffy towels and wonderful food. I could easily stay there forever!

We stayed at Loire Valley Retreat for two nights this fall. The location is exactly what you would…read moreexpect the French countryside to be, on a small rise with views of farms and small towns. The chateau itself is beautiful, we particularly appreciated the blend of thoroughly modern facilities (bathrooms, amenities, TVs) inside a building that was hundreds of years old. Jerome and Charlotte are very welcoming, engaging hosts. We had one of the best meals of our entire trip when we arrived, a hearty four course menu served with warmth and presented with flair. Couldn't have been happier with the experience and wish we had stayed longer. We will definitely be going back.