Le Clos Lumiere is in the heart of the ‘Garden of France’, only a five-minute drive from the Loire river. Visit fairy-tale chateaux, beautiful vineyards and rural villages so typical of this region. Discover fine regional foods such as amazing cheeses, truffles, excellent meats and preserved pears.

In 2019 the region is celebrating its Renaissance by marking 500 years since the death of Leonardo da Vinci and the year the first stone was laid for Chateau de Chambord. There will be many special events and expositions taking place across the Loire Valley.

Within 2km of Le Clos Lumiere you can pick up your morning pastries and bread from the boulangerie in the local village, where you will also find a pharmacy and a doctors. There’s an excellent restaurant serving local specialities within 1.5km.

For further facilities, head to the local town of Bourgueil (9km) where you can hire bikes and visit the historic 10th century abbey. The covered market on a Saturday morning is lovely whilst there is also a street market on a Tuesday morning. There are also many wonderful local restaurants and shops as well as a supermarket. The town is especially well known for its red wine (alongside the nearby village Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil) and there are many opportunities to sample the excellent local wine.

In the afternoons in July and August there is a leisure park just south of Bourgueil with a lake where you can swim when the lifeguard is present as well as a beach, games for kids, petanque, volleyball, ping-pong and bike paths connecting to the Loire à Vélo (a cycling trail along the Loire riverside). This is also a lovely area for hiking.

Indeed, there are many fantastic activities around the region from golf within thirty minutes near Saumur or Fontevraud and horse-riding in the area.

Resting on the banks of the Vienne River to the south, the medieval town of Chinon (32km) is a wonderful place to visit for the day. Follow the winding streets full of little shops and restaurants up to the castle and appreciate the history all around you. It’s another wine producing town so be sure to stop off in one of the town’s caves where you can sample some local produce! Hire canoes for a leisurely afternoon by the river.

Another amazing town to visit is Saumur (32km), resting on the Loire River. It has a fine reputation for its excellent restaurants, its famous equestrian school Cadre Noir and the delicious sparkling white wine which you can sample in the area. Visit the romantic chateau, take a boat up the Loire river or hire canoes.

Other highlights to the south-west include the Fontevraud Abbey (28km) and the fascinating Troglodyte caves in Rochemenier (53km).

There is yet more fascinating history to discover in Tours (38km), also an excellent place for its high-end gastronomy with amazing markets across the city. Wine-lovers should continue to the famous vineyards of Vouvray (58km).

This is of course the land of magical chateaux, many of them near Le Clos Lumiere such as Chateau de Langeais (14km), Chateau de Villandry (23km), Chateau Royal d’Amboise (66km) and Chateau de Chenonceau (70km).

A little further but worth the drive is Chateau de Chambord (123km) which should be combined with a visit to the utterly beautiful town of Blois (111km) on the Loire river.

A region doesn’t get to be called “The Garden of France” without being pretty special, and the Loire Valley is just as luscious and beautiful as its nickname would suggest. There’s countless acres of beautiful woods, vineyards and farmland that produce some of France’s revered ingredients and delicacies, and a wealth of history and beautiful architecture that demands and rewards exploration. Whether you’re heading off with the family, friends, or both, our fantastic portfolio of Loire Valley villas and chateaux means you’ll find fantastic, comfortable and quirky accommodation no matter your preferences.