There are hundreds of places of visit from Les Fleurs, self catering cottages in the Loire We are in the heart of the Parc Nationale and the Loire Valley wine Route, beauty and history are all around us. For those looking for a more active holiday, golf, horse riding, fishing, nature trails, hunting and bird watching are just a few of the pastimes on offer.

The gites are just a few minutes from the hamlet of Les Verchers which has aa boulangerie serving yummy cakes and breads,  where you will be served by a very friendly  lady who will happily give you whatever you point to. There is also a  typical French bar with a pool table.

There is a huge supermaket, SuperU, just five minutes from Les Fleurs self catering gites in the Loire, where you can buy everything you could possibly want from petrol to wine to cheese!.  There is also a  cafe/restaurant, chemist and newsagent in the same building

 The market town of Doue la Fontaine boasts a number of shops, coffee bars and restaurants including two Troglodyte restaurants where you will enjoy a meal in a unique atmosphere and surroundings. A huge and interesting market is held every Monday where you can buy anything from a pair of shoes to wonderful local fruits, vegetables and cheeses. The world famous zoo is a highlight of a visit to the area. Doue is known as the rose garden and renowned for  its Rose Gardens and rose distilleries, where visitors can buy  marvellous rose products

There are  bars and restaurants to choose from whether you just want to sit with a drink and watch the world go by or enjoy a scrumptious meal. or snack before returning to your superb self catering  Loire holiday home.

There are adventure parks, such as Futurscope to entice visitors of all ages Boat trips on the Loire are a wonderful way of seeing this glorious river

World famous Cadre Noir  in Saumur opens its training school to the visitor, where visitors can marvel at the relationship and skill of horse and rider.  The Tank museum in Saumur is perfect for boys of all ages

Puy Notre Dame, a village just a few minutes from the property is well worth a visit, more information on Puy Notre Dame and Montreuil Bellay can be found by following the link on our home page.

Many of the villages have festivals, particularly at vandage (harvest time). Great fun is had by all and you will be made very welcome. Everywhere you go the people are remarkably friendly and helpful, especially if you are brave enough to attempt some French.

Vide Grenier (car boot sale) are held frequently  in the villages and the larger towns host an antiques market or Brocante once a month, where visitors can haggle for a bargain and take a little bit of France home. (Here's a great link to get you started!)

Wine

The region produces many exquisite wines from the world renowned Saumur  Traditional to the lesser known but delicious wines produced in the Saumur & Anjou area such as Coteaux du Layon, Champigny.

This includes several traditional wine producers, who will welcome you with a visit around the caves where they produce the wines, followed by tastings and the opportunity to buy at far cheaper prices than in the UK. Appointments are occasionaly necessary for some of the visits to the wineries and we will happily arrange these for you.
Alternatively, if time is limited or you have small children who say "not another one!!", we can arrange a mixed case from several producers  which we use for you  Simply tell us the type of wine you like (on which, the price will naturally vary) and we will have your case ready and waiting.

The region offers so many varied and beautiful places to visit that you will want to return time and time again. You can see everything from a rose garden (Les Chemins de la Rose) at Doue La Fontaine, to a Tank Museum at Saumur.

The Loire is world famous for its beautiful Chateaux, very many of which are open to the public and should not be missed. The historic towns of Amboise, Blois, Saumur and Beaugency are jewels in the Loire's crown and therefore worth visiting.

Saumur, which is only a 15 minute drive from the gite is a beautiful town, bordering the Loire river where there are many pretty walks to amble along. A visit to the Chateaux is a must, there is an optional 90 minute guided tour which covers the porcelain and equestrian exhibits.