LE BOURG

       SHOPPING:

All services at Vibraye approximately 4 km.

Supermarkets: Champion and Huit a Huit both of which accept credit cards.

Champion is open every day including Mondays (Closed Sunday after 12 noon) The store has a boulangerie and butchery dept. There is a petrol station which is significantly cheaper than the petrol station on the D I. Both fuel outlets in the village close at 7pm and on Sunday afternoons.There is a fuel automat at Champion which operates 24 hours but only accepts French payment cards.

Huit a Huit is open 7 days a week but this being France the opening hours are not 8 til 8. They close at 7.30pm , Sunday afternoon and for lunch. There are four Boulangeries in the village ensuring a supply of fresh bread every day (even Sundays) Unusually Boulangeries tend to remain open all day, often until 8pm, as long as they have something left to sell.

As well as the supermarket meat counter there is a specialist Boucherie (M. et Mme Chaintron). The shop is just past the Hotel de Ville on the left-hand side. As you might expect the quality and prices are higher than the supermarket.

There are also two charcuteries / pork butchers in the village

The Pharmacy is in the Place. Hotel de Ville.

The Village fish shop 'Poissonerie St Pol' is opposite Huit a Huit. It is closed Mondays and tends not     to open in the afternoons during July and August. It also doesn't open on Sunday morning in July and August.

There is a Post Office on the road into the village. If you just want to buy stamps it is usually easier to purchase them at the newsagent / bookshop 'Maison de la Presse' which is on the left hand side of the main street

The Catholic church in Vibraye has a service at 11am on Sundays and other Holydays. There are also catholic churches in Valennes and Souday, the latter dates from the 11th century and is a Monument Historique. The best bar in the village is the Bar des Sports on the main street. The place is usually very active around midday and the atmosphere is especially good at lunchtime on Friday (market day) and Sunday. The bar is closed on Wednesday and Sunday after 1.30pm. At other times it is open from 7am - 7pm. There are three other bars in the village and you can normally buy a drink until midnight.

The bar at the Chapeau Rouge has tables in the square for drinking outdoors. There are bars with terraces in La Ferte Bemard, Mondoubleau and Souday.

Cigarettes in France are sold at Tabacs. In Vibraye these are at the Bar des Sports and La Maison de la Presse.

There are two banks.They are open on Saturday morning but close on Monday. Credit Agricole will change sterling and travellers cheques. Unfortunately there is a hefty 5 Euros commission and the exchange rate is extremely poor. The cash dispenser accepts most UK credit cards and debit cards. Credit cards are almost universally accepted in retail outlets in France, though you will often have to persuade the assistant to swipe the card as French cards all have a smart chip and operate via a PIN number.

Larger supermarkets at La Ferte Bernard include Intermarche Champion and Le Clerc. The latter has an excellent fish dept. As in Vibraye these stores close at noon until about 2pm. (Except Le Clerc which is open all day Monday to Saturday ) Unlike Vibraye they are closed all day Sunday.

Hypermarkets such as Auchan to the north of Le Mans offer a huge range of goods and services and are open all day until 10pm  Monday to Saturday. Take the A11 at La Ferte Bernard, direction Le Mans leave the autoroute at the Le Mans Nord exit. At the exit turn left towards Le Mans the road traverses a huge retail park with Auchan Decathlon,Castorama etc. 

EATING OUT

The cheapest  option is lunch from the set menu . The restaurants are usually busy with an interesting mixture of clients from labourers to office workers. Prices are extremely reasonable (around 9 Euros  per person. This will usually comprise of starter, main course, cheese, dessert and coffee. Young children can usually share a menu. Wine is also included. The bar/restaurant at Souday is worth a visit. The starters are from an excellent cold buffet and there is a choice of at least two main courses. The bar has a small covered terrace, a good spot to observe the pace of life in Souday. At Berfay the restaurant offers a similar format. L'Auberge du Nord at Lamnay usually serves 2 starters followed by main course sweet and coffee.

Slightly further a field in the pretty village of St Ulphace the Hotel / Restaurant Le Grand Monarque serves a set menu at around  10 Euros in pleasant surroundings. More formal lunches are served at le Chapeau Rouge and I'Auberge de la Foret in Vibraye.

The creperie at Valennes serves a wide range of inexpensive crepes and salads at lunchtime and evening. There is also a bar with tables on the square.

In Vibraye the  Creperie is on the main street. The food is variable but inexpensive.

There are two  restaurants in the village. The Chapeau Rouge is in the Place Hotel de Ville. The food is usually good but the atmosphere can be a little formal. Please note you will not be welcome much after 8pm. Lunchtimes especially Sundays are more popular eating times for the French.

The Auberge de la Foret is on the Rue Gabriel Goussault which is just off the Place. Hotel de Ville. (This is a one way street you cannot enter from the square. Turn left after the church then right onto the one way street then right onto the Rue Gabriel Goussault.) There is a covered terrace at the rear of the restaurant which is pleasant on a warm evening. Service is more relaxed and you can get a table after 8pm but as with most provincial French hotels they do close relatively early. The 2 restaurants in Vibraye have menus from around 14 Euros  per person.

The restaurants at Souday and Berfay are also open in the evenings at the weekend, but don't offer the menus at 9 Euros. In La Ferte Bernard La Perdrix features in the Michelin and Gaullt Millau guides and was highly commended by our visitors last year. Le Dauphin situated on the pedestrian street to La Porte St Julien serves excellent food in pleasant surroundings. Le Grand Monarque at St Ulphace has a range of menus from around 14 Euros. Most saturdays there are theme evenings such as seafood or choucroute. There is usually a disco. Prices are around 15 Euros per person including wine. Booking is advised. There is a Pizzeria at Cormenon, just outside Mondoubleau, which has been recommended by visitors in the past. There is also a Pizzeria by the Chateau at Montmirail. The terrace is next to the Chateau walls. There are numerous restaurants in the old centre of Le Mans by the cathedral. In the main square by the cathedral the Brasserie Maitre Kanterbrau specialises in seafood platters.

The restaurant is usually packed and you may have to wait for a table. (There are lots of other items on the menu for non fish eaters)

The list of restaurants is far from definitive. Please check the opening times as they are subject to change especially in the summer as some will close for holidays.

We would welcome any observations on eating out in the region as we intend to update this information from time to time.                

RECREATION

Swimming sailing and fishing at the small lakes at La Ferte Bernard and Lavare

The lake at Lavare has a small sandy beach and has a roped off shallow swimming area. In addition the village provides a lifeguard during July and August. There is a mountain bike circuit, skateboard area, tennis, childrens' games a beach bar and toilets.

From the end of June until the beginning of August the heated outdoor pool at Vibraye is open at around  1 Euro per person. A book of 10 tickets costs about 5.5.Euros. There is an indoor pool at La Ferte Bemard.

Tennis courts in Vibraye can be rented by the hour, bookings at La Maison de la Presse.

Fishing in the local rivers with a permit, available from Jardicycles in the village, or on day passes at private lakes. Trout fishing at the fish farm at St Mars La Briere costs about £5 per person, but as the stream is stocked at the start of the session you are virtually guaranteed to catch some. Not for the purists perhaps. Children can borrow a simple rod and line and fish in stocked pools. You only pay for the trout they catch, by weight.

Horse riding in the forest or at the Equestrian centre in Vibraye. Often very busy in summer it is better to book  in advance. Contact M. Bernard Boutier Club Hippique de Vibraye La Bellonniere 02 43 93 60 92. If you would like us to book for you please ask.

Go Karting and Quad bike circuit outside Connerre on the RN23 to Le Mans. A little further on towards Le Mans is a new water park with water slide

Golf at Belleme approximately 3Okm from Vibraye and there are courses around Le Mans.

Walking on footpaths and Chemins Rurales throughout the region. IGN maps of the area can be purchased at la Maison de La Presse. Signposted walks of varying lengths are promoted by the local tourist bodies. Excellent cycling in the forest of Vibraye off road or on the numerous forest tracks.

Le Mans with its impressive gothic cathedral and beautifully preserved old town is well worth a visit. There is a market by the cathedral on Sunday morning. To the south of Le Mans is the famous 24 hour circuit with the automotive museum.

At Arville near Mondoubleau the Commanderie Templiere d’Arville has been lovingly restored.The former home of the knights of St John is now a museum with various exhibits from the crusades. At Bousay, also near Mondoubleau, the Chemin Botanique offers a one hour walk with views of the Grenne valley. 54 trees and 108 plants are identified. There are picnic areas.The centre also offers craft courses including ceramics and basket weaving.

There are some day courses for children during the summer

Vendome on le Loir is about 30 minutes by car. This pretty town has beautiful buildings,squares and parks as well as pedestrian shopping streets. Market day is

Friday around and within the covered market hall.

There are several interesting towns within an hours drive of Vibraye. These include Vendome Amboise Blois and Chartres. Chartres is about 50 minutes by train from La Ferte Bernard The yellow file in the house contains further information on things to do in the region or you can visit the tourist information bureau in Vibraye or La Ferte Bernard. During the summer holidays they usually employ students who speak English.

Paris is 165km from Vibraye by autoroute. The journey normally takes about an hour and a half, though you should try and avoid the rush hour in Paris. Alternatively there is a train from La Ferte Bernard. This takes about 2 hours and costs about 37 Euros return. A TGV from Vendome takes only 42 minutes but costs a little more depending on which service you choose.

WINE BUYING

The house is just over an hours drive from the Loire valley. Numerous wine guides cover the regions best buys but we offer a few suggestions.

The nearest place to buy wine from the producer is at Limeray just off the RN before Amboise. The wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Gamay and Cuvee Francois I ere. Most places sell by the bottle or in bulk (En Vrac). The latter is by far the cheapest way to purchase but you will need to invest in a corking machine ( From £5 - £20 ) and have a source of empty bottles in the UK. Wine is sold in Cubitainers of 5, 11, 22 or 32 litres. Degustation ( Tastings) are offered without obligation. A few places now offer wines 'Bag in Box'.This keeps several weeks in the dispenser and does away with the need to bottle the wine. Probably the best and most expensive wines are at Domaine Dutetre on the left as you drop into Limeray. The Sauvignon regularity wins awards and the Cuvee Prestige and Cuvee Francois Premier are also excellent. There is a small wine museum in the cave.

Further on the right hand side of the road is Domaine de la Prevote owned by the Bonnigal family.This is a well organised cave which produces good value wines. The prices En Vrac range from 1.7 Euros a litre for the Gamay to 2 Euros for the Cuvee Francois 1er. Even if you don't fancy buying en vrac to take back to the UK a couple of cubitainers would make enjoyable drinking during the holiday!

Both Domaine Dutetre and Bonnigal accept payment by credit card.

There is an excellent Michelin star restaurant close to Limeray in the adjacent village of St Ouen les Vignes. L'Aubiniere also has an outstanding selection of wines from the Loire.

Reservation is recommended: 02 47 30 15 29. there are several restaurants and brasseries in Amboise about 10 minutes from Limeray

Within daytrip range from Vibraye are the vineyards at Chinon, Bourgueil, St Nicholas de Bourgueil, Saumur, Saumur Champigny, Vouvray and Anjou.

The cellars of the sparkling wine producers at Saumur have guided tours in English.

 If you plan to visit any of these areas and want information please ask.

 BUYING FROM THE FARM

Some local farms welcome visitors and make sales direct. Guided tours are also possible

St Maixient

At the Ferme de Mezieres a family of dedicated organic farmers produce a wide range of dairy products from their goats and Jersey cows. They are open on Fridays for visits. See Map and details. They also have a stall on the Saturday market at St Antoine.

Villaines La Gonais

Dominique Vade has a herd of over 200 deer on his organic farm. In the summer his farm shop is open Friday and Saturday and until noon on Sundays. Guided tours on the hour from 3pm to 5pm. Direct sales of venison, venison pates, chickens and guinea fowls.

He also has a stall on the market at St Antoine.

The adjacent La Ferme de Trefoux produces a range of foie gras, confits and charcuterie

Champrond

Just behind our gite at Le Bourg goat cheeses are sold at the farm ‘Moulin de la Ronce’. See map.

Ferme de la Jeunetrole

Local producer of free range poultry 

Chicken         5.50    Euros /Kg

Guinea Fowl 6.10     

Duckling       6.10

Rabbit            6.85

All are oven ready. Please order at least the day before on:  02 43 71 59 24

Free range eggs 2 Euros per dozen

They don’t speak much English, but we will place an order for you if required.