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LA
RIVIERE Valennes A group of 4 gites set in
approximately 2 acres above the valley of the River Braye, 4 km from the hamlet of Valennes The original farmhouse is at least 250 years old and
retains the exposed oak beams and roof timbers. The house accommodates 8 guests
in 3 bedrooms and has bathroom with bath and WC. There is a fully equipped
kitchen with washing machine dishwasher and microwave oven. The lounge has the
original open fireplace. The adjacent barn is now a games room with table
tennis solely for the use of the farmhouse. The gardens around the house are
also reserved for guests at the farmhouse. There is an oak picnic table and
large BBQ. The barn is now 2 large gites
each sleeping 8 in 4 bedrooms on the 1st floor. Each has a bathroom
with shower and WC plus an en suite bathroom with shower and WC. Both the
kitchens have dishwasher, washing machine and microwave oven. One house has
open fireplace the other has central heating. The large open plan living areas
lead via patio doors to sheltered terraces with oak tables and large BBQs. Finally the half timbered pigsty has been converted
into a 2 bedroom gite with the living area in the
loft incorporating the original oak roof timbers. There is a wood burning stove
and a well equipped kitchen. The 2 bedrooms and bathroom with bath, shower over
bath and WC are on the ground floor. The ground floor has electric central
heating. The dining area opens onto the garden with oak picnic
table and BBQ. Accessed from the lounge is a small private terrace/balcony
attached to the gable. The communal pool is in the gardens above the
properties (see plan). Measuring 12m x 6m the pool is in full sun until late
evening. There is a terrace with sun loungers a solar
shower plus a BBQ .The pool is lit in the evenings. Swings and table tennis are
provided. SHOPPING : Nearest small grocery shop and depot de pain at Valennes. (Turn right from house Valennes is next village approx. 4 km.) The shop also sells
a range of products from an award winning charcuterie in Savigny.
Closed Monday and Sunday afternoon. Boulangerie and small grocers at Souday (Straight on from house over stream follow
signs for Souday approx. 4 km.)
Closed Mondays and Sunday afternoon. All
services at Vibraye. (Turn left from the house
and follow the road back to the D1 and then take right
turn to Vibraye approx. 8km.) Supermarkets: Stoc and Huit a Huit both of which accept
credit cards. Stoc is
open every day including Mondays (Closed Sunday after Huit a Huit is open 7 days a week but this being They close at 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 Pl. 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 There are
also catholic churches in Valennes and Souday the latter dates from the 11th century and is a
Monument Historique. There are
two Auberge / Restaurants in the village. The Chapeau
Rouge is in the Pl. 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 Pl. Hotel de Ville. (This is a
one way street you cannot enter from the square. Turn left after the church
then right onto the new one way street then right onto the Rue Gabriel Goussault. ) There is a covered terrace at the rear of the
restaurant that is pleasant on summer evenings. Service is more relaxed and you
can get a table after There is a Creperie on the main street. The food is variable but
inexpensive. 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 The bar at
the Chapeau Rouge has tables in the square for drinking outdoors. There are
bars with terraces in La Ferte Bernard, Mondoubleau and Souday. Cigarettes
in There are
two banks. Credit Agricole will change sterling and travellers cheques. Unfortunately
there is a hefty 30F commission and the exchange rate is extremely favourable….for Credit Agricole.
The cash dispenser accepts most UK credit cards and some debit cards. Credit
cards are almost universally accepted in retail outlets in 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 Unlike Vibraye they are closed all day Sunday. Hypermarkets
such as Auchan to the north of MARKETS Saturday: Ste Antoine, La Ferte
Bernard. Follow signs for Gare SNCF in La Ferte, the market is in the square and around the church.
Lots of local produce,fresh milk,cream , yoghurt & a range of excellent goat cheeses.
Locally grown vegetables sold by the church, a wider selection of commercially
sourced products in the square. The best black puddings (boudin
noir) in the area are sold at the small red and white canvas kiosk in the
square. Free tasting is usually on offer, but be prepared to queue. The smells
from the spit roast chickens at the rotisserie next to the boudin
kiosk are difficult to resist. Poulet fermier is worth the extra 15 francs. Monday:
La Ferte Bernard. The largest
market in the area. The main square by the church is dominated by stalls
selling clothes, shoes and hardware.At
the far end of the market local producers sell vegetables, cheeses and poultry.
A large rotisserie usually sells spit roast belly pork, guinea fowl and duck as
well as chicken. The stalls around the Bar Marais
sell a range of items from cds to handbags. Numerous
vegetable stalls offer a wide choice of commercial fruit & veg. The covered market behind the bar houses fish and meat
stalls. Wednesday: Connerre.Another busy regional market with a similar
range of stalls to La Ferte. In addition there is
usually a stall specialising in duck and goose
products, including fresh foie gras.
As well as local goat cheeses a specialist stall offers a range of interesting
cheeses from around Thursday
and Sunday: St Calais. An interesting choice of local produce in the
covered market hall.The market is smaller on Sunday
but there are usually events organised by the local
tourist office. Friday: Vibraye. The market occupies both squares and in
summer takes over the main street between. Clothes and shoes are sold in the
Place de l’eglise food in the Place de l’hotel de ville. Goat cheese is
usually available but the sales team doesn’t always turn up. BUYING
FROM THE FARM Some local
farms welcome visitors and make sales direct. Guided tours are also possible. St Maixient:
A family of dedicated
organic farmers produce a wide range of dairy products from their Villaines La Gonais: Dominique Vade has a herd of over 200 deer on his organic farm. In
summer his farm shop is open Friday and Saturday and until noon on Sunday.
Guided tours at 3pm, 4pm and 5pm. Direct sales of venison and various charcuterie based on venison. Free range chickens and guinea fowl
are also available. Nearby Chantal Ouarnier
at La Ferme de Trefoux produces a range of foie
gras and confit of duck or
goose. Open Monday to Friday. Champrond Just behind
our gite at Le Bourg, Champrond goat cheeses are sold from the farm
‘Moulin de la Ronce’. See map and details. On the D1
from Vibraye to La Ferte
Bernard take the right turn 100 metres
after the TGV bridge. EATING
OUT The French
eat their main meal at lunchtime. Whilst lunch is served from 12 - 2, the
French typically start at around 12.15. Though it is probably a little early for
most British appetites it is worth making the effort to arrive by 12.30 to
enjoy the atmosphere.As a result most restaurants and
cafes offer excellent value menus at around 50-55 francs 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
/ bar / petrol station offers a similar format. L’Auberge
du Nord at Lamnay often serves 2 starters followed by main course
sweet and coffee. Slightly
further afield in the pretty village of St Ulphace the Hotel / Restaurant Le Grand Monarque
serves a set menu at around 50 francs in pleasant surroundings. More formal
lunches are served at le Chapeau Rouge and l’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 the
evenings the two hotels in Vibraye have menus from
around 90 francs per person. Please remember that 8.30 is a late table
reservation! The restaurants at Souday and Berfay are also open in the evenings but don’t offer the
menus at 50 francs. In La Ferte Bernard La Perdrix features in the Michelin and Gaullt
Millau guides. Le Dauphin situated on the pedestrian
street to La Porte St Julien serves excellent food in
elegant surroundings. Le Grand Monarque at St Ulphace has a range of menus from around 100 francs. Most saturdays there are theme evenings
such as seafood or choucroute. There is usually a
disco. Prices are around 100F 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. 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 Lavare, La Ferte Bernard and St Calais. 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, 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 6 francs per person. A book of 10
tickets costs about 35 francs. There is an indoor pool at La Ferte Bernard. Tennis
courts in Vibraye can be rented by the hour, bookings
at La Maison de la Presse. Horse riding and forest riding at the Equestrian centre in Vibraye. Often very busy in summer it is necessary to book well in
advance. Contact M. Bernard Boutier Club Hippique de Vibraye La Bellonniere 02 43 93 60
92 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 30km from Vibraye
and there are courses around 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 There are
several interesting towns within an hours drive of Vibraye. These include Vendome Amboise Blois and Chartres. 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 La Ferte Bernard. During the summer holidays they usually
employ students who speak a little English. WINE
BUYING The house
is just over an hours drive from the The nearest
place to buy wine from the producer is at Limeray
just off the RN before purchase but you will need to invest in a
corking machine ( From £5 - £20 ) and
have a source of empty bottles in the ‘Bag in Box’.which 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 regularily 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
10 francs a litre for the Gamay
to 13 francs for the Cuvee Francois 1er. Even if you don’t fancy buying en vrac to take back to the Both Domaine Dutetre and Bonnigal accept payment by credit card. There is an
excellent Michelin star restaurant close to Limeray
in the adjacent Reservation
is recommended: 02 47 30 15 29 Within
daytrip range from Vibraye are the vineyards at
Chinon, Bourgueil, St
Nicholas de Bourgueil, Saumur,
Saumur Champigny, Vouvray and |
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