Richelieu
This beautiful historical town is surrounded by walls and a moat and is entered via 3 high gates.
The Grande Rue (high street) runs North to South with a ‘place’ at either end. Around the South place are the Church and the covered market both built in 1638 and the Law Court now used as the Town Hall and Museum. The famous ‘Les Halles’ covered market boasts very fine chestnut and oak beams which have required very little restoration since construction.
A brocante/antique fayre is held in the square on the first Saturday of the month along with frequent art exhibitions. There are also numerous bars/restaurants plus boulangerie, chartcuterie, pharmacie, supermarkets and banks within a minute or twos walk from the house.
The huge park behind the house is simply outstanding, offering municipal swimming pool (Summer months only), fishing, tennis courts, walking, cycling (bike hire available), bouledrome and canoeing in the park canals. Golf is available within 30 mins drive.
The Region
The Loire Valley is famous for its fairytale Chateaux, stunning scenery and quality wine production. Know as the garden of France, the Southern Loire has a temperate climate.
Classified as part of the World Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO, it is usually warm from April – October with relatively mild winters and less rainfall than areas North of the Loire river.
The garden and terrace of the house is a real sun trap and temperatures well into the 30’s from May – September are frequently experienced. The area is characterised by many wine caves, the most famous being Chinon red wines and the delicate whites of the Touraine.
Tours (a mini Paris) is within 40 minutes drive of the house, as are the outstanding Chateaux of Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau. The beautiful towns of Chinon and Saumur are within 20 and 40 minutes drive respectively.
