Elegantly Rustic

Guest: Garland (Austin, Texas)
Date of Stay: 10/08/11 Review Submitted: 01/25/12

Ideal, beautiful, relaxing, authentic, comfortable, hospitable..... all are words that come to mind when I relive my visit to Chateau de la Noue. Christine is the most delightful hostess with great ideas for exploring the area, and speaks English as well as her native French. She is a "Calif-Franco" who spends some of the year in California. The rooms are extremely comfortable, and if you are in the apartment, everything is there that one might need for cooking, laundry, etc. The little village of Villedomer is quaint and beautiful. Chateaus are in abundance within 30 minutes drive and Tours, the former capital of France, is nearby. Not "if", but when I go back to France, it will be to go to Chateau de la Noue and to see my new friend, Christine. I highly recommend it!!

Owner response:Thank you so much Garland for your very kind words...La Noue and myself can only look forward to your "come back" to La Noue which has hosted quite a few of them over the years! we may explore the local countryside sunflower fields (in full bloom) again(but not at midnight may be)! or witness other famous sporting events such as the Paris-Tours bicycle race...all parts of the surprises the Loire Valley has in store for its fervent guests. Merci

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Living the Good Life

Guest: Cynthia B. (San Francisco, California)
Date of Stay: 10/19/10 Review Submitted: 10/14/11

For a special birthday for my husband, I wanted to take him to the Loire Valley to experience the delicious wines, friendly culture, scrumptious food, and gorgeous chateaux. I attended the Universite de Bordeaux, France, and am a true Francophile, however, my husband had never been to this glorious and often misunderstood country. After a beautiful trip to Monet’s Giverney, I wanted a home base for exploration and definitely wanted to stay in an historic chateau. After much searching, I found Chateau de La Noue in the quaint village of Villedomer. Finding the Chateau is a bit of a challenge because it is off the road, down a long, lovely tree studded path. It is difficult to find at night as there are no street lights or signs. If you speak any French at all, you will find someone at the church, restaurant, or pharmacy to direct you and possibly drive you there. Jean, who only speaks French was chopping wood when we arrived at dusk and was most welcoming. Since it was late in the season, we had the entire Chateau to ourselves. We had our choice of bedrooms with huge windows overlooking the woods. Two baths upstairs and another toilet area was in the laundry room. The living room boasts a huge fireplace, almost like an inglenook, however it did smoke. The dining room is lovely with French Doors to the outside. The kitchen has a dishwasher and microwave. Linens were provided and the bed was very comfortable. What made our stay “formidable” was Jean! I spoke French to him regularly and he joined us for coffee or Vouvray. Turned out that my husband and Jean were born on exactly the same day in the same year so we celebrated together. He gave us a tour of the entire chateau which he is still renovating. It’s amazing how massive it is and the stories behind the stories are enticing. This is a hidden gem. If you are looking for a 5 star hotel with lots of services and pampering, this is not for you. But if you want a real chateau that has been in the family for hundreds of years that is comfortable, homey, and filled with history, this is a charmer. It is very private in the midst of the woods, thus it is quiet and relaxing. My only regret is that, being Americans, we don’t get 4-6 weeks as a holiday! We spent one enchanted week as bon vivants at Chateau de la Noue. As it nears the anniversary of our stay, we want to wish Jean a “bon anniversaire” and say “merci pour tout!” Cynthia and Brian

Owner response:Cynthia and Brian, Thank you so much for your extended review of your stay at La Noue... I won't deny the challenge of finding the property but as you also noted it, its somewhat remote and private location, with also its closeness to all major sights and points of interest, is one of its many charms! The Chateau, Jean and myself would welcome adding you to our long list of return visitors .... in the near future!!

Recommended for:

Fascinating Chateau

Guest: Cook Family1 (Boone, NC USA)
Date of Stay: 07/16/11 Review Submitted: 08/06/11

My family spent a week at La Noue in July. There were six adults and five children (ages 7, 5, 4, and two 2 year olds) We were delighted with the chauteau. It had everything we needed and was very comfortable. The beds were great and the bathrooms modern. There was more than enough room for everyone. We did most of our own cooking in the very well equipped kitchen. There were toys for the kids as well as a lot of room to run around outside. There was a washer and dryer and the WiFi was much appreciated. La Noue was easily accessible to many chauteaus and wineries in the surrounding Loire Valley. Even the drive to Paris was an easy one. Christine was a wonderful host. She told us about a few sights that were not in any of the guidebooks that turned out to be some of our favorites. She made us a wonderful apple tart and even more exciting, she gave us a tour of the rest of the chauteau that she is restoring as she remembers it when she was a child. We are in awe of all the work she has done and plans to do, it is truely a labor of love. Do not miss an opportunity to stay at the unique property. I know all of us would love to return someday.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

A Week to Remember

Guest: Mary & Peter (Melbourne Australia)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/02/11

We spent a week at La Noue in July 2011. Our stay was very enjoyable. The Chateaux has everything that one would need. It is a home away from home, down to the outdoor clothesline...... No mosquitoes and no flies!!!!!! Christine made us feel most welcome and she is most knowledgeable about this part of France. The property is ideally situated for visitors interested in visiting the beautiful Chateaux around Tours and the wineriies. We will certainly remember our stay at La Noue fondly. we had a great time.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, adventure seekers, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Wonderful Stay

Guest: George B. (-)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

Four of us spent a wonderful week at the chateau. The apartment is large, clean, well-equipped and perfect in every aspect. The two bedrooms are huge and the beds very comfortable. One bedroom has an additional children's bedroom. Sitting in the living room with its large fireplace and antiques with a glass of wine and some cheese and pate after a hard day of touring, I really feel like the lord in his manor. Christine is a very warm and gracious hostess who truly enjoys her guests. She made us feel so much at home and even lent us a coffee grinder when we bought beans rather than ground at the supermarket and brought in our laundry when it started to rain while we were touring (there is a perfectly good dryer but we preferred to hang our clothes to dry). The chateau is in a beautiful setting with lots of wooded trails for hiking. We enjoyed the BBQ and outdoor sitting and eating area. The village is charming, including La Petite Gourmet restaurant which serves a great three-course lunch including wine with refills for 13 euros. We also enjoyed our meal at the Red House in Chateau Renault as recommended by Christine. The location is great for touring the chateau country and for going to the Sunday market in Ambois. Christine recommended a winery in nearby Vouvrey that had excellent and inexpensive wine. Good idea to go there early in your stay and stock up. We also took a day trip to the Normandy D-day beaches and cemeteries. Every apartment we stayed in on our five-week trip was special but this was extra-special. I highly recommend it. We will return.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, people with disabilities, adventure seekers, families with young children, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Wonderful stay

Guest: Peter (Vancouver Canada)
Date of Stay: 05/22/11 Review Submitted: 06/13/11

We booked La Noue based on some of the reviews here, and the photos of the property. We were not disappointed at all, and following some of Christine's helpful tour suggestions to visit places such as Crissay and Lavardin, had a marvelous holiday. The Chateau was great, and the apartment was more than comfortable for the four of us. The bedrooms are huge, and filled with antiques. Location was very central for day trips to attractions in all directions. Good grocery shopping in Chateau Renault, and the Tuesday market there was fun. Thanks again Christine, for making our stay the highlight of our trip to France. We will not hesitate to return in the near future.

Owner response:Thank you so much Peter for your kind remarks about your stay...It certainly was a pleasure meeting you and your friends. La Noue will remain true to herself and looks forward to your next visit! A bientot. Christine Miller

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, sightseeing, age 55+.

Delightful experience

Guest: wendy (Baltimore, Maryland)
Date of Stay: 07/11/08 Review Submitted: 04/27/11

I heard about the Chateau from a friend, and when I and 3 of my lady friends were going to France decided to see if we could stay there. It was lovely! exactly as described, wonderful location for touring the area. the little village has a small grocery, a wonderful bakery and a charming restaurant. I am loathe to recommend this because I would love to keep this a secret,however that would be very selfish of me! Enjoy!

Owner response:Wendy, What lovely comments you have... I can not only thank you but also suggest you come back and visit when I am there... Thank you to you for your visit and to Walli for sending you to the Chateau de La Noue. The word of mouth has been over the years the best promotion for La Noue... A bientot j'espere.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, sightseeing, age 55+.

Wonderful Base for Touring the Loire

Guest: Jeff and Michelle (Wichita, KS, USA)
Date of Stay: 09/25/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10

My wife and I spent 5 wonderful nights at Chateau de la Noue in late September 2010. The chateau is wonderfully secluded, yet just minutes from Tours and the major chateaux of the region. We very much enjoyed the period decoration in all of the rooms, with the added convenience of modern baths, kitchen, and laundry. The apartment is the entire shorter wing of the chateau - about 2000 sq ft on two floors. Much more space than the two of us needed - plenty of room to spread out and relax. It would be a perfect place for two couples or a larger family. Christine was a marvelous host. She gave us a tour of the main wing of the house, which she is renovating both for herself and for possible future apartments. The chateau is a living piece of history (original 1500's stained glass in the chapel), but is also a comfortable family home. There are groceries in nearby Monnaie and Chateau Renault, and several good restaurants within 5-10 km (try l'Epicurien in Monnaie for a gourmet experience). We used La Noue as a home base for day-trips as far as Chinon and Chambord, seeing multiple sights each day, without ever feeling that we were driving too much. It really is right in the middle of chateau country - just on the "other" bank of Loire. If / when our travels take us back to the Loire, we'll definitely see if La Noue is available!

Owner response:Thank you Jeff and Michelle. You really grasped the real "spirit" of La Noue .....its seclusion but close to all major sights, its peaceful setting for relaxation.... I look forward to your next visit....

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

Ourr spring time at La Noue

Guest: Bob (Stillwater, Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 05/05/10 Review Submitted: 07/24/10

My wife and I and a friend stayed at the Chateau de La Noue in early May. We spent 5 wonderful nights in this historic chateau. The accommodations were superb. Not plush, but very comfortable. It was really a large apartment with a well equipped kitchen allowing us to cook as many meals as we wished. The bedrooms were very spacious and the bathrooms updated and comfortable. There was also a living room and dining room. Side trips that Marie-Christine recommended were very interesting and we found some towns that we would never have found without her guidance. The grounds were splendid and Spring was in the air. It was quiet, save for the many birds. The best part of the chateau was Marie-Christine herself. She is but a youngster compared to the aged chateau, and her european charm was abundant. She was truly one of the most "alive" and charming people I have ever met. She gave us a tour of the chateau and imparted its interesting history. We had long and pleasant chats with her about us, her, the chateau and the valley. She elevated a good experience to an exceptional one. I would highly recommend this venue for a getaway.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with young children, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.

The best property we have ever rented!

Guest: Three happy Gulf Coast visitors (Diamondhead, MS, USA)
Date of Stay: 04/14/10 Review Submitted: 05/03/10

My mother, husband and I just returned from 9 marvelous days at La Noue. It has completely spoiled us for future rentals! I don't know if it was the fresh country air, the tranquility, or the comfortable beds, but we all enjoyed the best sleep that we can remember. The chateau is spacious, elegant and comfortable. The antique furniture is very decorative and makes a beautiful counterpoint to the more modern and accessible love seat and sofa. You feel as though you can relax here, all the while surrounded by historic charm. Some pluses: the well equipped laundry room, the delicious water from the tap (no need to buy water at the store), the privacy. We relished our leisurely breakfasts in the sun-drenched kitchen, had a go at barbequeing on the grill, and visited many chateaux in the area. Our host was very accommodating and helpful and his friendly and well-mannered red dog, Popov, came to visit us daily and never overstayed his welcome. We were sad to leave just as the lilacs were blooming and hope to visit here again.

Owner response:Thank you for the lovely words. La Noue looks forward to welcoming you again in the future.

Recommended for:Romantic getaway, families with teenagers, sightseeing, age 55+, girls getaway.