Vacation Rentals by Owner

Perfectly Wonderful

Guest: Staci L. (Yanbu Al Sinaiyah, Al Madinah, Saudi Arabia)
Date of Stay: 04/01/12 Review Submitted: 04/25/12

We spent 9 fabulous nights here at La Noue. It was just the hubby and I and our two small girls (ages 5 and 3) The space is huge...more than enough room...felt like we were living in our own home. It off in the woods...birds singing every morning. My daughters loved staying in their own "castle." The photos of the interior are very accurate...check out her website for more. The complementary champagne was great too! Christine was so incredibly helpful. She helped me find activities to do, arranged for our car rental, and was there for us the whole time (even though she was in California) Her brother (who speaks very little English) was still helpful as well and took us on a tour of the rest of the chateau. The local towns nearby have stores for food...we ate breakfast every morning in the chateau and quite a few dinners. Everything was comfortable, and Wifi worked..though you had to be upstairs. Wish we could have had a fire, but we were told the flue didn't work properly...still very cozy and we watched movies that we brought on the dvd player at night. We celebrated Easter here as well and our girls had an absolute blast hunting for eggs in the HUGE yard. We had our own car (highly recommended) and we were able to get out and see all the chateau's on our list. We also went to the last home of Leonardo Da Vinci (very cool) and saw a horse show at the famous equestrian center in Samour. The Sunday market in Amboise was a real treat as well. If nothing else, just driving around through all the small towns was so enjoyable. It was a wonderful, wonderful trip...thanks again Christine for everything!

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, families with young children, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Wonderful stay

Guest: Christine M. (-)
Date of Stay: 03/11/12 Review Submitted: 03/29/12

You will love this place! The setting is beautiful and peaceful and the apartment is comfortable and spacious. The kitchen and dinning room has everything you need to dine in. It is a great location for touring the area and there are endless things to do and see. I hope we can return!!

Owner response:Thank you Christine for your lovely comments.The privacy and peacefulness of the property are certainly two "assets" that La Noue offers its guests along with proximity to major sights and walking distance to the village for important staples like the well filled bakery and the traditional restaurant... Merci.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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, age 55+, families with young children, sightseeing.

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!!

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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:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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:Age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Great Stay at the Chateau de la Noue

Guest: D Jane (Baltimore, Maryland USA)
Date of Stay: 03/30/10 Review Submitted: 04/12/10

Our family just returned from a visit to the Loire Valley and had an incredible stay at the Chateau de la Noue. It was very comfortable--very large bedrooms, beautiful updated bathrooms, fully equipped kitchen. The property and chateau were well cared for. There was an adorable pond with a small boat that my children used every night after our return from our visits to the nearby castles. The location was perfect with a short drive to Amboise and very centrally located for seeing all of the chateaux of the Loire Valley. We especially enjoyed Clos Luce - the final home of Leonardo de Vinci with all of the garden displays of his work. We were greeted upon our arrival by the owner's sister who gave us a full tour and description of the property and were visited during our stay by Jean, the owner's brother, who lives on the property and does a lot of work daily to keep it in good shape. I would definitely recommend this property to a family looking for a beautiful getaway with plenty of room to play outdoors for the children and we would stay here again.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Vern1 (Calgary, AB)
Date of Stay: 08/12/09 Review Submitted: 08/12/09

We spent two wonderful weeks at Chateau de la Noue. It was a great location for touring the Castles of the Loire Valley, and it was so nice to retreat to the quiet and peaceful beauty of La Noue at the end of the day, after being out with the crowds at the touristy areas. The apartment was spacious, clean, well equipped, and beautifully decorated. The grounds were perfect for relaxing and wandering through the woods. Our 5 year old daughter really enjoyed meeting the French children staying on the property, and was able to practice her French. Christine is a kind, gracious hostess whose knowledge and enthusiasm of the Loire Valley made our trip so much more enjoyable. She was always available to offer us advice or share in a cocktail, but was very respectful of our privacy. We would definitely return to Chateau De La Noue.

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Guest: mozelle (new orleans, LA)
Date of Stay: 06/03/09 Review Submitted: 06/03/09

We spent three weeks in May 2009. Can't stop thinking about La Noue!! It was charming,clean, inviting and fulfilled all of our expectations of a quiet idyllic vacation. Christine is the most gracious hostess and provided us with great suggestions for day trips, restaurants, and introductions to local wine makers. Our final evening at La Noue was spent enjoying the most fabulous meal cooked by Christine herself. We were able to enjoy a concert in a church nearby. Christine encourages the local orchestra by allowing them to rehearse at La Noue. We cannot say enough about the place. Christine's brother Jean is a wonderful man with a precious sense of humor. He greeted us when we arrived and was our tour guide through the chateau. The most splendid three weeks of my life!!!! When you go plan to stay at least a week or longer and take day trips in the area. The Loire area is the most beautiful in France. Thanks to La Noue, Christine and Jean!!

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Guest: Andrew & Cheryl (Oregon)
Date of Stay: 12/03/08 Review Submitted: 12/03/08

Spent a week in Novemember. Fabulous!! Marie Christine & her brother were exceedingly gracious. The heating worked. The kitchen worked. The plumbing worked. The bed was comfortable. The ambiance was superb. The location is excellent if you don't mind some short drives to the "major"chateaux. Looking forward to returning next year.

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Guest: Tom & Karen Pappas (Scottsdale, Arizona)
Date of Stay: 11/12/08 Review Submitted: 11/12/08

We enjoyed a short but memorable stay in September, 2008. The pictures showing the scale of the accommodations are no exaggeration - this place is HUGE! The apartment entirely occupies both floors of the north wing of the château. The kitchen and dining room are fully equipped, and the living room furnishings are the most comfortable you're likely to find. Mme. Miller is the kindest person we met in France. She helped us shop and navigate, and shared much of her abundant store of local lore.Don't worry about its apparently isolated location. In 20 minutes, you can be in downtown Tours and the gateway to the Loire.We will return as soon as time and tide permit. Two thumbs up!

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Guest: Mike Haynes (Lenexa, Kansas)
Date of Stay: 09/12/08 Review Submitted: 09/12/08

We stayed at this property in early June 2008, and were very pleased. The room we stayed in was roomy, comfortable, and had a private bathroom. The grounds were lovely, setting is isolated, with lots of trees. The small circular chapel was a highlight, spending an evening with the owner listening to classical music and drinking wine. Close to the Loire valley, easy drive to Leonardo Da Vinci's residence (highly recommended). If driving from Paris, stop at Charte to see the cathedral (better than Notre Dame). Wonderful hostess, highly recommended.

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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, age 55+, sightseeing.