Vacation Rentals by Owner

Christmas 2011 in Quebec

Guest: Claudine (Stony Plain, Alberta)
Date of Stay: 12/22/11 Review Submitted: 01/21/12

We had the pleasure of staying at Le Franchar for the Holidays and we enjoyed every minute of it. The location was great, with views of the north shore and Mont Ste-Anne in the distance. We could not have asked for better. Everything we needed was there and we enjoyed getting to know the caretakers. The attention to details, the cleanliness, the views and the people, all of these make Le Franchar a place to revisit. Thank you and All the Best to All in 2012!

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

Impeccable Haven on Ile d'Orleans

Guest: Lulu (Mill Valley, California)
Date of Stay: 09/22/11 Review Submitted: 09/26/11

The luxurious chateau at Le Franchar more than exceeded my expectations. Lyse has created a supremely comfortable apartment that feels more like a home than a vacation rental. The setting is lovely and pastoral; the lawns and grounds are beautifully tended, and there are walking trails through maple groves and cornfields above and below the house. The chateau is immaculate inside and out, with a deck overlooking the river, comfortable sofas and beds, wonderful linens, wide screen TV, WiFi and a fully equipped kitchen. Lyse provides lots of information about the island, including restaurant menus,tour books, CDs, activity brochures and maps, and she's happy to answer questions too. The drive to and from Quebec City is quick and easily accessed, as are the Chutes de Montmorency and routes to Charlevoix, plus there are many interesting ways to spend time on the island. This is a very relaxing place to stay! Treat yourself to an extra day or two there just to unwind!

Owner response:Dear Lois I read the comment you wrote, I want to thank you, I really appreciate it. Hope to see you again and also hope that you had a nice trip back. Best regards Lyse

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

A Fabulous Place

Guest: Kent and Dianne (Houston)
Date of Stay: 07/29/11 Review Submitted: 08/11/11

My husband and I just returned from a wonderful week at Le Franchar and we cannot recommend it highly enough. This is an extremely high end property owned and operated by the loveliest couple, Gus and Lyse, who are very friendly and helpful if you need anything, but otherwise unobtrusive. The apartment itself is immaculately clean, superbly decorated, very spacious (it is actually the entire upstairs of the house), and as comfortable as your own home. It has a large porch overlooking a beautiful yard and property that extends down to the St. Lawrence river, a wonderful place to sip wine while you watch the sunset. Quebec City is very interesting and European and an easy 15 min. drive away. You may not want to spend as much time there as you anticipate since Le Franchar's property and the Isle of Orleans are such pleasant places to explore. Needless to say, we loved this place and feel strongly that the owners are doing us all a favor by sharing their beautiful home with us all at such a bargain price.

Recommended for:Age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Le Franchar is a True FANTASTIC Experience

Guest: Louise (Virginia, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/28/11 Review Submitted: 07/10/11

I just spent 6 days at le Franchar (June 28-July 4th) and everything was "Extraordinaire".The House is Charming and Immaculate, spacious, comfortable and beautifully decorated. The View and the grounds are absolutely Breathtaking. The setting is spectacular, close to Quebec City. And there is so many things to discover on the Island, sightseeing, walking trails, wineries, nice restaurants, shops, etc. I am a French Canadian Born now living in Virginia, and each summer I come to Quebec for vacation; my stay at le Franchar this year has been a wonderful discovery. Lyse and Guy, the hosts, fulfilled every wish I had. They went above and beyond all my needs. I consider them my friends and can't wait until my next stay. I felt Home at Le Franchar from the minute I walked in and I will be back for my next vacation. Lyse and Guy, Thanks for sharing your PARADISE with us.

Recommended for:Age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

The word "franchar"

Guest: Joseph (Dayton, Ohio, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11

The name of this island getaway is an interesting play on words. The manager of the property explains that it is named in honor of her brother-in-law, Franklin, and her sister, Charlotte, using the first four letters of each name. Interestingly, the word "franchar" comes from Old French where it was used to signify a measure (42 pounds) of agricultural product such as wheat or oats. In medieval France, peasants paid for the use of seigniorial farmland with agricultural products measured by the franchar. On the île d'Orléans, the Le Franchar property stretches from the top of the island to the St. Lawrence. This generous tract of land is considered seigniorial because it exemplifies the way in which the land of New France (Quebec) was subdivided. Under the direction of Cardinal Richelieu in 1627, the lands were arranged in long narrow strips, called seigneuries, perpendicular to the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Each piece of land belonged to the king of France and was maintained by the landlord, or seigneur. The seigneurs were never the real landowners; the lands were concessions by the King in exchange for services. The seigneurs were responsible for building a mill, a chapel and roads for the farmers, who were then responsible for making payments to the seigneur either by working a number of days per year for him or by providing him a certain amount of agricultural product which was often measured by the franchar.

Recommended for:Age 55+, sightseeing.

Le Franchar is an excellent choice

Guest: Joseph (Dayton, Ohio, USA)
Date of Stay: 06/16/11 Review Submitted: 06/23/11

We stayed at Le Franchar for five days. We loved the magnificent view of the St Lawrence as well as the tranquility of the island. The apartment had everything we needed. We especially appreciated the washer and dryer. The property is really large and well maintained. It offered us the chance to make daily hikes in the beautiful cool June weather. The five-day stay seemed to be just right as we had time to explore the island, visit Quebec City two or three times, and make a side trip to Ste-Anne de Beaupré.. We also enjoyed the proximity to Montmorency Falls. We found Le Franchar to be an excellent choice for our vacation in Quebec.

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

Home Away from Home

Guest: Heather (Perrysburg, OH USA)
Date of Stay: 06/11/11 Review Submitted: 06/26/11

We recently visited Le Franchar in mid June of 2011. Our trip was wonderful and will go down as one of our favorite family vacations. Staying at Le Franchar was perfect for our family of 3 children (all under 10). We were able to relax and take in the beauty of the Ile and easily be in the old town of Quebec City all in one day. The house is gorgeously decorated with both antiques and comfortable sofas, as well as immaculately clean. We had a beautiful view of the river and the mainland, perfect for watching the sun rise and sunset. The kitchen is well equipped, so we were able to eat one or two meals a day at the house instead of dragging three children to restaurants. The yard and property is huge! It goes on for many, many acres and is nice for hiking and exploring. The kids were able to play in the yard while we watched from the patio. Gus and Lyse were the perfect hosts, making sure our needs were met and had recommendations about fun and interesting things to do. We loved visiting the many agro tourism sites in the island- the ice cider is wonderful, we had an interesting (in a good way) meal at a maple sugar shack (Le Relais du Pin), and we had great chocolate cake at the islands only chocolate shop. Unfortunately we just missed the opening of the Ile's fromagerie! Leaving the island, Montmorency Falls can't be missed, literally, and being able to walk over the falls is quite impressive. Quebec City in the old town is just as lovely as any cobblestoned, flower boxed city in Europe with great restaurants, parks and views. The Quebecois are also very laid back and friendly. Gus and Lyse really made our stay with their friendliness and sincerity. After 5 nights at Le Franchar, we were very attached to the house and didn't want to leave! Although our experience was perfect with three small children, Le Franchar would be even more perfect as a romantic get away for couples. Le Franchar gets 5 stars from us!

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

Perfectly Located, Perfectly Appointed,

Guest: Peege (Fresno, California)
Date of Stay: 05/04/11 Review Submitted: 05/14/11

My husband and I had the pleasure of six days at Le Franchar. In addition to a spectacular setting, an island filled with history and traditions, we most definitely appreciated our hosts. They were always available to answer a question,, suggest a side trip, or a hike. Daily we walked down to the banks of the St Lawrence to watch migration of the geese. And they did not disappoint. We enjoyed a well appointed house, its warmth, and its views and its hosts.. We hope to return in the near future with additional family members.

Owner response:Dear P.J and Frank VRBO sent your comment, thank you so much, I appreciate it; it ia a pleasure to receive guest like both of you .. Your picture is now in the Le Franchar's album.. The weather is not nicer,cold rain with wind... Hurry to see the sun with warm temperature. I'll send your picture in another e-mail. Warm regards Lyse ans Gus

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

Awesome Apartment

Guest: maxromeo (New Jersey)
Date of Stay: 10/05/10 Review Submitted: 10/19/10

We found the Le Franchar to be very, clean, nicely furnished and well kept. The photos accurately reflect the rental's appearance. . The location provides a good base to explore the areas outside the city, but still be within a 15 minute car ride into the city. We especially enjoyed walking around the grounds. The views were awesome. The road behind the property provided us with a very peaceful walk through beautiful foliage, pond and waterfall. All over looking the St Lawrence river. Orleans island has several nice restaurants ,a bank, grocery store and a gas station, which we found very convenient. Overall all we found this property to be a great find, and the owner Lyse was a very nice lady,who was very helpful answering all our questions.

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

Well appointed, and very clean 2 Bedroom Flat.

Guest: John and Kathleen, Bill and Gill. (Brampton Ontario)
Date of Stay: 09/02/10 Review Submitted: 09/13/10

We stayed at Le Franchar for three nights. Spotlessly clean with beautiful furniture, well stocked kitchen and lovely views. The location was excellent. Easy access to Quebec City and situated on a very scenic Island. The web site was very accurate in its decription and photos of the property. We would come back and recommend to any friends who wish to stay in close proximity to Quebec City. The owner had lots of information about local restaurants and food stores. We really enjoyed our stay.

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Le Franchar is a fantastic place to stay!

Guest: Andrea (Boston, MA USA)
Date of Stay: 07/06/10 Review Submitted: 07/28/10

My husband and two young sons stayed here in July, 2010, and couldn't speak more highly about the home, the owners (Lyse and Gus), and the surrounding area/property. The house is even more lovely and pristine than in the pictures: beautifully decorated, immaculate, and well-maintained..not to mention a well-stocked kitchen for cooking. The view is something to behold: the river and the mountains, and a huge lawn with wild flowers - just incredible. Lyse and Gus are truly two of the kindest, friendliest folks we have met (& I have worked in hotels, so I can attest to their excellent hospitality). The location is ideal - on Ile de Orleans, just about 15 minutes from Quebec City. I highly recommend coming here w/ children - there's so much to do, and the area alone is worth a week for exploring (the farms, local wineries, agri-tourism, and the splendor of nature). We loved coming back to Le Franchar, and felt really at home there..we honestly can't recommend this house, and the owners enough..thank you so very much!

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

Unparalleled charm, comfort and convenience

Guest: Sherryn & Dave (Phoenx)
Date of Stay: 06/18/10 Review Submitted: 06/26/10

Having now experienced Le Franchar, I can assure any who are considering staying at this lovely and comfortable home that the reviews and property description are absolutely true. Like "Anonymous", our deepest regret was not knowing well enough to plan a longer visit; our hearts were heavy when it came time to leave! If you are traveling with children, you will find these accommodations will perfectly suit you. Our ten year old is a restless traveler, yet she was quite content to relax at the house, reading a book, taking in the view, exploring the property and sharing exquisite meals of french bread, fresh strawberries, delicious cheese, and delicate chocolates...all acquired during a day trip around Ile d'Orleans. We did have many excursions around Quebec City and the surrounding area, but by far, we enjoyed relaxing "at home". I travel often and have had many wonderful (and many awful) experiences; Le Franchar is by far the best experience I have had. Even my monolinguistic husband, who was initially pessimistic about traveling to an area that was not primarily English-speaking, has had a change of heart: he speaks now of when we are able to return. Gus and Lyse are warm, friendly and extraordinarily hospitable. Their kindness and helpfulness contributed equally to the delightfulness of our stay. Had it not been for Lyse's firm insistence that staying at Le Franchar would be a better experience than staying in the City, we would have missed out on this beautiful experience.

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

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Anonymous
Date of Stay: 02/01/08 Review Submitted: 02/25/08

What a wonderful time we had here in Quebec and our stay is just that much more memorable because we stayed here! We felt welcome and at home the moment we pull up the driveway. Lyse's attention to detail is impeccable - the accommodation is very clean, bright and quiet. We won't forget the incredible view and all the wonderful hikes around the property. I would hightly recommend to stay here and our only regret is not staying for a longer time - we should have booked a week to sightsee and a week just to relax.

Recommended for:

Guestbook Comment

Guest: Debbie and Ben Soule (Lexington, MA, US)
Date of Stay: 07/01/07 Review Submitted: 07/26/07

We had the delight of being Lyse and Gus' first guests. We had a wonderful time with them and can not recommend this home, or its hosts, more highly. The accommodations are very comfortable. The views are spectacular. Lyse and Gus were very helpful, offering suggestions about restaurants, services on the island, and doing research for us when it might be useful. They also gave us a beautiful tour of their property including the pond (Relais) and cabin near it. If you are thinking about spending time near Quebec, and if you love the beautiful countryside, the most wonderful fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in the world, and beautiful hospitality in a lovely setting, this is the place for you!

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