Le Clos: Charming Centuries Old Winemaker's Cottage on the Loire
- Minimum stay:5 nights
- Internet:Yes
- Pets allowed:Yes
- Wheel chair accessible:No
When we first saw “Le Clos,” it was love at first sight! This is a stone double-cottage surrounded by gardens, with all of its historic charm intact, but beautifully restored and with all the modern conveniences added (including new plumbing and electric service and new, state-of-the-art central heating and air).
Overlooking the Loire River in a picturesque hamlet, in the zone recently listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, this is the perfect starting point for an enchanting visit to France’s glorious historical past. The “royal river” flows majestically through its castle-studded valley and past the foot of the hillside where “Le Clos” nestles among the vines and flowers.
What to do in the area: Besides the well-documented cultural outings (castles, many with sound and light shows, of Amboise, Chenonceau, Chambord, Blois, Chaumont, Azay-le-Rideau, Ussé, Villandry, to name a few; Leonardo da Vinci’s home in Amboise; numerous museums, monuments, and open-air markets in Tours), there are many recreational attractions as well: the aquarium, the mini-chateaux, Fantasy Forest (a children’s amusement park), kayaking, hiking, biking, golf, tennis, and swimming within fifteen minutes of the house, Dining out becomes a fine art with many nearby restaurants in all price ranges, from the deliciously simple to the gastronomical splurge. For the shoppers, there are many gift and specialty shops in town and large department stores in Tours, plus regular flea markets and special town fairs with their parades, medieval jousts, or vide-grenier (village-wide flea markets) in Spring and Summer.
What to do at 'Le Clos': Outside, we have planted the garden with roses, fruit trees, herbs, flowering shrubs and annuals. Depending on the time of year, you can help yourself to cherries, plums, grapes, apples or figs. We love to relax under the rose arbor while enjoying some of the local specialties which abound here in the “Garden of France.” It's a wonderful place to sit, contemplate the beautiful Loire river, and dream.
We’ve totally succumbed to the enchantment of our little corner of Touraine and all it has to offer, and we think you’ll love it, too.
Michael & Lenita Locey
Property Type
- Cottage
- 1000 sq. ft.
Accommodation Type
- Vacation Rental
Meals
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Onsite Services
- Housekeeper Optional
Suitability
- Children Welcome
- Long-Term Renters Welcome
- Wheelchair Inaccessible
- Unsuitable For Elderly Or Infirm
- Non Smoking Only
Bedrooms
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6
- Bedroom 1
- 1 queen, 1 baby crib
- 160x200 cm
- Bedroom 2
- 2 twin/ single
- together=king
- Living room
- 1 sleep sofa /futon
- double
Bathrooms
- 1.0 Bathrooms
- Bathroom 1
- toilet, combination tub/shower, tub
- Bathroom 2
- toilet, shower
Other Amenities
Entertainment
- Toys
- Books For Adults
- CD Player
- Television
- Radio
- Stereo
- VCR
- DVD Player
- Books
- Music Library
- Games For Kids
Theme
- Romantic
- Historic
Attractions
- Theme Parks
- Cinemas
- Museums
- Forests
- Restaurants
- Botanical Garden
- Winery Tours
- Churches
- Ruins
Car
- Necessary
Leisure Activities
- Scenic Drives
- Photography
- Walking
- Bird Watching
- Antiquing
- Horseback Riding
- Sight Seeing
local services and businesses
- Medical Services
- Groceries
- ATM/Bank
- Hospital
Location Type
- Monument View
- Village
- Water View
- River
sports and adventure activities
- Cycling
- Golf
- Freshwater Fishing
- Swimming
- Hiking
- Tennis
- Fishing
- Kayaking
Arrival Day
- Saturday
catering options
- Guests Provide Their Own Meals
Dining
- Dining Area
General
- Parking
- Iron & Board
- Firewood
- Towels Provided
- PC
- Local Maps
- Hair Dryer
- Local Activities Guide
- Internet
- Sofa Bed
- Alarm Clock
- Macintosh Computer
- Safe
- Activities Guide
- Fireplace
- Heating
- Local Restaurant Guide
- Wood Fireplace
- Air Conditioning
- Broadband Access
- Computer Available
- Parking Off Street
- Wireless Internet
- Free Long Distance
- Washing Machine
- Clothes Dryer
- Telephone
- Linens Provided
- Free Local Calls
house cleaning
- Housekeeper Optional
Kitchen
- Oven
- Dishwasher
- Lobster Pot
- 4 Ring Stove
- Coffee Maker
- Freezer
- Stove
- Toaster
- Stove
- Gourmet Kitchen
- Cooking Utensils
- Pantry Items
- Blender
- Microwave
- Refrigerator
- Kitchen
Outside
- Outdoor Furniture
- Outdoor Grill
- Deck / Patio
- Gazebo
- Fully Fenced Property
- Barbecue
- Binoculars
- Lawn / Garden
- Yard
- Patio
- Small Cooler
Reviews
Write a review-
Guestbook Comment
Guestbook Comment
- Guest John and Judith Grant
- Date of stay 06/01/06
- Review Submitted 06/28/06
We found Amboise an excellent base for visiting the Loire, and the Loceys' cottage, both atmospheric and practical, was a delightful choice for 3 weeks in May and June. Our sons and their wives joined us for a week each and we all enjoyed the profusion of roses, irises, poppies and (toward the end) the cherry tree!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
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highly recomended
highly recomended
- Guest LUMINITA A.
- Date of stay 09/30/12
- Review Submitted 10/16/12
Excellent location, charming house the host very helpful.. a five stars accommodation!Owner response: Hi Lumi, We're so glad that you and your family enjoyed your stay and hope that you were able to take advantage of a good many of the marvelous opportunities in the area. Thanks, Lenita and Michael
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Great but...
Great but...
- Guest Louis D.
- Date of stay 09/22/12
- Review Submitted 10/02/12
Beautiful clean and warmly decorated house a good walking distance from Amboise. Excellent facilities, great kitchen, beautiful grounds. Only thing, the upstairs bedroom/ washroom. very difficult for an 5'10" man to get around up there, I can't imagine a taller person staying in this room without wearing a hard hat! On a scale from 1 to 10, I give it a 8! Had a wonderful stay without too many bruises!! LDRecommended for: Sightseeing.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Le Clos Locey Cottage
Le Clos Locey Cottage
- Guest Nancy W.
- Date of stay 06/24/12
- Review Submitted 08/11/12
We had a wonderful time staying at Le Clos Locey Cottage just outside Amboise. The late June weather was warm and sunny during the day and delightfully cool at night. We loved having our own private garden and patio where we could enjoy sitting outside to plan our days, relax, read, or have an afternoon glass of wine with some cheese. The wisteria was blooming and the roses were beautiful. The suggestions we received for activities and restaurants were very helpful and the location of the cottage was perfect for getting around and doing the things we wanted to do. The time went too fast, however, and I wish we had stayed two weeks instead of just one.Owner response: We are so glad you enjoyed your time chez nous! We love being there, too.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0
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Charming and Delightful Vinters Cottage
Charming and Delightful Vinters Cottage
- Guest Sherie
- Date of stay 08/29/10
- Review Submitted 10/07/11
Le Clos met all of our expectations as described in VRBO, and more! It had all of the amenities including washer and dryer, TV, internet, and the American owners were very helpful in our emails with them prior to arrival. The only tricky part was driving the car down to the area by the cottage where one parks. The photos accurately reflected the property which was most attractive, as well as clean and easy to use. There are over 200 wineries and chateaus in roughly a days drive, lovely walks through the countryside, bike rental is easily available in Amboise. The only problem we had was not enough time to enjoy all the opportunities.Recommended for: Girls getaway, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with young children, families with teenagers.
Owner response: We're so glad you enjoyed your stay. Amboise is such a great place, and we are very proud of the city and entire region. And thanks for sending the bird book which arrived just as we were leaving for Amboise ourselves. Ahh. Home. Lenita and Michael
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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Wonderful!!
Wonderful!!
- Guest Arlene
- Date of stay 07/09/11
- Review Submitted 07/26/11
We stayed at Le Clos for 6 nights in July 2011. What a charming and uniquely French home! We were delighted with the amenities, view and grounds. The owners were terrific to work with and provided exceptional information on the property as well as great ideas of what to do in Amboise and nearby villages! The updated kitchen was a dream!! We would definately stay there again. (One note of caution: the attic bedroom and bathroom are a bit difficult to negotiate for a tall person, however the owners did make this clear from the beginning. You definately need a car to get around.)Recommended for: Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers.
Owner response: We are so glad you enjoyed our wonderful area. It is such a great place for eating--and cooking. All the best ingredients!
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3
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Delightful base in Loire
Delightful base in Loire
- Guest Bernie
- Date of stay 05/28/11
- Review Submitted 06/18/11
We spent a delightful week at this interesting cottage. While there are a lot of steps, we found the Cottage very comfortable, the garden and views beautiful, and it was a location perfect. It was nice to come back to this peaceful spot each night after a day of touring the chateau. The owners are very gracious & provided lots of useful information about the area. Amboise is so close and has lots of good restaurants so it was very convenient to eat out. We would love to visit here again. Bernice & BobRecommended for: Girls getaway, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing, families with teenagers.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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Summer sejour in Amboise
Summer sejour in Amboise
- Guest Peter
- Date of stay 06/27/10
- Review Submitted 07/28/10
We had a most enjoyable stay at Le Clos Locey. The house itself was very comfortable, and was an excellent base not only for exploration of Amboise itself and the other attractions of the Loire, but also for the simple pleasures of a walk in the country and a vin rouge in the garden.Recommended for: Sightseeing.
Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1
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- Guest Annie-May d.
- Date of stay 08/23/09
- Review Submitted 08/23/09
We spent an idyllic week at "le Clos" du Haut Chandon. We were so content in the house that we lingered there most of the day and did our sight-seeing in the late afternoon and evening when the tourists had left and avoiding the heat of the day. A good plan for August! Figs, mirabelles, apples & roses....wish I had had time to make some jam! Market in Amboise, Chenonceau by boat, then almost alone in the chateau in the evening, a magic trip in a hot-air balloon, everything from a Ferme-auberge to a Michelin one star for dinners, but also whole days "at home" with breakfast & lunch in the rose arbor, soft lingering evenings in the garden though we loved the coziness of the house. Hope we will be back!Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
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- Guest Don Rinehart
- Date of stay 07/04/09
- Review Submitted 07/04/09
My wife and I spent two weeks in June '09 at Le Clos. It was precisely the kind of small town countryside place in the Loire that we were looking for. A real trip back in time. We had a great vacation and were impressed with the considerable help of Lenita Locey.Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2
Rates
| Dates | Nightly | Wknd Night | Weekend | Weekly | Monthly * | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High season 2012 May 1 - Sep 30, 2013 5 night min stay |
€950 | |||||
|
Notes: change day Saturday |
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Payment is usually accepted in the quoted currency (€) unless the currency and the amount is specifically agreed in advance with the owner / advertiser.
Additional information about rental rates:
This owner accepts HomeAway's most secure form of payment.
HomeAway PaymentsSM is the most secure way to pay and automatically protects your payment up to $10,000 (learn more). Call the owner directly to confirm payment details.
Location
Owner info
Year Purchased: 1994
About the owner: After 25 years of directing our university's programs abroad in Tours, we couldn't imagine not having our own place in Touraine. Our daughters, shown with us here, attended school in Tours and Paris, and they love to bring their families here, too.
Why the Owner Chose Amboise:
We fell in love at first sight. The old apple trees, the wine press, the 'vieilles pierres'--we'd made up our minds within the first moment!
The Unique Benefits at this Cottage:
Perfectly situated for discovering the Loire valley and for enjoying the delights of Touraine.
Contact us
- Primary: +1 913 367-3139 USA
- Secondary: +33 (0)2 47 57 31 92 in France
Links to more information:
Photos
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view of house and Loire from rose arbor
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Roses on the dining table--seats 6
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cooktop, fridge at right
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loft bedroom with very good firm mattress
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main floor bathroom
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shower bathroom in tower bedroom
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view of house and Loire from parking area
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The secluded courtyard is ready for your picnics
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kitchen
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stairway from dining room to loft bedroom
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airy tower bedroom with new trundle twin beds
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Go out the french doors from living room to the courtyard
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courtyard in October
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courtyard ready for spring picnic