Bored my friends when home with stories from our great holiday in Richelieu. We stayed in a beautiful historic house overlooking the market square in the walled town of Richelieu, built by Cardinal Richelieu. The house is very clean and safe with large thick oak doors onto the square. Internally, it is large and spacious with a cool inner cobbled courtyard and external walled garden which is much warmer. Ideal as the weather changed from cool on the first day to very hot by the Saturday. We found the house exceptionally well equipped with little extras in the kitchen, eg cling wrap, foil, and a variety of spices, so frustrating normally to buy for just a week. We loved the cookery books as well as the novels, videos and board games, plus a book left by the owner with lots of ideas of places to go. We had little need to go anywhere as the famous Cape et Epee was taking place right outside our house, all free with artists, musicians, stalls, ancient games, horse show and fireworks in the park and locals all in period costume as musketeers, the King,and of course Cardinal Richelieu. On such a hot weekend we were able to return to the house for a cool quiet chill out. There always seems to be something going on in the town, from watching a traditional French wedding, to joining with the locals at their swimming pool, shopping in the market, or drinking at a local bar. We hardly used our car and loved the relaxed atmosphere of a real French town in a great house. Would definitely recommend and will go again.