What’s new in The Loir this year!

08 March 2021

The Loir Valley is situated between Le Mans, Tours, Laval and Angers. The little Loir, a cousin of the larger Loire into which the river flows, means ‘dormouse’. This conjures a very apt description of the area – sleepy, rolling French countryside, with charming villages and enchanting towns that seem to belong to a past era when life was less busy and complicated.

The Loir has, throughout history, been lauded for its gentle style of living. The river was always the lifeline bringing building materials to construct some of the luxuriant chateaux such as Château du Lude, grand enough to rival those of the Loire further south. There are some gorgeous gardens to discover otherwise explore nature through the numerous outdoor activities on offer.

This is the perfect destination to enjoy a post-lockdown escape. It’s easy to travel to by train or by car via the ferry or the tunnel so remarkably eco-friendly, transport-wise. There is a plethora of accommodation on offer for all sizes of families or groups of friends who cannot wait to enjoy time together once more. Choose from glamping belles, gîtes, eco-houses, châteaux… it’s all there. Wide open spaces, outdoor activities – a chance to breathe again, just what we have all been looking forward to – and all just a few hours away in France.

The little Loir is also the most northerly outpost of Loire AOC wines which can be enjoyed in the restaurants scattered throughout the region such as Le Moulin de Quatre Saisons in La Flèche. There are plenty of things to see and do in 2021 and for more information, please visit www.vallee-du-loir.com.

NEW: Ride ’em cowboy …

Image courtesy of Pascal Beltrami

The Cowboy Legend Ranch – The NEW Cowboy Legend Ranch in Beaumont-Pied-de-Boeuf is right on the edge of the Forest of Bercé, the perfect place for anyone who loves horses.

The ranch encompasses thirty hectares of land where visitors can enjoy every type of outdoor riding activity from cross-country to American Western style, from trekking to short rides in the glorious countryside. The aim of the ranch is to provide visitors with the very best of conditions and equipment to have the maximum amount of enjoyment from their experience.

All ages of rider are accepted – from three years upwards, and there are ponies and horses for all shapes, sizes and ages. There’s even a breeding programme so the foals are bred and trained expressly for their future careers. Spend a few hours with a simple pleasant horse ride in the Forest of Bercé or stay over a weekend with a variety of accommodation and meal packages available.

NEW: Llama heaven …

Image courtesy of OT Vallée du Loir

Llama Farm Stay – Run by English expats Sarah and Nigel, this NEW seventeen-acre Llama farm, again on the edge of the Forest of Bercé, offers a delightful holiday experience living with llamas! This tranquil spot boasts meadows and gardens as well as woodland walks and forays into the forest. Not only that, but the farm is close to some very interesting towns and villages such as Le Mans and La-Chârtre-sur-Loir that are well worth a visit.

What the locals now call ‘Llama Valley’ has a few accommodation choices, from the glamping option of a belle tent, complete with proper beds and crisp Egyptian cotton sheets, to a couple of rooms in the old barn, or the Llama Lodge, which was once the old wine press, transformed now with shower and kitchenette.

Imagine lounging by the pool perhaps whilst the kids earn their Llama Farmer Diploma by helping look after the animals! There are half a dozen llamas all with their own personalities that are great fun to walk with and learn about.

Magnificent nature …

Image courtesy of OT Vallée du Loir

A word about the Forest of Bercé – The Forest of Bercé covers over 5,400m hectares. It was once a royal forest now owned by the state and categorised as a Forêt d’exception© where oaks and conifers live side by side.

It houses one of France’s greatest oak groves; the quality of the wood here was world renowned for ship–building but now is used in cooperage – the barrels for Martell cognac are made from this wood, for example. In the summer months, there are guided tours on offer around the Forest of Bercé in the company of a National Forestry Office guide. Introduced last year is the Bercé Forest Tourism Card. This card has all the hiking circuits in the forest – accessible for those on a bike, on foot, on horseback and those that are wheelchair friendly too. There are also three main circuits for one or two-hour walks.

Image courtesy of Steven Lira

NEW: Delicious dining …

Image courtesy of OT Vallée du Loir

From a home to a home away from home – Ô Saule at Thoiré-sur-Dinan is a brand-NEW restaurant in the Bercé Forest just a stone’s throw away from Le Mans, created by Chef Guillaume, whose ‘raison d’etre’ is to bring the local cuisine to prominence.

Guillaume has converted his grandparents’ old house into a unique restaurant serving his own creations that change with the seasons. Produce is local and fresh and the dishes delicious and original. Diners are very welcome to explore the grounds to add to a memorable experience.

Photo credits: Steven Lira

The ultimate takeaway – Approved recently as a Master Restaurateur, the chef of ‘La Garde – Manger’ in Bazouges, M.Leturmy, has created a NEW take–away menu that will not disappoint his regular clients as well as those just passing through or staying locally and wanting something extraordinary to eat.

Not only is there the take-away facility but also a vending machine where the dishes are freshly changed every day and the selections highlighted on the Facebook page.

What about this from a vending machine? Select from a ‘Filet de Dorade Royale et son risotto’, ‘a Sauté de dinde, sauce suprême’, ‘Lasagnes de bœuf Aubrac VBF’ (Boucherie des Mollans) or even ‘Suprême de pintade, sauce du Chef et sa garniture de saison’.

Photo credits: Steven Lira

NEW: Châteaux living …

Photo credit: Marc Martinon

New for 2021 – Recently opened to welcome visitors, brand NEW for 2021, the thirteenth century Château d’Amenon provides a classically, gorgeous setting for a relaxed and tranquil holiday. There are just four lovely rooms and suites including a family room. The grounds are lush and extensive with a swimming-pool and beautiful gardens. Otherwise take off on a bicycle, horse or on foot to explore the surrounding area of the Loir Valley.

Image courtesy of OT Vallée du Loir

Escape games – Château du Lude is a marvellous castle spanning four centuries of French architecture that was revamped in the 19^th century in the neo-Gothic style when the English Garden was added with a botanical walk. Edouard André designed the vegetable garden at this time with an Orangerie and greenhouses where produce is still grown to feed the family as well as orchards, flowers and fruits arranged in boxwood squares. The Rose Garden has a rare collection of blooms that flower anytime between May and December. The Gardener’s Festival takes place every June and any enthusiast should attend the workshops and presentations. The gardens have been given the ‘Jardins remarquables’ label by the Ministry of Culture.

Image courtesy of OT Vallée du Loir