Places to visit and discover

The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud
Fontevraud is a stunning village. It boasts the largest abbey complex in Europe nestled at the heart of the Unesco World Heritage.
A pioneering monk, Robert d’Arbrissel was a hermit devoted to prayers and poverty. Around 1100 he founded what was to become one of the wealthiest and most impressive monastic settlements of the Christian West. With its 45 hectares and three priories, the community was run for 700 years by nuns under the protection of the king. Here is the chosen resting place of Henri II, King of England, his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, his son Richard I and the wife of his other son King John, Isabella of Angoulême. Not death but life however now triumphs at Fontevraud. Concerts are organised by the Cultural Centre for the West where listeners can hear classical music and Gregorian chants.

Cave dwellings
They proliferate in the region and offer an unforgettable subterranean stay. You may visit the troglodytic mushroom production site and eat in its troglodytic restaurant.

Candes Saint Martin
A mariner’s traditional village dramatically overlooking the confluence of the Vienne and the Loire with a splendid medieval church. You can enjoy a commented trip and a meal on a traditional boat called a "toue".

Montsoreau
Rising above the Loire and overlooking the nearby cliff village, the château looks out over three historical provinces - Anjou, Touraine and Poitou. The novelist Alexandre Dumas tells the unusual story of the beautiful Dame de Montsoreau who lived here.

The National Riding School (ENE) the Cadre Noire
The Cadre Noir in Saumur perpetuates the traditions of the French riding school. Demonstrations by the Cadre Noir are the high point in Anjou equestrian circles.

Saumur castle
Overlooking the Loire, the château of Saumur looks like a fairy tale building.

The Château of Brézé
The underground fortress once housed up to 2000 people! An extraordinary, self-contained universe with the nobleman’s quarters, a rampart walk, bakery, cellars. The vineyard is the only wine production site in France to have been in constant use for 800 years.

Restaurant La Licorne in Fontevraud
For an exceptional gastronomic experience, opt to dine at "La Licorne" just oposite the gîte La Samsonelle, where luxury is at the service of simple joys.

French owner-chef Fabrice Bretel has established his exclusive cuisine in a XVIIIth tuffeau residence in Fontevraud. He will offer you a truly special experience to savour the endless variety of the Loire regional specialities.

His cuisine is inspired by local authentic products and dishes which warm the heart and reassure the taste buds The refinement is in the secret of how it is prepared and how wines are carefully selected to live with the cuisine.

There is also a very good restaurant, cafeteria and crêperie further down the road from the gîte at l’Hostellerie La Croix Blanche as well as plenty of other good restaurants nearby.