Holiday home in France

Bonheur de Loire – French country holiday home with a pool to rent 

For your holiday in the Loire Valley, ChicVillas brings you Bonheur de Loire: a gorgeous 19th century manor house that is well located for visiting the region’s many castles.

Brimming with character

Bonheur de Loire is a typical Loire Valley manor house built in the 19th century when homes were few and far between, owned by noble landowners and surrounded by fields for miles around. The house is made from the distinctive tuffeau limestone brick that is specific to the region. It cuts an impressive figure, with its long approach, ornate dormer windows and wrought iron awning.

The entrance hall opens onto the reception rooms. On the right, a bright dining room with a beautiful light wood floor and a big lounge (45 m²) with a fireplace and bookshelves overlooking the front of the house.

On the left, a cosy winter lounge with a fireplace, wooden panels, and a mix of cement tiles and wooden flooring. This room looks out onto both sides of the house, front and rear, letting the light flood in from all angles.

The kitchen is separate and comes with a Lacanche range cooker that fits perfectly into its surroundings and makes cooking a joy. The kitchen is on the front side of the house and has concealed glass doors that lead out to the terrace where you can enjoy eating outdoors under a large parasol.

Both the original features and renovated design create an elegant and authentic atmosphere that honours the property’s past. It feels like staying in your very own chateau. High ceilings and ornamental mouldings are set off by the interior decoration that combines old and new with simple, clean lines and neutral tones without detracting from the feel of a family home.

A family-friendly holiday home

From the hallway, a honey-coloured wooden staircase leads upstairs. One of the advantages of this property is that it has four separate bedroom areas. This makes it ideal for groups as all guests will have plenty of space and privacy.

The first floor has three bedrooms and a lovely bright bathroom with a walk-in shower and a bath. Two of the bedrooms look out over the rear of the house with a view of the church’s bell tower.

Upstairs again, in the main part of the house, the second floor and has two air-conditioned bedrooms, a bathroom with a shower, and a home cinema room.

There are another two bedrooms on this floor which have their own access. The first is in the West wing and reached by a stone staircase leading up from the main living room. This is a big bedroom (28 m²) and it has a large double bed and its own bathroom with a shower and a separate toilet. The other bedroom is located in the East wing above the kitchen and also has an en-suite bathroom with a shower. It has its own staircase leading up from the kitchen.

The bedrooms are simply furnished and the bathrooms have retained the charm of their traditional style.

Holiday rental with a garden and a pool in the Loire Valley

Bonheur de Loire has a vast mature garden with a large lawn and one hectare of woodland. Aside from creating a beautiful and relaxing setting, the century-old trees also provide welcome shade in the summer.

The pool area is appointed south-west and surrounded by a paved terrace with a pergola. The pool itself is 12 metres long and heated by a heat pump. It is treated with active oxygen, a natural and environmentally friendly product which is non-polluting and non-irritant for the skin. It also softens the water, ensuring a more enjoyable pool experience. The poolside view of the village church’s tower forms a lovely backdrop.

A holiday home near the castles of the Loire Valley

This spacious country manor is particularly well located for exploring the Loire Valley. The historic town of Blois is just a short drive away (10 km). Along with shops, bars and restaurants, it also boasts a royal castle, bishop’s gardens, Renaissance architecture and museums. Blois is a delightful place to stroll around at leisure. Take in the small clothes shops, stylish home furnishing boutiques, and take your pick from the vast array of restaurants including the Michelin two-starred restaurant run by the chef Christophe Hay. There are many starred restaurants in the surroundings such as La Vieille Tour (Cellettes), Les Hauts de Loire (near Amboise) and the Château de Pray (Amboise).

This region is the cradle of kings, and Bonheur de Loire is close to some of the most popular and majestic castles in the Loire Valley, such as Chaumont sur Loire (15 km), Cheverny (20 km), Chambord (25 km), Amboise (30 km) and Chenonceau (40 km).

Venturing a little further afield, drive out to the Royal City of Loches (60 km), Azay-le-Rideau castle, and Villandry castle with its magnificent gardens (100 km), or Chinon castle (120 km).

The Loire River offers splendid French history and architecture at every turn. Your holiday home is also on the Loire à Vélo bicycle route – perfect for discovering the area by bike. You can get to Chaumont-sur-Loire in 45 minutes and seasoned cyclists can head out on a two-hour ride to Amboise to visit the royal castle, the Chanteloup pagoda and the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo de Vinci died.

For everyday amenities, the nearest village is three kilometres from the house, where you’ll find a boulangerie for your fresh baguette and croissants, a butcher’s, a fruit shop, a pharmacy and a newsagents.

Bonheur de Loire can comfortably accommodate two to three families with children, or four couples.

Layout of your French country holiday home for 12 people:

Main part of the house:

Ground floor

- Entrance hall

- 28 m² dining room

First floor

- Bedroom 1 (13 m²) with a 1.6 m double bed

- Bedroom 2 (16 m²) with two 90 cm single beds

- Bedroom 3 (14 m²) with a 1.4 m double bed

- Bathroom (9 m²) with a bath, walk-in shower and a toilet

Second floor

- Bedroom 4 (12 m²) with a 1.6 m double bed and air-conditioned

- Bedroom 5 (12 m²) with two single beds: one single bed with a rollaway bed underneath, each 90 cm wide ; air-conditioning

- Bathroom (15 m²) with shower and toilet

- Home cinema room (18 m²)

West wing:

Ground floor

- Spacious 45 m² living room with a working fireplace, piano

- Separate toilet

First floor

- Bedroom 6 (28 m²) with a 1.6 m double bed and an en-suite bathroom (9 m²) with shower and separate toilet. This room is accessed by its own staircase.

East wing:

Ground floor

- Kitchen (18 m²) with a Lacanche range cooker, high table for 6 guests, access to outside

- 30 m² lounge with a fireplace

- Laundry room

- Separate toilet

First floor

- Bedroom 7 (17 m²) with a 1.6 m double bed and an en-suite bathroom (7 m²) with shower and toilet. This room is accessed by its own staircase.


Outdoors:

- 1.3-hectare grounds
- 12 x 6 m heated swimming pool maintained using active oxygen, with a motorised safety cover
- Outdoor seating area
- Barbecue
- Table tennis table

Villa with a pool near Chambord castle, things to see and do nearby:

- The Loire Valley castles closest to the property are some of the most iconic: Blois, Chambord, Amboise, Cheverny, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Chenonceau

- Other picturesque castles slightly further afield: Châteaux d'Azay-Le- Rideau, Villandry, Langeais, Chinon, Ussé

- Royal City of Loches

- Fontevraud Abbey

- Loire Valley towns: Blois, Tours, Saumur

- Wine estates: Touraine, Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray and Valencay, Quincy, Ménétou-Salon, Sancerre

- For a family day out, Beauval Zoo is highly acclaimed and is less than 50km away

Getting to your Loire Valley holiday property:

- Blois train station: 10km (1hr30 from Paris Austerlitz)
- Tours train station: 75km
- Tours-Val de Loire airport: 80km
- Paris airports: Orly (180km) and Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (220km)

Location of the rental Bonheur de Loire (Loire Valley)

Location, for information purposes only

Guest review about Bonheur de Loire