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the area
the area
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Zoo
The conservation Zoo at Doué La Fontaine is a must! Everyone who goes loves it! www.zoodoue.fr
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  if gardens are your thing
click here
Troglodytes

Anjou boasts over 600 miles of subterranean passages burrowing into the rock on the hillsides above the Loire where complete villages can be found beneath the limestone plain. These include cave dwellings at la Fosse and   the amazing village Louresse-Rochemenier near Doué-la-Fontaine where two farmsteads and a chapel fill two acres underground - a total of 20 rooms in all. Whithin the miles of galleries, deep natural cellars house wines of Saumur. www.troglodyte.info/
Wine tasting

We are surrounded by vineyards and a trip to a wine-tasting is a very popular pastime for many of our visitors.
There are excellent wines at excellent prices.
Hugh is happy to accompany you if you feel your French isn’t up to scratch………… or even if it is!
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If you can drag yourself away from relaxing in the garden there is plenty to do and see. Here are a few suggestions:
The Chateaux of the Loire

You may want to visit a chateau or two and there is plenty of choice.

Brissac Quincé, Saumur, Angers and Montreuil-Bellay are all well within an hour from us. Le Lude, Ussé, Chinon, Azay-le Rideau are about an hour and a half. Chenonceau, Amboise, Chaumont and others are a bit further again.

Brissac Quincé:
Tallest of all the chateaux  in France with it’s seven stories and 204 rooms, is impressive. It has lovely grounds and a lake. Only 25 mins away. Wine tastings in the 11th century cellar.

Saumur:
Magnificent panoramic views over the town and river from the gardens.
A rare example of 14th century architecture amongst Loire chateaux it marks the end of the middle ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. As well as the Musée d’Arts décoratifs the castle houses the Musée du Cheval. Saumur also has a large tank museum, Le Musé des Blindés.

Angers:
Proud to display the biggest tapestry in the world in a specially built gallery providing ideal conditions, the Apocalypse tapestry  is well worth a visit.
The gardens are interesting and a little bit unexpected, there is also a
medlar tree and vines growing on the ramparts.

Montreuil-Bellay:
The little town of Montreuil-Bellay occupies a very lovely site beside the river Thouet on the border of the Poitou and Anjou regions. Splendid views from the top of imposing walls. Pleasant gardens and remarkable furnishings are the main features of this fairy-tale chateau.