Château De Candes

We loved the whole idea behind this Chateau. It feels magical to wander around and unwind here, and it has a youthful, modern, design-forward feel that’s quite different from the more old-fashioned chateau hotels.

There’s plenty to do on site, and the location is great, close to two small villages and between Saumur and Chinon. We spent seven nights here as a family of four, with our two teenage sons, in one of the self-catering 'maisons' attached to the main Chateau. We couldn’t have picked a better place.

The setting feels like a film set, among the village’s ancient limestone fortified buildings. You can almost picture Gérard Depardieu or Catherine Deneuve appearing in medieval costume. The private, comfortable guest residences are scattered through the village, which is one of the most picturesque and historic in France, overlooking where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet. We visited over the quiet Christmas period and had a wonderful stay. Bertrand gave us a personal welcome and was charming and helpful. His English was much better than our French. We could use the indoor pool and sauna whenever we wanted, and the riverside paths were an easy walk away. We brought our dog, and the enclosed grounds and private courtyard worked perfectly for her. Very special.

We stayed in Maison Trochet, which was comfortable and finished to a high standard. The gardens and pool were beautifully maintained, and the place had a lovely atmosphere. Bertrand and Sam, the managers, were very friendly, helpful and always around to answer questions. The street art park was a great extra. We wandered through the woods to see the art, then enjoyed the performances and festivities on Saturday night. A truly beautiful place to stay.