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Special Edition
November 2002
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Welcoming
A New Member &
Château du Loroux [The photos are large files and may take a little time to open - we ask your patience.]
The département of the Maine-et-Loire has long been one of our favorites, offering open countryside punctuated by charming villages and towns, delightful rivers including the Mayenne, Loir, Sarthe, Maine, in addition to the Loire itself, and a friendly people ready to welcome visitors to a region of which they are understandably proud. It is also a great vacation destination -- there is so much to see and do! Château du Loroux is ideally located for exploring the great châteaux of the Loire Valley, especially that of Saumur or "Sleeping Beauty's Castle", Château d'Ussé farther up the Loire. The fortress Château d'Angers is worth a visit as well, especially to view the famous Apocalypse Tapestry. This part of the Pays de la Loire is also known as Anjou, and Angevin history -- from the founding of the Dukedom of Anjou (987-1040) by the much-feared Foulque Nerra to the twelfth century Plantagenets and the royals of fifteenth century Renaissance France -- tells of illustrious men and women who have contributed to the prestige of the region from their castles, some 1000 of which still dot the Angevin landscape.
Guests of Château du Loroux will not only find the lovely park relaxing, but they will discover that their host and hostess, Monsieur and Madame Foisy, are enthusiastic about their home and the region and attentive to the needs of their guests. The château is elegantly decorated and impeccably maintained. Warm colors and comfortable furnishings are used throughout, with guest rooms especially inviting. Five rooms are offered, each individually designed and each with an en suite bathroom. Pictured below is La Chambre Rouge, a very spacious accommodation for two. 
La Chambre Rouge [Photo Credits - Château du Loroux] Naturally, breakfast is included in the price of guest accommodations at Château du Loroux, but dinner is also available au château, an experience that is always pleasant and quite enjoyable. The ambiance of the grand dining room, the fine cuisine, and the intimate setting of a beautiful country château is without equal. Dinner is offered to a minimum of four guests at the very reasonable cost of 30 euros per person, including wine. Of course, prior reservations are required. On château grounds there are many activities to occupy guests including bicycle riding or fishing. Games of ping pong and pétanque are also offered. Nearby, visitors will find hiking, golfing, horseback riding and tennis are further options. Day trips to the Loire châteaux and cities are encouraged -- your hosts will provide directions and advice for interesting attractions within an easy drive of Château du Loroux. We hope that you will consider this elegant, historic and tranquil château for your next visit to France. We are convinced that you will find the experience rewarding and memorable. Visit their pages on our web site for reservation and pricing information.
La Tour du Roy
La Tour du Roy Not far from the Belgian border is a truly unique and welcoming property whose hostess, Annie Desvignes, is also a superb chef serving gastronomic delights to guests of her château restaurant. Alain Ducasse himself has praised her culinary skills, and in the past both French Presidents Charles de Gaulle and François Mitterand have been guests. But exquisite cuisine is not all you will find at La Tour du Roy. The small but beautiful village of Vervins , of which it is a part, dates back to 52 BC and Caesar's Roman legions. It was evangelized by the Scots and Irish in the fifth century and invaded by the Normans in the ninth century. Today, it stands as a reminder of over 2000 years of history, and the château La Tour du Roy is part of the ramparts that stood witness to centuries past. The Aisnedépartement in the Picardie region is not very far from Paris and located just west of the Champagne-Ardenne. Its proximity to Belgium, Luxembourg and the Low Countries, which is resembles, make it a popular getaway in France for Belgian, Dutch and other tourists visiting from the north. In centuries past it was a frontier open to invaders -- today they are tourists! However, La Tour du Roy is located in a landscape unique to the region: the Thiérache, which is more hilly with rolling green pastures. It is quite lovely to see. A major Picardie city, Amiens, is considered (with Paris) to be the cradle of Gothic architecture. Guests at La Tour du Roy will find it easy to visit Reims or Laon and their cathedrals, to get in a game of golf or tennis nearby, to go canoeing, kayaking or fishing, or to visit the famous Château-Fort de Guise.
Chambre Belle Epoque Cuisine of Annie Desvignes Chambre Moissonneur [Photo Credits: La Tour du Roy] We are pleased to say that La Tour du Roy has a history with us as well -- it has been a member of our web site since au Château went on line in November of 2000 -- two years ago this month. La Tour du Roy provides guests the choice of 22 individually decorated rooms and suites which are offered either as accommodations only or as demi-pension (including breakfast and dinner) at very reasonable rates. A visit to our web site or theirs will provide the current prices. The rooms are thoughtfully designed with the comfort of guests in mind. You can request the tower room (Chambre Henri IV) for a medieval experience (see our web site for photos) or rooms such as the luxurious Chambre Belle Epoque, shown above. Whatever you select, you will find yourself immersed in luxury, history and fine dining experiences in the care of your thoughtful and dedicated host and hostess, Claude and Annie Desvignes. Do visit them soon!
The Riches of . . . It was
our pleasure to recently obtain two France guide books that we feel are
worth your inspection, if you haven't already discovered them.
We
hope we've enticed you to visit one of our newest properties and one of
(Remember - all underlined phrases above are active links to informative web sites.)
We
hope you have enjoyed au Château News.
Disclaimer:
Cold Spring Press, au Château© and/or any persons associated
with either organization do not take any responsibility for errors
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First, let us tell you a bit about their author, Maribeth Clemente.
Some years ago, Ms Clemente wrote "The Chic Shopper's Guide to Paris"
based upon her experience as a Paris shopping consultant and a resident
of Paris on and off for eleven years. She went on to write "The Riches
of France -- A Shopping and Touring Guide to the French Provinces"
which was published in 1997, followed in 2001 by "The Riches of Paris
-- A Shopping and Touring Guide". Each of these ( 348
and 435 pages respectively ) are meticulously researched, clearly categorized
and well written to enable the reader to shop and dine well anywhere in
France, to find hidden treasures to purchase, and to improve
upon one's own sense of good taste along the way. Whether
you are on Paris' Right Bank searching for Gien faïence,
in the Jura to visit a toy museum or hunting for antiques in Angers,
these two volumes will add great value to your adventures in France.
Ms. Clemente is now busy at work on a new book, and we'll let you know
in a future newsletter when it is available. Please take time
to visit her web site at