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Special Edition March 2004
In this issue: Château le Roure, Le Vieux Manoir
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At the Rhône . . . Château Le Roure
The Rhône River is close at hand and vineyards dot the countryside -- this is the landscape in the region of Château Le Roure in the Drôme département of the Rhône-Alpes of southeastern France. Life in the Rhône River Valley is rich and rewarding -- not just for the local population but for visitors as well. The Drôme is known for several prominent small cities and towns of which Valence is the largest. Located on the Rhône's east bank about 35 miles north of Château Le Roure, the city has a fine Musée des Beaux Arts and a Romanesque cathedral, St-Apollinaire. Due east of Château Le Roure and surrounded by lavender fields is the town of Grignan atop a hill -- primarily known for its massive Château de Grignan where Madame Sévigné wrote her famous letters and also where she died. She is entombed in the town's church, Eglise de Saint-Saveur. Château de Grignan is considered one of the finest Renaissance structures in this part of France, and it contains a splendid collection of Aubusson tapestries and furnishings from the period of Louis XII. East of Grignan following the D941 along the River Eygues and in the heart of olive country is Nyons -- the kind of village one must explore on foot. With its maze of winding cobbled streets and stairways that climb between them, a marvelous olive museum and, not least, the lively Thursday market, Nyons is worth a visitor's time.
Follow the D206 south from Montélimar for about four kilometers to reach Château Le Roure, on its own ten-acre park. It is here you will not only discover a bucolic retreat in an exceptional region of France, but romantic guest rooms and the fine cuisine of their exceptional dining room. Your hostess will welcome you and make you feel at home, and your host will astonish you with his culinary expertise! Marriages take place at the château -- it is an ideal location! The catering of the meal is superb, fine linens and table decorations are provided, and the views of the parc are magnificent. Garden weddings or indoor weddings and receptions are both thoughtfully designed to assure a very happy occasion with wonderful memories.  But, what about the château as a bed and breakfast accommodation? Château Le Roure offers four lovely and spacious en suite guest rooms (one with a fireplace) and two 2-bedroom suites, one with a private terrace and the other with a fireplace. Whatever your requirements, this fine selection of rooms is sure to provide just what you are looking for. Dinners at the château will be gourmet feasts with exciting menu selections at the most reasonable prices. The dining room is classical in design and breakfast can be eaten there or is especially enjoyable when taken in the sun-bathed Orangerie.
East of Montélimar are many medieval villages and scenic drives. This is a very pretty region of green, rolling hills, fortified villages and olive groves. Not least of all is the Rhône River itself -- a powerful, wide river connecting some very interesting towns and cities -- Annecy, Lyon, Vienne, Valence, Montélimar, Avignon, Arles -- from its origin in Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) to its destination in the Camargue as it empties into the Mediterranean. And remember that you are in Rhône wine country with opportunities for visits to vineyards and wine tastings. Such famous names as Châteauneuf-du-Pape come to mind -- the village is not beyond reach if you are a guest at Château Le Roure. To the south along the Rhône River is the Papal city of Avignon, or follow the N86 south from the château to the nearby Roman aqueduct of spectacular proportions and amazing condition - the Pont du Gard. For those who enjoy the wild country, the huge Parc Naturel Regional des Monts d'Ardeche west of Valence is brimming over with mountainous scenic highways winding above gorges -- the Corniche de l'Eyrieux is the most prominent. In the parc, near the western edge of the Drôme where it borders the département of the Haute-Loire, you will find Gerbier de Jonc and the source of the Loire River. It is in this remote spot that the Loire begins its journey. On a smaller scale, and closer to the château is the dramatic and awe-inspiring Gorges de L'Ardeche at the southern edge of the Plateau des Gras bordering the département of Ardeches. When visiting either of these, don't forget your camera! A stay at Château Le Roure is special on so many levels: comfort, cuisine, regional attractions and a warm welcome by your friendly host and hostess, Philippe and Dolores Lhopital. Do visit their pages on our web site to see many more photos and read in depth about this outstanding and refined establishment. Take in the Drôme on your next visit for a little bit of authentic France! [Photos: courtesy M. et Mme Lhopital, Château Le Roure]
Sponsoring this Newsletter. . .
COOKING
WORKSHOPS IN PROVENCE
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the above photo will introduce you to a Cooking Workshop
. . . and the Loire! Le Vieux Manoir
Entering the gate at Le Vieux Manoir The River Loire is a magnet for tourists -- everyone wants to see the Valley of the Kings and its amazing procession of elegant châteaux. The list is endless, with châteaux lining not only the banks of the Loire, but the rivers Indre and Cher -- the three rivers where the largest and most visited châteaux can be found. "Châteaux of the Loire" are also located on the Loir, Sarthe, Beuvron, Vienne and many other rivers in the region.*
One of the more pleasant destinations is the small, riverside city of Amboise. It boasts an historic château, Château d'Amboise -- Charles VIII, who married Anne de Bretagne in 1491, was born there and completed an almost total reconstruction when, in 1498, he struck his head on a lintel. Soon afterward, he died. Anne remained consort of France by marrying Louis XII in 1499. Louis built a wing on the château which was later completed by François I. Most interesting in respect to Le Vieux Manoir is that the château had an escape tunnel which is still hidden somewhere in the garden -- a garden just meant to be enjoyed from the conservatory or by exploring on foot. The owners of Le Vieux Manoir are Americans, Robert and Gloria Belknap, who operated a very successful bed and breakfast in the Boston area before relocating to France. Their adopted country has pleased them well, and they are eager to share it with guests. In addition to charming common areas that all the guests can enjoy such as a library, the conservatory and the salon with its warming fireplace, the overnight accommodations are superb. Tastefully decorated rooms with en suite bathrooms welcome travelers with cozy comfort. And for families there is a delightful guest cottage, La Maison de Gardien. This thoughtfully restored and fully-equipped two-story cottage has two bedrooms, a complete kitchen, satellite TV and other amenities.
The Library and Chambre George Sand Location is everything, especially in the very wide Loire Valley where there is so much to see and so much ground to cover. That is why Le Vieux Manoir is so ideally placed for access to the grand châteaux and lovely riverfront cities, towns and villages. About mid-way between Angers and Orléans, the small city of Amboise is near Tours -- worth a visit to see its old town and its cathedral. Upriver are the cities of Blois and Orléans, and downriver are Saumur and Angers. Along the River Loire are some of France's most famous and splendid châteaux, some of which are mentioned further on in this article. But, if you would like to see them all in one convenient location -- perhaps to get a preview of what some may be like to visit -- why not go to the Parc Mini Châteaux just a few kilometers south of Amboise? It is here you will see many châteaux in minute detail and in perfect scale. The park, which took about four years to design and build, provides an overview of the astonishing castles and châteaux to be found in the Loire Valley.
As most visitors to the Loire châteaux know, one brief visit to the region may not afford sufficient time to see very many of those magnificent buildings. Each is unique and time is needed to see the many rooms, walk the grounds and learn some of the history. That's all the more reason to return again and again! Le Vieux Manoir is part of Amboise, so experiencing the town's history and charm is as easy as stepping outside and taking a stroll. You may enjoy promenades along the banks of the Loire on Quai du General de Gaulle. Wander through the ancient medieval streets of Amboise or use bicycles from Le Vieux Manoir to explore the local vineyards and the nearby villages. And, if you are not eager to drive to see the grand châteaux, you can take a tour that leaves Amboise daily. Of special note is the weekend of Patrimoine, or Heritage Weekend, in France -- the third weekend of September each year. It is at this time that the public buildings, including government-owned Loire châteaux, offer free admission. (Those privately-owned will likely charge an entrance fee.) As many as eleven million visitors take advantage of this opportunity across France. Included are religious and civil buildings visited for their architecture, industrial and agricultural organizations, parks and gardens, archeological sites, private homes, and much more. If you are making your first visit to the great châteaux of the Loire, and are based at Le Vieux Manoir, try to visit Chenonceau and Chambord -- the first very feminine and the other quite masculine in architecture. Or, if you are as equally interested in the furnishings and décor of these great homes as you are their structure, you might enjoy Cheverny, Chenonceau and Azay-le-Rideau, all with many furnished rooms. Certain châteaux are still occupied (Cheverny and Rigny-Ussé come to mind) while a great many are owned and operated by the government. If you are on your way to Saumur, you might want to visit Villandry with its amazing gardens, Langeais dominating the small town of the same name and entered by crossing a drawbridge -- the location of Charles VIII and Anne of Bretagne's marriage in 1491 -- and Ussé, said to have been the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty. Not far from Amboise are Chaumont, Blois and Beauregard. Also near Amboise and Le Vieux Manoir is the Parc Leonardo da Vinci and Le Clos Lucé Manoir, his last home. The museum houses many of his inventions and diagrams and will be a most interesting visit. To read more about Le Vieux Manoir, obtain rates for both the cottage and bed and breakfast accommodations, and view many more photos, please visit Le Vieux Manoir on this web site. This historic and charming chambres d'hôtes will be an excellent base for your next visit to the enchanting Loire Valley, and your host and hostess are eager to meet you and make you feel most welcome! [Photos of
Le Vieux Manoir courtesy of M. et Mme Belknap;
We
recommend an excellent book entitled Châteaux of the Loire Valley
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Nearest
to Château Le Roure, however, is 
