publication date: May 4, 2007
We’ve stayed in the same house in this small village a few times as it offers just the sort of relaxation families like – good size (10m x 5m),
solar-heated pool, games room, large garden with an orchard of fruit trees and a front garden complete with
barbecue. The house, which
sleeps eight very comfortably (plus a cot is available), has all mod cons including a dishwasher, but best for me is the large dining-room with French doors opening onto the front garden (with the wood-burning fire it would make a perfect place to spend
Christmas en famille!).
Surrounded by high hedges for
privacy, the front gates to the property lock for extra
security so you won’t have to worry about kids running out on to the road or just wandering off. It's a
child-friendly property; the pool is fenced off to comply with French regulations but obviously parents must be aware of water-safety.
The village has
two cafés with restaurants and bars – plus there are other good restaurants a short drive away - and there’s even a
pizza van on Friday evenings in the square so there’s no need to cook after a day’s
sightseeing in the Châteaux, exploring forests, sampling the local wine in the vineyards, or working off the calories with a
game of golf, cycling or canoeing. The
museum, art gallery and
internet café offer entertainment within five minutes walk should you tire of relaxing by the pool while the kids enjoy the water.
Parçay-les-Pins lies amid sunflower fields, pine forests and lakes and is convenient for the towns of
Tours, Le Mans, Angers and
Saumur. While the village has the usual complement of small food shops and
Saturday morning market, the neighbouring village of
Noyant has
banks, a supermarket and bustling
market on Friday mornings.
One of the
highlights of our stays here has been the
shooting days organised by the owners at their newly renovated farmhouse,
La Fosse, about 40 minutes drive away in
Pontvaillant.
The farmhouse sits in
acres of land where they have set up
target and
clay pigeon shooting. The day includes a
delicious lunch and those not interested in guns have plenty of
space to relax and
children are well catered for. We discovered my daughter is a
crack shot, beating the children who'd been brought up with
guns on a
farm!
Getting there
- Driving - about five hours from most Channel ports
- Train – Eurostar to Lille then TGV to Le Mans or Angers
- Flying – Ryanair from Stansted to Tours
Booking
Rates per week for 2007:
- £1100 in July and August - available weeks beginning 30 June and 25 August
- £650 in May, June and September
Bed and breakfast
- Available at La Fosse, Pontvaillant
- A double room with en suite facilities costs 45 euros a night, including breakfast, with a family room available. Dinner, drinks and snacks served on request.
Contact
Trish or Malcolm:
- 0033 243 466556
- email: trishalafosse@wanadoo.fr
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