France Dave
Overview
Dates: 11/8/2010 – 21/8/2010
For current weather, as well as monthly averages for the Loire, click here.
Campsite – Camping de la Touche
Website Reviews Run by John (ex-UK Scout leader) Ferme de la Touche, 37240 LIGUEIL, France Tel: +33 (0) 247 59 54 94
Pitch €6 People €6 EHU €5 all UK blue connections Heated showers, shop, kitchen, laundry, BBQ, plunge pool
Total €17 per couple per night 1 week €119 (7 nights per couple)
Bike hire available €5 per day or €20 per week
£20 per tent deposit paid
5mins away from Ligueil centre which is well served with bakers, restaurants and a supermarket. 15 mins away is the Market town of Loches and 50 mins away the city of Tours with its own airport and all the major stores.
Directions
From Tours/Bordeaux we are situated off junction 25 of the A10 motorway (signposted ‘St Maure de Touraine’). On exiting the toll, at the roundabout take the first exit on your right, the first exit at the next roundabout following the D760, the fourth exit at the third roundabout and then the first exit at the fourth roundabout following the D59 to Ligueil.
As you enter the outskirts of Ligueil you will come to a junction and ‘stop’ sign – turn right, then left at the next junction taking the D31 to Loches. You will pass the ancient wooden launderette on your right hand side. Head towards Loches for 2km. Follow the government signs for ‘Camping’ and turn right off the D31 at a crossroads with a white cross. After the bridges and take your first right. You will see our distinctive yellow sunflower sign marking the entrance to the site.
Ferry and travel notes
http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/index.html
Basically: !! Avoid Paris !! E402/A16 to Abbeville then E402/A28 to Rouen then Le Mans then E502/A28 to Tours the E05/A10 and follow directions above to Ligueil
Useful Info
Nearest Hospital
Nearest Dentist
Nearest Food Shops
Nearest Gear Shops
Nearest Car Repairs
Ford Dealer: PONT AUTOMOBILES 86 Rue Charles Coulomb, CHAMBRAY LES TOURS 37170, Tel 02 47 48 69 00 http://www.pontautomobiles.com/
Garage Grand Sud 72 Rue Saint Jacques, LOCHES 37600, Tel 02 47 59 06 60
Garage Claude Ligeard 15 Rue Rabelais, CROUZILLES 37220, Tel 02 47 58 55 12
AA European Breakdown: Tel 00800 88776611 or +33 426 298781
To do in the Loire Valley
General
Eating Out
Place Plum in Tours crammed with cheap cafes, bistros & restaurants of which Comme Autre Foucee is recommended by C&C – known for local dish of dough stuffed with pork or goat’s cheese.
Wine Related
Notes from Luckins: Loire Valley near Tours is known for Sancerre & Pouilly-Fume. But there are some cracking Vouvray not to be missed, expect to pay for them.
Lookout for signs to “caves”, for example “Cave des Producteurs de Vouvray”. Tastings through Vouvray, Chinon & Bourgueil can be booked via Tourist Office in Tours.
http://www.vinsdeloire.fr/en_EN/
http://www.cp-vouvray.com/index_en.php Caves ouvertes toute l’année, 7 jours sur 7 :De 9h00 à 12h30 et de 13h45 à 19h00 Du 15/05 au 15/09 sans interruption de 9h00 à 19h00 – 38, “La Vallée Coquette” – 37210 Vouvray
http://www.henribourgeois.com/Closhenri/chene/en.html (white: Le MD de Bourgeois Sancerre – highly recommended). Shop, Restaurant & Hôtel de Charme La Côte des Monts Damnés,Chavignol, 18300 Sancerre
http://www.huet-echansonne.com/Accueil/indexen.html Domaine Huet l’Echansonne, 11/13 rue de la Croix Buisée,37210 Vouvray
Markets
Sunday Amboise: morning Beaulieu-lès-Loches: 8h00-12h00 Descartes: morning Reignac-sur-Indre: 8h00-12h30
Monday Ligueil: 9h00-14h00
Tuesday La Roche-Posay (Vienne): morning Saint Quentin sur Indrois: 10h00-13h00
Wednesday Loches: 8h00-13h00
Thursday Châtellerault: morning Cormery: 8h00-12h30 Chédigny: 8h00-11h00 Le Grand-Pressigny: morning Loché-sur-Indrois: morning Manthelan: morning Preuilly-sur-Claise: morning Yzeures-sur-Creuse: morning
Friday Abilly: 10h00-12h30 Amboise: morning Azay-sur-Indre: 11h30-12h30 La Roche-Posay (Vienne): morning
Saturday Cussay: 10h00-12h00 Loches: 8h00-13h00 Preuilly-sur-Claise: morning
Castles
http://www.chateaux-de-la-loire.fr/chateaux_of_the_loire.htm
Download for GPS to add all Chateaux as POIs
Chateau de Chenonceau has been described as the most beautiful of Chateaux. The Renaissance chateau stretches across the River Cher on piers. Chenonceau is one of the few Chateaux that you can view without a guide. http://www.chenonceau.com/media/gb/index_gb.php (oh so cool – we can download the audio tour to an iPod) The Castle is open every day of the year times from July 1st to August 31st : 09h00 – 20h00. Single Entrance: 10,50 €. Audio video guided tour: 14,50 €
Chateau de Chambord was Commissioned as a hunting lodge by Francois I in 1519. It’s the largest of the Loire châteaux with 440 rooms, and if it’s second to Chenonceau in beauty, it’s a darn close second. http://www.chambord.org/Chambord-en-idm-1-n-Accueil.html www.chateaux-de-la-loire.fr/chambord_castle.htm From 11/07 to 16/08: 9am – 7pm From 17/08 to 30/09: 9am – 6.15pm Adult: 9,50 €
Chateau de Chaumont is set on a cliff above the Loire, standing on the foundations of two previous fortresses dating from the 10th and 12th centuries. What to see: the Italian tiled floor in the Salle du Conseil, furniture from the 16th and 18th centuries and the impressive stables built by the Prince de Broglie.
Chateau de Amboise was home to French King Louis XI and his wife Charlotte of Savoy. What to see: the Gothic Chapel of StHubert; are the remains of Leonardo de Vinci really buried in the north transept? Plus, the lavish Kings quarters, the Great Hall and the Tourdes Minimes, a tower providing access to the chateau to carriages. www.chateau-amboise.com
Chateau de Villandry features one of the best examples of Renaissance formal gardens in the Loire Valley. www.chateauvillandry.com
Chateau de Beauregard features an interesting 16th century kitchen, but most come here to see the Picture Gallery containing 363 portraits of Royal family members and aristocracy – boring.www.beauregard-loire.com
Chateau de Cheverny is an opulent Renaissance styled chateau from the period of Louis XIII. The main draws here are the furnishings and the small hunting museum. www.chateau-cheverny.com
Ussé – Chateau of Sleeping Beauty is a magical place built in the 15th and 16th centuries. www.chateaudusse.fr 10h-19h Adult: 13 € 37420 RIGNY-USSE
Archive – Campsite Options
Camping Le Serpolin
Tent €12 EHU €4
Total €16 per couple per night 1 week €112 (7 nights per couple) (£100 ish)
Notes / thoughts
Brief e-mail response. Seems available.
Le Chant D’Oiseau
Tent €16 EHU €5
Total €21 per couple per night
1 week €147 (7 nights per couple) (£131 ish)
Bike hire available €5 per day or €25 per week
Notes / thoughts
Long e-mail from Stu & Syb, would need to go after 21 August.
Camping de la Touch
Pitch €6 People €6 EHU €5
Total €17 per couple per night 1 week €119 (7 nights per couple)
Bike hire available €5 per day or €20 per week
Notes / thoughts
Good pics and facilities.
E-mail reply received. Good availability.