Page 195 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

Eating & Sleeping

entrées, two mains and two desserts. It’s small,
Chinon 1 so reserve ahead.
4 Hôtel de France Hotel €€ 4 Le Vieux Manoir B&B €€
(%02 47 93 33 91; www.bestwestern- (%02 47 30 41 27; www.le-vieux-manoir.com; 13
hoteldefrance-chinon.com; 47 place du Général rue Rabelais; d incl breakfast €150-220, f €330,
de Gaulle, aka place de la Fontaine; d €99-139, cottages €260-310; hlate Mar-1 Nov; paW)
apt €175; aW) Run impeccably by the same Set in a lovely walled garden, this restored
couple since 1979, this Best Western–affiliated mansion has oodles of old-time charm. The
hotel, right in the centre of town, has 30 rooms six rooms and two cottages, decorated with
arrayed around an inner courtyard. Tastefully antiques, get lots of natural light, and owners
decorated in a contemporary style, many have Gloria and Bob (expat Americans who once ran
views of the château – as does the magnificent, an award-winning Boston B&B) are generous
flowery terrace on the roof. Offers enclosed with their knowledge of the area. FRANCE 14 CHâTEAux OF THE LOIRE
bicycle parking. No lift.
Blois 7
Langeais 2 5 L’Orangerie
5 Au Coin des Halles Bistro €€ du Château Gastronomy €€€
(%02 47 96 37 25; www.aucoindeshalles.com; 9 (%02 54 78 05 36; www.orangerie-du-chateau.
rue Gambetta; lunch menus €16.50, other menus fr; 1 av Dr Jean Laigret; menus €38-84;
€26-55; h12.15-2pm & 7.15-9pm Fri-Tue) Half hnoon-1.45pm & 7-9.15pm Tue-Sat; p) This
a block from the entrance to the château, this Michelin-starred restaurant serves cuisine
elegant eatery is mi-bistrot, mi-gastro (half- gastronomique inventive inspired by both French
bistro, half-gastronomic restaurant), serving tradition and culinary ideas from faraway lands.
delicious cuisine du marché (cuisine based on The wine list comes on a tablet computer. For
what’s available fresh in the markets) grown and dessert try the speciality, soufflé.
raised by local producers.
Cheverny 8
Amboise 6
4 La Levraudière B&B €
5 La Fourchette French €€ (%02 54 79 81 99; www.lalevraudiere.fr; 1
CaptionCaptionCaptionCaption
(%06 11 78 16 98; 9 rue Malebranche; lunch/ chemin de la Levraudière; d incl breakfast €80,
dinner menus €17/30; hnoon-1.30pm Tue-Sat, 5-person ste €150; W) In a peaceful farmhouse
7-8.30pm Fri & Sat, plus Tue & Wed evenings from 1892, amid 3.5 hectares of grassland, La
summer) Hidden away in a back alley off rue Levraudière’s four rooms are comfortable and
Nationale, this is Amboise’s favourite address homey and come with king-size beds. Sonia
for family-style French cooking – chef Christine Maurice, the friendly owner, speaks English and
will make you feel as though you’ve been invited is happy to supply local cycling maps. Situated
to her house for lunch. The menu has just two 2.5km south of the Château de Cheverny.

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