Château de la Barre

A Private View to France with all the douceur de vivre of the Loire and the gracious hospitality of French aristocracy. Located in the Loire Valley, just two hours from Paris hidden within a 100 acre private park, lies a graceful Chateau, where elegance and refinement are combined with authenticity. More than just a luxury accommodation, Château de la Barre offers the exclusive experience of being a guest in a private chateau, as it has been in the family of Count & Countess de Vanssay, 20th generation unbroken lineage, since 1404. It is also the ideal base for discovering the scenic Loire Valley, its famous castles, wineries and the medieval Plantagenet city of Le Mans plus many hidden gems.

Your hosts, Guy and Marnie de Vanssay will be delighted to create a tailor made holiday for you, including maps, réservations, many secret tips and even organising transfers to and from the Chateau and throughout the Loire Region where necessary. Guests wanting to stay on site will enjoy strolling through the romantic Chateau park and fragrant flower gardens at the foot of the XVIth century fortifications, perhaps engaging in a game of croquet. For the more active, bicycles and maps are available on site, and not far away, riding, kayaking and golf can be practiced. Come the evening, tea, drinks and champagne are served in one of the many reception areas, from the cosy Salon Rose, to the informal billiard room, to the luxurious Grand Salon, all replete with important antiques, rare Persian rugs, majestic fireplaces, family portraits and impressionist paintings.

The bedrooms and suites are individually decorated, each one with precious XVIIIth century furniture, designer fabrics as well as all modern comforts.

Twice a week, join Comte an Comtesse de Vanssay for a Grand Siècle Dinner, hosted in the XVIIth century Grande Salle à Manger and served on embroidered linen with all the family silver, fine porcelain and crystal. On other nights, a picnic hamper can be organised to take into the park, or a romantic supper served on the château terrace overlooking the garden or else in the smaller dining room with it's collection of impressionist paintings.

As Jeanne Marie and Ed, guests from North Carolina wrote: "Nowhere else is there such a combination of elegance, history and "home-y-ness".