Chateau de la Barre

Chateau de la Barre is a unique proposition. This luxury property has been in the same family for the last 610 years and is filled to the brim with sumptuous antiques and furnishings which have been in the chateau for centuries. It offers two bedrooms and three suites which have been decorated with designer fabrics to complement the family heirlooms. There is no restaurant as such, but twice a week the Comte and Comtesse host a Grand Siecle dinner where you can sample french gourmet cuisine, served in the 17th century dining hall on the family's fine porcelain and antique crystal. The setting is grand too: situated at the entrance to the Loire valley and surrounded by beautiful landscaped gardens. It's not cheap, but then again, how often do you get to stay in a real piece of French history?

Why do people love staying in your hotel?
The sentence one of our guests wrote in our guestbook best summarizes this question:
"No where else is there such a combination of elegance, history and "home-y-ness". People love the history and heritage, the elegance and luxury, but especially,in this modern, impersonal world, the warmth and authenticity of the personal welcome by the owners. Where else in France, or Europe, are travellers personally welcomed by the owners themselves, 20th generation unbroken lineage since 1404? Yet also benefit from all the necessary modern comforts of a hotel : designer fabrics, plush mattresses, state of the art modern bathrooms and wifi throughout.

There are many chateaux which have been sold, taken over by hoteliers and transformed into hotels, but Chateau de la Barre is the only authentic chateau in France, which has been in the same family for more than 610 years yet is now open to welcoming guests AND which is also Number 1 on tripadvisor out of 682 hotels of the Pays de Loire region, but best small hotel of the Loire Valley on tripadvisor too.

Chateau de la Barre combines a warm personal welcome with all the gracious and relaxed hospitality of the true French aristocracy, a decor of understated refinement and complete elegance throughout the chateau, with all the valuable family antiques, and also all the necessary modern comforts.

The owners personally assist each guest in customising their stay to suit their individual sightseeing and activity interests.

What is there to do in the area?
SIghtseeing : immediately around the chateau : untouched bucolic countryside, quaint villages away from the "Maddening Crowds" of tourists even in the height of summer, Romanesque chapels, forests, farmer's markets, riding and kayaking and cycling
Within a 30 to 60 minutes drive : the famous Loire Valley castles, the medieaval Plantagenet city, many wineries, hot air ballooning, race car driving around the Maison Blanche track in Le Mans

What kind of breakfast do you offer?
Full English breakfasts with only fresh produce from the farm and local bakery. Orange juice, tea (Kusmi) and coffee (expresso and nespresso) and hot chocolate, cereals and fresh yogurts, home made jams, local cheese and scrambled or fried eggs.

Do you offer other meals? And can you recommend good places to eat out locally?
Twice a week, we host a "Grand Siècle" dinner in our XVIIth century dining hall. This consists of a champagne cocktail in the cosy salon rose or out on the sunbaked terrace, a four course dinner with two different wines, served with all the family silver and crystal, followed by coffee and brandy served in the ornate Grand Salon drawing room, virtually untouched since the wedding of the 4th Marquis de Vanssay, in 1778.
It is possible for us, on other nights, to serve a smaller dinner in the intimate Petite Salle à Manger, with it's impressionist paintings.
We also regularly organise wine & cheese tasting suppers in the XIVth century 'pièce à feu", by its monumental fireplace.

We are pleased to recommend some gourmet Auberges in our region, and assist our guests with the choice and booking of their table.

Which are your most popular room types, and why?
The prestigious Chambre Marin de Vanssay is a royal Suite, in the wing of the chateau extended in 1580 by ancestor Marin de Vanssay, who married the great granddaughter of the builders of Chenonceau castle. This room has gold and royal blue silk Rubelli fabric on the boiserie walls, a high beamed ceiling, fireplace and important XVIIth and XVIIIth century antiques. it has three windows overlooking the garden and park, and a large ensuite "Salon d'eau" or elegant bathroom/drawingroom, with XVIIIth century Aubusson tapestries surrounding the sitting area, Italian ceramic tiles, a Jacuzzi bath, double sink and walk in shower.
Guests are spellbound by the grandeur and total elegance of this royal room.
The next popular room is Chambre Jaune, a double room with mustard golden Toile de Jouy fabric, valuable XVIIIth century antiques and a large Aubusson tapestry and a sweeping view over the garden. It has an ensuite bath. Guests love the vibrant, cheerful colours, as if this room is permanently bathed in sunset light.

What message would you like to give Hotel Guru readers?
No where else in Europe can you experience such elegance, understated refinement and authenticity combined, while still enjoying modern comfort.
No where else in Europe can you experience heritage and history combined with a warm, personal welcome, as if you were guests in a friend's private home. Actually, you are!