Tours is the main town in the Loire Valley but there are lots of other pretty villages such as Saumur, Langeais, Luyns, Amboise, Blois and many more. You can find great local food and wine in La Touraine, now officially recognised by Sarkozy, and others I hope, as the gastronomic capital of France as well as the Garden of France. For couples or families it's a great French summer holiday without the crowds of the south.

www.myweekin.net

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La Chene is the gite we stayed in this summer - it's FAB! (and suprisingly affordable). Big and spacious even with two families in it. Lovely back terrace with views across the field and great sunsets. The kids loved the upstairs rooms and the 'wet room' almost as much as the heated pool and bike rides.

Although the area and the Deux Sèvres region isn't all that touristy there's no shortage of things to do. We enjoyed days out at the Trogldyte village (caves that were used as houses up to 40 years ago), in the pretty town of Montreuil Bellay, and at the amazing Futuroscope in Poitiers.

We're hoping to go back early next year with some friends on a 'grown-up' break as the owners offer a local 'degustation' wine tasting tour.

Driving there was easier than we expected - ferry to Caen then 4.5 hrs on the autoroutes ending up in peaceful french countryside. If we come for a long weekend we'll fly to Angers and hire a car as that's cheap and easy.

Top tip: If you do stay here, eat out at least once at the Logis de Pompois - AMAZING 4* gormet food (and not too painful on the chequebook).

La Chene is around an hour or so from Tours.
www.gites-en-france.info or call the owners: 00335 49 80 26 58

Nearest airports are Angers or Poitiers, or ferry to Le Harve or Caen and drive...

Le Logis de Pompois, BP86 Sainte Verge 79102 Thouars
Tel: (0)5 49 96 27 84

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