Experience a fabulous here in Montsoreau & the stunning surroundings.
Plenty to see & do or just do nothing at all!
Montsoreau is a magical place with is Renaissance style château dominating the Loire: In just a few steps from Le Seize you could be wandering into the courtyard of the château and imagining life in the 15th century.
Inspired by the château, the novel La Dame de Montsoreau by Alexandre Dumus was written. The château became home for the collection of radical conceptualists Art & Language and has been renamed Château de Montsoreau Museum of Contemporary Art.
You have bars & restaurants minutes away in the village, you can enjoy the river, just steps away or take a walk up high behind the village to the vineyards & enjoy the magnificent views. Some of the vines are owned by the family Lambert who run the Cave de la Motte in the village.
If you fancy a relaxing stroll, take the road toward Candes-saint-Martin, you won't be disappointed. A beaux village just along from Montsoreau . You can enjoy the architecture, visit the 11th century church, go for lunch at the Auberge de la Route d'Or or wander to the wine bar by the river & try some new wines of the region & "le snacking" before you wander back. Along the way, pop into the artisanal jewellery boutique of Gabrielle Plasse or try making you own scent in the perfume shop of Nicolas de Barry.
If the river beckons, go for a boat ride along the river to Saumur or if huger calls, enjoy lunch, watch the swans go by, enjoy river views on the river boat restaurant.
Sunday morning market is always something we like to do. The normally gueit village comes alive with locals & tourists. Buy fresh vegetables from local farmers, fish from the mobile fishmonger, spit roasted chicken with lovely potatoes cooked in the cooking juices, readymade Sunday lunch, what more could you want? Wine maybe. Choose locally produced wine from the vineyards of La Pallaine. Sold in the small boutique, Françoise will have you try all! Go for a coffee, have a glass of wine & soak up the atmosphere. Every second Sunday of the month there is a flea market "Les Puces de Montsoreau" along the quayside, selling quality antiques, art & bric a brac.
The patisserie in the boulangerie Besnard are some of the best. Croissants, pain au chocolate and delicious French bread for breakfast a must.
For lovers of English & French history & just a 5 minute drive away, the 11th century, Royal Abbey de Fontevraud is one of the largest monastic buildings in Europe. The final resting place of Richard the Lionheart, Eleanor de Aquitaine & Henry II. In 2021 the Musée d'art was opened in the beautiful, newly restored, old hay store for the abbey - La Fannerie - A private collection of over 900 pieces of art collected by the Cligmans. The collection of paintings and ancient objects, collected on their travels, is beautifully displayed in the contemporary designed gallery, over three floors.
The village of Fontevraud l'Abbaye with bars & restaurants, is a pretty village to wander around.
Just before you arrive in Fontevraud, there is the Savonnerie Martin de Candre. A family run artisanal traditional soap making company, producing quality soaps elaborated from a process originated in Marseille. Small boutique full of different shaped & scented with associated paraphernalia!
Free concerts in the village & Saumur in the summer.