Sunshine at last

Drove to St Martin de la Place yesterday to take advantage of the sunny day and check out the riverside  restaurant la Croix Rouge.  From this sunny spot you can see over to the south side of the river and the pretty hotel le Prieuré dominates the hillside. It's a pricey place to stay but has some of the best views over the river and a decent restaurant too.  

La Croix Rouge is a typical 'guingette' overlooking the river.  Open 7 days a week during the summer it's well situated for cyclists and campers as well as those looking for a simple lunch by the riverside.  We enjoyed a Leffe and watched the world go by.  I can't vouch for the food as we didn't stay for lunch but we intend to give it a try.  

Manoir des Rosiers - Le Petit Pavillon

Looking for a tiny gîte that is very very French in style but with all the things that make your life comfortable?  The Manoir des Rosiers has recently renovated one bedroom gîte 'le Petit Pavillon' for two that fits the bill perfectly.  Hidden away in the Anjou countryside it has a kitchen/living room with wood burning stove for chilly nights late in the season, a contemporary bathroom and one double bedroom.  In the garden there is lovely pool for cooling off in the summer (fat chance this year but I live in hope), hot tub (no excuse for not getting the costume on even if it's chilly) plenty of secluded shady areas for hiding with a good book and a great home cinema room in a converted barn that has a massive screen for watching films.  

It's just the kind of place that we would choose to stay.  The owners, Maïa (a former tour guide) and her husband Frédéric moved to the Loire to escape the bustle of Paris and are wonderfully welcoming. Maïa can even arrange a light supper on the night of your arrival to take away the stress of having to dash out shopping on your first evening.

They also have le 'Maison du manoir' a lovely gîte with 2 bedrooms (to sleep 4).  

A perfect place for a short break in the Loire valley and only 20 minutes from us here in Cumeray so why not build in a little Loire wine discovery while you're here.

www.lemanoirdesrosiers.com

Maïa & Frédéric Moreaux
4 rue du Pavillon
49700 Noyant-la-Plaine
France
mamoreaux@yahoo.fr
00 33 (0)2 41 83 05 25
00 33 (0)6 12 17 17 00