Airbnb came up trumps for us with this one, a 12th century French chateau in the Loire region. Leaving the South of France and heading back towards London was hard but staying somewhere so beautiful certainly eased the pain. Gilles and Sylvie, the chateau’s owners, were very warm and welcoming, greeting us with a glass of wine as we arrived, even though they were running out the door. We made a new friend in their lovely little dachshund, Babushka, too. Sadly, we were only there for one night but I made the most of our time, taking an early morning swim in their lovely pool before heading for breakfast on the terrace, which has stunning views over the valley. For breakfast they went above and beyond, serving up delicious pastries, coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, yoghurts and fresh fruit; and all served to us on the most beautiful china.
If you find yourself traveling through this beautiful part of France I would suggest at least one night here but book early if it’s a weekend, as they’re usually booked up then.
Accommodation
12th Century Chateau in Saint-Nizier-sous-Charlieu via Airbnb