17th Century Former Winemakers House with Pool

Le Sauvignon details

Home description

Le Clos des Guyons in Le Puy-Notre-Dame, pretty medieval wine village ('Cité de Vignerons' Appellation Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame) 15 minutes south Saumur in the Loire Valley (convenient for Tours/Poitiers Airports (1 hr) , Nantes (1.5 hrs) and Angers (30 mins).
         
Three Star Accredited, 17th Century Former Winemakers House Le Clos des Guyons with  heated pool, is situated between the village and Saumurois vineyards within lovely scenery of Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park with foot/cycle paths, on route to Saint Jacques de Compostelle. Behind imposing gates and walls and just a 2 minute stroll to wineries, boulangerie, hairdresser, supermarket, post office, bar and restaurant  it offers two self-contained luxury apartments occupying a wing of this restored house complete with wine chais, underground caves and pretty courtyard with private parking. Free WIFI Access available.  

What Our 2006 Guests Thought

'We are so appreciative of everything you've done for us during our stay at Le Clos des Guyons. We have felt so much at home and we've been so comfortable here. A highlight of our trip was Brian's excellent Wine Tour and Tastings in the local winery! I know in years to come Keith will be telling stories about the wine processes, the caves and all the memorable wines we have sampled. That was really a very special morning for us!
I know we will take away with us dinner last night in Saumur. We loved sharing your Wedding Anniversary with both of you - wonderful food, delightful surroundings and non-stop conversation - all was a special evening.
Again, I want to thank you for keeping the car whilst we are away in Paris and not to mention the getting us to and from the train station. It is above and beyond and we give heartfelt thanks. Thank you for all your hospitality. Kind regards'!
Sharon and Keith Munson, Happy Lane, Eugene, Oregon, United States of America 

'Another wonderful return visit. Everything has been said by others, but we discovered two lovely restaurants this year, the first one in Saumur, Auberge Reine de Sicile owned by Manuelia et Cedric Poulaine, and the other one in Fontenvraud, La Licorne (the Unicorn) - advise to book in advance for both! Brian kept us entertained with a 'First-Class Wine Tasting Visit' next door in the village, and as there were two of us with the same christian names in the apartments we became Upstairs Geoffrey and Downstairs Geoffrey ! The weather was really superb and the grape harvest looks good for this year.
Good to see both Sheila and Brian again - Next Year? - Yes'!   A bientot. 
Doreen and Geoffrey Gwyther, Bolton, Lancashire, UK

'Comme nos predicesseurs, nous avons beaucoup apprecié l'hospitalite de Sheila et Brian. Tourjours souriants tres accueillants - Apprecié aussi, le bouteille du pettiant, vraiment excellent! Apprécié le appartement confortable et agréable. 
Admiré les travaux de restauration, vraiment remarquables.
Nous sommes venus principalement pour assister au spectacle "Les Musicale du Cadre Noir de Saumur". C'etait splendide et fabuleux, maix necessaire faut reserver ses places eight - dix mois avant!
Encore Merci Avec Toutes Nos Amnitiés' 
M et Mme Remy Leffaitte 59800 Lille, France

'David and I couldn't have found a more wonderful relaxing place for our vacation. You both shared your knowledge and the area with tremendous warmth. This is our first experience staying in such an apartment which has been to such a high standard. Our hikes in Le Puy Notre Dame and Montreuil Bellay were especially enhanced by the countryside, and chateau which was just splendid. All will be remembered. Thankyou for everything you have done to make this such a delight for us all.' 
David and Margy Anderson, New York, USA.

We were in Le Puy Notre Dame for the very first Grand Prix Classic Car Retro in 1997 and have not been able to return until this year!  The wait was well worth it as not only was the Grand Prix great fun to watch but Le Clos des Guyons and your great hospitality and conviviality have made our week here both enjoyable and memorable.  Your welcome, helpfulness and caring appoach have helped to make this week one of the best we have spent in France, including Brian's wine tasting!!  I only hope the MG makes it home with the extra weight of wine! We plan to be back;
Best wishes, Keith and Rita Herkes, Bedford.   

**VINEYARD DISCOVERY WINE TOUR** - an option provided as part of your holiday!

Wine courses and degustations are available by arrangement in our ancient wine chais and ‘Le Caves Ragot’

• Two-Night and Three-Night Short Wine Break Holidays commencing October 2008! See website for details.

Accommodation detail

Le Sauvignon, Apartment 1 consists of most of one wing on first floor and offers:-

• Kitchen/dining area - in old gatehouse room overlooking the courtyard. Plenty of beams and quarry tiled floor. Fully equipped with table/chairs, dishwasher, cooker, microwave, toaster, refrigerator, coffee maker, kettle.
• Double bedroom - with one double bed and full en-suite shower room - shower/ washbasin/ mirrors/ lights/ hair-dryer and shaver sockets/ WC
• Twin bedroom - with two single beds and full en-suite bathroom - bath/ over-bath shower/ washbasin/ mirrors/ lights/ hair-dryer and shaver sockets/ WC
• Lounge/Living area - with fireplace, satellite TV/DVD, bookcase/ library area with games, including a large chess table. There is double sofa-bed available to increase the capacity to 6 persons.
• Guest shower room - with mirrors/ lights/ washbasin/ hair-dryer and shaver sockets/ WC. Ideal if you use the sofa-bed.
• Electric heated rooms
• Fully secured private car-parking in the courtyard.
• Laundry facilities.

Pool and Garden

 

Attached to the courtyard, but still within the high walls, is a large garden area with ornamental fountain.  There is a sun terrace (purely for use of guests) with decking, sunbeds, outdoor furniture, surrounded by pretty pots of vibrant gerraniums, walnut trees and vines hanging with grapes. (All completely floodlit in the evening for barbecue Soirees). 

 

There is a very attractive Above-Ground Wooden-Decked Swimming Pool (6.4M x 4M) chosen not because of the cost but because the owners sleep better at night knowing guests are not going to disappear into the old wine caves 'Les Caves Ragot' which stretch under much of this part of Le Puy Notre Dame.

 

 

General

 

Four quality adult bikes and one child's bike are available for our guests, so you can swap your four wheels for two anytime and enjoy scenic backroads – maps available.  Pedal along sleepy lanes, through vineyards, exploring villages and sampling some of the local wines.

 

Out of consideration for our other guests, we ask you not to smoke inside the buildings. ‘Thankyou’.

About the location

Le Puy Notre Dame, on the route de St Jacques de Compostelle, is a charming medieval wine-growing village with its own Appellation of Saumur Puy-Notre-Dame in the heart of the Saumurais vineyards and within lovely scenery of Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Park with foot and cycle paths.

Famous for Wine, Mushroom caves, Prestigious 12th Century Collegiate Gothic style Church, Living Silk Museum, Fetes, including the ‘Classic Car Grand Prix’ around the narrow streets in July. Its daily life revolves almost totally around wine and mushroom production, in fact of its small population, no less than 75 families are vignerons.  It has discovered that it has become a popular tourist attraction and has developed over the last few years many fetes and interesting events to occupy the time of its visitors. 

The village is the leading commune for the production of AOC Saumur wines (800 hectares of vines producing 12 million bottles a year) and, using the caves that were originally excavated to provide the stone for both houses and the famous Le Puy Notre Dame Church, (100 kms of tunnels crisscross the ground) it produces 25,000 tonnes per year of button mushrooms. From 2006 Le Puy will have its own wine appellation in recognition of the quality of its wine therefore the bottles will be labelled " Saumur-Puy Notre Dame"!

It takes only five minutes to drive to the medieval walled town of Montreuil-Bellay and Doue-la-Fontaine with its Troglodyte sites, conservation zoo and rose gardens. During the second week of July Doué hosts the colourful spectacular of the ‘Fete de la Rose’ in the Roman Arena and underground caves, attracting over 48,000 visitors.  There are many good value restaurants (one in the village a five minute walk away) and in nearby towns, there are hypermarkets and banks. The lovely riverside town of Saumur with its host of attractions is fifteen minutes away.

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and facilities.

Activities near by

Ballooning, Bird Watching, Boating, Boules, Canoeing, Cycling, Drawing and painting, Fishing, Flying, French tuition, Golf, Gourmet dining, Gym, Hiking, Horse riding, Kayaking, Parachuting, Photography, Rambling, Sailing, Sea excursions, Shopping, Sightseeing, Swimming, Table tennis, Tennis, Theme parks, Walking, Wine tasting, Wine touring

See Activities and attractions for more information on nearby activities and places of interest.

How to get here

For full directions please contact the owner or see owners website.

Nearest airports are:

• Nantes Atlantique (1.30 minutes drive)
• Poitiers (1 hour drive)
• Tours (1.30 minutes drive)
• Angers (40 mins)

See Local guide and map for information on nearby towns and airports.