The
Old Walnut Mill Delightful, spacious 2 bedroom
19th Century Loire Valley house for rent in the peaceful village of Barrou
in the department of Indre et Loire,France. The village’s location halfway
between the regional capitals of Tours and Poitiers makes it an ideal base
to explore the Loire Valley and Vienne.
Chateau Montreuil-Bellay
lies
ten miles south of Saumur overlooking the river Thouet.
The earliest fortifications date back to the 11th century. The
current chateaux was added later,
its fortified gateway leads to a 15th century
house which is worth a wonder round with the ancient wine
cellars the highlight - no photographs can be taken inside
the building.
It
is a pleasurable walk through the gardens down to the river
and there are some great views from the chateau.
There is a good choice of restaurants by the chateau and the
river. You will also find by the river "Promenade
J.R.R.Tolkien" which has given rise to the stories (untrue)
of Montreuil-Bellay once being a holiday home of the writer
and the chateau and its surroundings being inspirational in
forming some of his literal locations.
The
town of Montreuil-Bellay retains almost all of its medieval walls, making
it one of the last fortified towns of the Anjou
region. It is well worth a visit as it still retains its
medieval feel. Its strategic location on the borders of
Anjou,
Touraine
and
Poitou
allowed the town to grow and have an important regional
administrative function (subsequently transferred to Saumur)
before the French Revolution, this accounts for the number
of fine houses in the town.
During the French Revolution the castle was seized by the
revolutionary government and used as a prison for women
suspected of being royalists. In 1860 the daughter of Saumur
businessman Adrien Niveleau, (who had bought it in 1822)
undertook occupancy and set about a major restoration
campaign, redoing some of the rooms in the Troubadour style.
Descendants of her husband's nephew are the current owners
of the property.
It was also used as a military hospital during the First
World War.
The
town has on open-air swimming pool open during
May-September.
Château Montreuil-Bellay is also the name of fine wines of
the area produced from vines within the chateau grounds. The
grapes, apparently harvested and sorted by hand, are made
into wine
in
the fifteenth-century wine cellars.
The
town of Montreuil-Bellay retains almost all of its medieval walls, making
it one of the last fortified towns of the 
