Château de Noirieux

Set in 16 acres of gardens and parkland and surrounded by the soft, watery landscape of the Western Loir Valley, the Chateau de Noirieux is an exquisite 19 bedroomed hotel which opened at the end of 1991.

Built of the creamy stone typical of the region, the Chateau comprises a 15th century manor house, a 16th century chapel and a handsome, 17th century Chateau, all of which have been meticulously restored to provide an ambience of immense charm and comfort.

Inspired by their love of english country house hotels, the owners have mixed the best British qualities of decor, comfort and service with a dash of French art de vivre to create an unique blend of elegance and intimacy .

Echoes of the past abound in period details - slate floors, stone fireplaces and oak beams - all complimented by fine furniture, antiques, rich tapestries and distinctive fabrics.

One enters the Chateau through the classical conservatory, leading to a series of beautiful salons, the reception, the drawing room and the bar, each restored to it's original splendour and style : Louis XV, Louis XIII, and later Art Deco... each with it's own fireplace.

The Manor Bedrooms :
Freshly decorated in a pure Anjou style, the ten Manor bedrooms have retained their authentic rustic charm with warm brown oak beams and great stone fireplaces. A sence of unity in the decoration has been achieved, in line with the mood of the Manor. Thus the bedrooms, with curtains, headboards and bedspreads decorated in floral motifs, form an extension of the surrounding countryside. The large beds, with their simple white linen, add an extra note to the character of these typical country Manor bedrooms .

The Chateau Bedrooms :
The nine bedrooms of the Chateau, located on the first and second floors, are linked by the elegant Art Deco staircase. Spacious, particulary those on the first floor that each have private indoor balcony and a secret hidden door - their tall windows open into the loir river.

In every bedroom a television set which receives different international Channels, a mini-bar, and a personal safe hidden within the furniture in order to harmonise with the period style.

In each bathroom, a selection of products is presented in little wicker baskets, and the milk and lime-scented soaps from Marseille can be found in attractive wooden boxes. The bathrobes, embroidered with a motif of Chateau de Noirieux, and a range of luxurious towels are provided for guests.

Le Restaurant
Directly inspired by the architectural theme of the Orangerie - a building with a large windows which Louis XIV brought into fashion in the seventeeth century, the restaurant is situated along the right hand side of the Chateau and overlooks a little garden full of chesnuts trees which can be gazed at throught the tall windows of the handsome walls. The front, which overlooks a panoramic view of the Loir Valley, continues into a large terrace which, in summer, turns into a charming open-air restaurant.

From the ovens where Gérard Côme and his team are cooking, rises the delicious smell of real country food, based on the natural, flavoursome produce from the local area. It changes with the rhythm of the seasons, and proposes a fine cuisine serve on pretty plates trimmed with light garlands of yellow and green leaves, like Lasagne of Spider crab with truffle in a creamed cray fish sauce or Gratinated Turbot and Quenelle of pike mousse with Champagne sauce, gratin of Salsify.

Gérard Côme worked in some of the top Relais & Châteaux throughout Europe, alongside some of the best known names in French cuisine, before returning to his native Anjou.