Loire Valley

An artist's house imbued with an understated elegance. Stay for dinner; be charmed by the garden where fruit trees throng, hens loiter

A rustic haven in Vouvray wine country: bask on sun beds near the elegant pool, cosy up to the wood-burner, relax in your beautiful bedroom

Feather duvets to cosset you, elegant breakfasts and dinners to delight you and nothing is too much trouble. Readers love it

A charming château in a woodland setting overlooking the village of Chédigny – famous for its 800 rose bushes: near Chenonceau and Loches

Beautiful architecture, amazing wine cellars, great food, and hosts with an infectious enthusiasm for classical music. Lovely French B&B

In a hamlet in the Loire countryside is a friendly estate with a family-sized gite, a shared saltwater pool and heaps of old-world charm

You’ll eat well here, among locals who love the food. The village is quiet, the rooms serenely modern. A great base for a holiday en famille

Tucked into a quiet corner of the Loire Valley, an art-filled loft for a couple near vineyards and grand châteaux

Elegance and ease mark this gentle group of Loire-Valley buildings, with soft-textured interiors and the owners’ fine hospitality and food

Rural immersion in the heart of France. Potter the quiet paths, swim in limpid waters, drink fiery punch as the sun goes down

A glorious château near Tours - authentic and huge fun. Enjoy summer buffets of estate produce in gorgeous gardens, and the serene pool

On the peaceful banks of the Loire near Blois, an elegant house with a hot spring in the garden and Muriel's flowers and fabrics within

Summertime and the living is easy, especially if you have the good fortune to stay at Madame’s enchanting and relaxed château by the Cher

Enter into the wonderful country-house mood... Sink into floral sofas, feast on exquisite cuisine, rest in cosy, immaculate rooms

A dream of a house with friendly family, garden with big pool and all the joys of Touraine to explore. Elegant dining room, cosy bedrooms

3 stylish holiday gîtes surrounded by vineyards, formal gardens and woodlands. Close to Amboise, Chenonceau and not too far from Paris

Dinner with your potter-painter hosts is fresh from the garden – and bedcovers are hand-stitched. Roam unspoilt countryside, return to peace

Charming 15th-century farmhouse near Montrésor and Loches with immense lawns, orchards and a fabulous pool