This small château hotel dates back to 1244. Set back and above the south bank of the Loire just over a mile from Amboise, it was built by Geoffrey de Pray and, much later, the wife of Alphonse Daudet lived here. The beautiful old building is interesting and full of heraldry.
The managers of this highly regarded hotel are now Graziella and Ludovic Laurenty (he is the chef). His cuisine is considered outstanding but some customers find the service from the professionally trained staff unnecessarily theatrical. In the Renaissance-style dining room, the menu might include Poêlée de Saint Jacques, fricassée de champignons, crème de persil plat.
Housekeeping is good and bedrooms are comfortable, often with renovated marble bathrooms. Four posters or half testers are the norm. Public rooms have suits of armour, stained glass, timbered ceilings and panelling. The only drawback is that, if the weather is unkind, there is minimal indoor space in which to relax after dinner.
By day, the heated, south-facing pool is nicely sheltered between the potager, garden and wooded parc. Breakfast is sometimes taken in the troglodyte orangerie across the terrace from the château. It is an unusual public space which can be rather sombre. Concerts of classical music are held; balloon and helicopter trips can usually be arranged.