DOMAINE DE BEAUVOIS

Secluded lakeside estate in the Val de Loire

GRAND ENTRANCES START AT THE GATES of Domaine de Beauvois. You approach the hotel through a long climbing drive surrounded by tall trees, with a lake down to one side. Sweeping into the forecourt, there's a real sense of arriving – especially if you opt  for a chauffeured car transfer (as we wished we had!) direct from the airport.

Miles from the summer crowds flocking to Amboise, Blois and the other fabled Loire honeypots, Domaine de Beauvois is an appealingly away-from-it-all Loire manor house set in blissful seclusion away from the well-trodden château trail.
 
Tucked into 350 acres of parklands and woods, it's a relaxed and peaceful enclave just a short drive from the Val de Loire heartland. The name Beauvois means 'lovely view,' and you'll soon see why. If nature reigns outside, history oozes from the walls within. The estate was once owned by duke Charles Albert de Luynes, a favourite of King Louis XIII.

Heraldic motifs

The arms of later aristocratic owners can be seen mounted over the grand fireplace of the dining room, while more recent illustrious guests include Grace Kelly and Robert de Niro, not to mention heavyweights from the Grand Prix circuit competing at nearby Le Mans.

Shades of château shabby-chic lend Domaine de Beauvois a nicely lived-in air. Spacious rooms are big on comfort and decorated in tasteful pastels, prints and florals. New-age essentials  are there too, with wi-fi access and flatscreen TVs.

Bedrooms come with antique furnishings, rich fabrics, heraldic motifs and brass lamps. Many sport original fireplaces and sturdy oak-beamed ceilings. Beds are dressed in crisp linen while marble-floored bathrooms come well stocked with bathtime bottles. If you're after that Rapunzel feeling, try one of the circular rooms in the tower.
 
Dining at the Domaine is délicieux: look forward to outstanding regional cooking majoring on what's seasonal and local. Desserts are mouthwatering, and the sommelier will be happy to guide you through the wine list, packed with rare finds. Choose between formal dining in the Briffaut room or country cooking (with a seasonal mushroom, game or seafood theme) in the more intimate Louis Xlll and XV salons. Start your gastronomic journey with an aperitif on Domaine de Beauvois' terrace or pretty sitting room next to the bar.
 
You’ll want to wind down in this oasis of peace. Soak up the rays around the outdoor heated pool, explore the immaculate grounds, knock up on the tennis court or grab a mountain bike (free for guests’ use) and pedal off along a forest trail, then discover Saumur, Chenonceau and other highlights of the Loire. Smart, can’t-do-enough young staff add to the enjoyment.


Domaine de Beauvois was reviewed for Room for Romance by Judy Neillands

Click on any picture to enlarge it and move through the gallery.

Dining in
Dinner at Domaine de Beauvois is worth splashing out on, and chef Régis Guilpain’s seasonally-themed menus (try coquille St Jacques served with lime and mango chutney) are certain to please. Signature dishes include brochette of rabbit with spiced bread, and a delectable bavaroise de marrons au confit de mandarine et son sorbet.

The Domaine's dining room has a huge and beautiful fireplace and overlooks a wide terrace where summertime dining is de rigueur. There's also a vaulted wine cellar hewn from stone caves and stocked with over 6,000 bottles. Book a tasting tour (included free for Room for Romance guests) for the full experience, or even a candlelit  wine cave dinner for two – though take a wrap! An excellent lunchtime buffet is served poolside on summer days.
 
Dining out
Given the Domaine’s rural location, there are few places to eat out within easy reach – plan on eating in. For a gastronomic outing, try the excellent La Rôtisserie Tourangelle in Tours or one of the restaurants on the city's lively and medieval Place Plumereau. Good local fare is served at Auberge de Bresme in Saint-Etienne-de-Chigny.

See & Do
Laze by the pool, play tennis or golf (there are three courses within striking distance) or go riding. For some serious in-room pampering, you can also summon the hotel's on-call Reiki therapist for a massage, some reflexology or other bio-energetic treatment. Sail on the Loire, or float away on a hot-air balloon from the lawn.

Be sure to visit some of the prime châteaux of the Loire while you're here: Villandry (15 km), Chinon (30 km), Amboise (40 km) and Ussé are all within easy reach. Romantics should head for Château Gizeux (guests of the Domaine get a special tour here), one time home of the poet Du Bellay. Staff will be happy to arrange a chauffeured car, or – better still – a helicopter from the hotel's own landing pad, so you can see the pearls of the Loire from above. Be sure to try some local Vouvray and Montlouis wines at a Loire vineyard while you're out and about.

The nearby village of Luynes has its own very lived-in château, where you could well spot weekend guests setting off for a spot of pheasant shooting.

Shop
Don’t miss the Marché Gourmand in Tours (twice a month on a Friday), held on the same days as the city’s antique (Brocante) market. Tours also has an indoor Grand Marché, open daily and piled with regional cheese and produce. 

After dark
You’re deep in the country here, so there’s every excuse for an early night. If you’re hankering for something livelier, head for the late-night bars surrounding Place Plumereau and rue Colbert in Tours. 
 
Dates
May
The annual Foire de Tours is mega; 2008 has a Russian theme, so be ready to sink some vodkas.

GETTING THERE

Location
37230 Luynes, Vallée de la Loire

Parking
There is free guest parking.

Trains
St Pierre des Corps station – 10km

Taxis
Around EUR 30 from the station.

Airport
Tours – 17km, and Paris CDG or Paris Orly – 250km

ESSENTIAL INFO

Rates guide
EUR 210 - 400

Open/closed
Open all year

Check-in
4pm

Check-out
Midday

Minimum night stay?
No

Breakfast
Breakfast is served until 10:30am

Room service
Available morning and evening

Children
Welcome

Pets
Welcome in your room (not in the dining room) at EUR 8 per day

Air conditioning
In most rooms – check when booking

Languages
French, English, German, Japanese and Spanish

Wedding license?
Yes – for up to 130 guests. Best of all you don’t have to hire the whole hotel.

Your contact
Sylvia Pons Morand – manager