These links have been compiled from our experience and research of the local area. We hope you find them useful, however please note that we cannot be held responsible for their content.

Links indicated with are in French only.

The Val de Loire is the third biggest wine growing area in France and situated between the Atlantic ocean and the Centre Region. It represents the fulcrum between the South and the North, between softness and freshness, the plastic and literary arts, tradition and modernity.

From this harmonious mélange, favoured by a temperate climate and extremely rich terroirs, arose the greatest diversity of different wine styles possible throughout France.

Azureva
An excellent source of information to enjoy the vineyards in the region.

French Wine Explorers
Learn everything there is to know about wine tasting. Also has interesting facts about French wine. For the novice and connoisseur!

The Wines of Val de Loire 

Gibault Pascal et Danielle
Les Martinières
Noyers sur Cher

Gouny Michel
58 Rue de la Gigotière
Noyers sur Cher

Marcadet Alain
Domaine des Chezelles
17 Rue du Grand Mont
Noyers sur Cher

Michaud Thierry
20 Rue des Martinières
Noyers sur Cher

Goumain Jacky
Chatillon sur Cher

Florence Veilex
Domaine la Chapinière
Châteauvieux

Well you have probably come for this. A cluster within 30 minutes including - Chambord, the biggest, Chenonceaux the prettiest, Blois, the most historic, Amboise, the bloodiest (but a delightful town all the same) and the Chateau du Moulin, the least boring for children - moated but above all can be seen in half an hour. And there are lots of others to suit all tastes. There is also a chateau at St Aignan, but the Vicomte is still in residence and keeps himself to himself, but it is floodlit at night. However if you want to cheat at Amboise you can see 44 of them recreated in miniature (scale 1:25) and decide which to visit in the flesh.

Going back further in time, within 10 minutes there are the important and substantial Roman remains at Thesee, remains of what, surprisingly, is as yet unexplained. In St Aignan itself the 11th C frescoes in the church crypt - the best in this region of France.

Further away is Bourges, 1 hour by local train. The cathedral of Bourges, while it doesn't have the reputation of Chartres, has spectacular stained glass and close by it there is the great mediaeval town house of Jacques Coeur. Well worth any detour.

Chateaux Country
A very good guide to all the chateaux in the area.

Azureva
A good source of information about chateaux in the Loire Valley.

MINI Chateaux VAL DE LOIRE
This tour gives you a chance to explore the Loire's most prestigious castles in miniature, in just half a day ! Thanks to the exceptional quality of the reproductions, laid out among trees along a route stretching for 1.5 kilometres, you enter another dimension, venturing right into the historical heart of the Loire Valley.

Chenonceau
Today, Chenonceau has fully recovered its glory. With its one million visitors every year, and with the exception of the Palace of Versailles, it is the most visited chateau in France.

Cheverny
The Cheverny's estate has belonged to the same family, the Huraults, for more than six centuries.
The architect's father was kings Henry III and Henry IV's chancellor (minister of justice). The Chateau of Cheverny was the model for the Chateau of Moulinsart in Tintin. The Tintin museum is official and apparently very good.

Montpoupon 
In an extraordinary setting, come and visit the chateau de Montpoupon, medieval fortress recasted in the XV^th century to turn into a graceful residence from the first Renaissance.

Villesavin
The chateau was built by the same French and Italian master builders and workmen who built the great Royal Palaces and it has remained for four centuries, almost perfectly untouched.

Chateau Royal D'Amboise
The Chateau of Amboise, the third most visited monument in the Loire Valley, is offering another season of visits with added attraction of Commedia Dell'Arte performances and games inspired by those played during the Renaissance.

Zoo Parc de Beauval 
10 minutes drive takes you to one of the best zoos in Europe. Mick Jagger is said to be a regular visitor with his children.

AQUARIUM DU VAL DE LOIRE
You will be able to see some of the giant species that live in the Loire, as well as rare tropical fish, turtles, alligators, piranhas ... and even sharks, at the Loire Valley Aquarium, Europe's foremost freshwater aquarium.

Futuroscope theme park
If you don't know about it have a look at their website, it's impressive! They are just over an hour away.

Disneyland Paris
This is within reach for a good day trip by train.

Fantasy Forest 
An ideal spot for all. The park includes several acrobatic trails through the trees, an indoor climbing wall, paintball, downhill go-karting, hire of cycles, mountain and trail bikes and tandems. Helicopter flights. Instruction provided by a qualified climbing instructor (holder of a "Brevet d'Etat d'Escalade"). Meals on site and picnic areas.

Reserve de Beaumarchais 
On board our safari train, discover the varied big game bred in France, Ostrich, bison, stag, wild boar, etc. English commentary. Children play park. Our auberge serves meals, snacks and drinks.

Labyrinthus maze park 
This summer, the Labyrinthus Parks invite you to Extraordinary Voyages in new giant corn labyrinths animated by actors....lose yourself in France! This is the official site and is in French only.

Maison de la France
The official Tourist Office website for France

Touraine Tourist Information
The offical tourist site for the Touraine area.

SYNDICAT D'INITIATIVE 
Tourism Office in Noyers-sur-Cher
52, rue Nationale, 41140 NOYERS-SUR-CHER
tel. 02.54.75.57.01 | fax : 02.54.75.57.02 | Email : si.noyers@wanadoo.fr

Bourré Silkworm House
Located on the touristic route of the Cher valley, between Montrichard and Saint-Aignan. Picturesque troglodyte village. Visit this vast troglodyte site. Ecomuseum with a view on the Cher. Silk worm houses carved in the rock, reserved for silk worm raising. Rock excavation. Troglodyte dwellings.
Open from Easter to November. 41400 Bourré. Tel./Fax: 00 (33) 2 54 32 63 91

Self-drive houseboats, canal boats
Syndicat du Cher Canalisé
Canal du Berry,Saint-Aignan
Phone: +33 (0)2 54 75 08 51, fax: +33 (0)2 54 75 20 96
Route du Blanc, BP 85, 41110 Saint-Agnan, France

France Montgolfieres Balloon Company
Treat yourselves to a trip over chateaux country in a balloon with this local, Civil Aviation Authority licensed company.

Loire Valley Online
Plenty of tourist information for the region.

Loire Valley Car Touring
Loire Valley Car Touring provides a chauffeur-driven car rental service. Your private tours will be done with an english speaking driver native of the area and will permit you to discover : Manor Houses, Chateaux, Cathedrals, and other sites of the Loire Valley as well as other areas of France on request.

www.chateauxloire.com
A very useful guide for planning your excursions to chateaux, towns and cities in the area.

City of Tours
The official site for the closest city to us.

Loches & Indrois Valley
Discover the medieval city of Loches and its surroundings and the hidden charm of the Indrois Valley.

Bléré 
The offical site for this nearby town on the Cher river. It offers good food, leisure activities and historical interest. Definately worth a visit.

If you want to go up in a hot air balloon this can be arranged within a few kilometers and while it is not cheap is a guaranteed experience.

More conventionally there is wind surfing and boating on the Cher; tennis, swimming, and boule (in the garden, or if proficient at the local cafe). There is excellent walking in the area and because it is flat, undemanding and enjoyable cycling for the whole family. Bikes can be borrowed or hired.

Golf is becoming a more popular sport in France, but the courses, although very well maintained, are still quiet by British standards and prices are very reasonable. Locally there are three courses which cater for all levels. Chateau Golf de Cheverny (20 min drive) excellent for average/good golfers. You can normally walk on and you can hire clubs left and right handed. Chaumont (30 min) ideal for beginners - 9 holes - quiet mid week, No one watching! (no charge for accompanied children under 13) Beaugency (Les Bordes 2 courses, 1 hour) for tigers and the most ambitious or for those who just wish to enjoy the walk. Purchase of 2nd hand balls for water hazards recommended. And there are more to be discovered within an hours drive.

Golf hotel de la Carte (Chaumont)

Golf du Chateau de Cheverny
An international 18 hole course at the Chateau de Cheverny, 20 min drive. You can hire LH & RH clubs.

Meteo Consult

BBC 5-Day Forecast for Tours, France

wunderground.com
An American weather service giving the latest forecast for Tours, the nearest city.

SpeedFerries.com
The only ferry to take! Cheapest and excellent service. (Dover to Boulogne).

Norfolk Line Ferries
A reasonably priced ferry from Dover to Dunkerque (20 miles from Calais).

Brittany Ferries
For over-night crossings: Portsmouth to Caen, Portsmouth to St Malo, Poole to Cherbourg, Plymouth to Roscoff and Cork to Roscoff.

hoverspeed
For fast crossings: Dover to Calais and Newhaven to Dieppe.

SEAFRANCE
For fast crossings from Dover to Calais.

P&O PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth to Cherbourg and Le Havre.

ferrysavers.com
A cheap ferry agent.

RYANAIR
They fly to Tours, 1 hour drive from Les Pins.

AIR FRANCE
Another option!

eurostar
Eurostar train

SNCF
For consulting rail travel timetables, tariffs, making reservations and purchasing tickets on-line. You can also find contact addresses and telephone numbers of SNCF agents abroad.

RATP
For taking the underground or subway in Paris.

mappy
For detailed directions, preset to your destination. Simply specify which port you are driving from for detailed information.

Michelin recommended restaurants
See a list of no less than 15 Michelin recommended restaurants in Noyers-sur-Cher and its surrounding area (23 kms).
This website requires you to register, so for your convenience, use username michelin@lespins.co.uk and password michelin to access it.

www.fromages.com
The best traditional French cheeses website will teach you all there is to know about French cheeses.

The French Food and Cook
The authentic French cuisine site. Why not try some French cooking whilst enjoying your stay at Les Pins?

Directory Enquiries
pagesjaunes is the website if you're looking for French telephone information.

French News
France's English language newspaper for residents and lovers of France.

Department of Health: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you're in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

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Les Pins - Loire Valley self-catering gite accommodation
A self-catering holiday gite with pool for renting in the Loire Valley near Saint-Aignan. Accommodation for families and couples. Sleeps 4-6.