Close to the enchanting town of Saumur, Manoir Des Arts offers historic charm alongside touches of French splendour in a perfect position for discovering the allure of the Loire valley.

This 470 year old manor house has been beautifully restored with great sensitivity, retaining the manoir’s character and grace. Its loving owners have filled their home with artwork and antiques as well as paying attention to the finer details with high quality linen and the very best china. They have created an abode which exudes a sense of tradition, warmth as well as rustic elegance, a superb place for relaxing in an idyllic setting.

Inside, guests can enjoy a glass of Cabernet Franc by the roaring fire in the living room or experience the tranquil ambience of the library. The beautifully modern kitchen is fully-equipped, ideal for preparing meals with all sorts of regional produce picked up from local markets and the formal dining room looks out to the delightful garden. The manoir’s four double bedrooms are spacious and characterful and there are three good-sized bathrooms, two of them en suite to the first floor bedrooms.

A fifth bedroom with a king-size bed also awaits the most adventurous of guests in a guesthouse. Just metres from the manoir, the lofted-ceiling bedroom can be accessed via a private entrance. There is no running water here, so it’s a true ‘glamping’ experience, unsophisticated yet characterful in style, with the comfort of the manoir a few steps away.

As well as the glorious swimming pool in the summer months, you will also love the cabana with its games and space for exercise – a lovely spot for yoga or perhaps you would prefer a game of table football, darts or table tennis. Set up the badminton on the lawn of the pretty walled garden or just enjoy the vast outdoor space – there is even a small lake hidden amongst the woodland at the very end.

It’s wonderful to be so close to Saumur, a town of art and history with a reputation for its gastronomy as well as its wines and surrounding vineyards. Dine in high-end restaurants in the historic centre, sample the town’s delicious sparkling wine and enjoy the delights of the weekly market on a Saturday morning. Visit Saumur’s fairy-tale turreted château, take a guided tour of the prestigious Cadre Noir equestrian school and admire the Loire river on a summer boat trip.

There is so much more of this captivating region still to explore. The famous Fontevraud Abbey is close by, as are the picture-perfect villages of Candes-Saint-Martin and Montsoreau, where the Loire meets the Vienne. Canoeing along the Vienne river in Chinon is another highlight of this area.

Then there’s yet more historic châteaux, scenic cycling trails, endless vineyards and the stunning landscapes of the Loire valley – there really is so much to see and do in the ‘garden of France’.