Our closest town is Saumur, which is about 20 minutes drive from Vernoil. Saumur, with its elegent château, sits on the banks of the River Loire.
Saumur is the home of the Cadre Noir, the French Cavalry, who put on equestrian shows and displays throughout the Summer - highly recommended.
There is a large market on Saturday mornings, and other towns and villages across the region also have their own markets on various days of the week where you can take your pick from the marvellous fresh produce on sale.
There are many local producers in this area which is know as The Garden of France - wine, apples, cheese, mushrooms are a small selection of the products available.
There are many wine caves in and around Saumur. For example, overlooking the Loire River, Caves Gratien & Meyer offers both a tour and an opportunity to taste their fine sparkling wines.
Approximately half an hour away is Angers. Angers has an imposing château, and is an interesting town for those with a penchant for history as well as those who wish to indulge in a little shopping.
In the opposite direction is Tours, a busy bustling city and well worth a visit.
There are many châteaux in the Loire Valley:- In the nearby village of Gizeux there is a beautiful, privately-owned château which is open to the public, and has a fasinating history.
Château de Brézé has a labyrinth of tunnels and chambers beneath the château which can be explored either with a guide or under your own steam.
Larger, more well known châteaux, are numerous - Villandray with it's gardens, and Ussé which inspired the story of Sleeping Beauty, to name but two. L'Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, the final resting place of Richard the Lionheart, is another place worth visiting.
Many of the châteaux stage "son et lumière" shows at nightfall in the summer months, a spectacular mix of lights, fireworks and music.
Montsoreau holds "Les Puces de Montsoreau" on the second Sunday of every month - a very enjoyable way to spend the morning and perhaps pick up a souvenir of your visit.
A short drive from Vernoil is the Parc Maupassant de Bois Savary. A beautiful park which offers an oasis of calm where you can walk amongst the beautiful flowers, the large vegetable garden, the lake and pathways.
Holly Park is about 30 mintues away, near to Baugé. This is an amusement park which is great fun for younger children. Once you have paid your entrance fee, all the rides are inclusive and there are plenty of shady seating areas to eat a picnic or you can visit the on-site café if you don't want to bring your own food and drink.
The zoos at Doué-la-Fontaine and La Flèche are both interesting, and a longer trip to the Grand Parc Puy-de-Fou is a fantastic family day out - highly recommended by our 11 year old!
The Tourist Offices at both Saumur and Angers have many brochures and maps to inspire you and send you off on a voyage of discovery!
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