Gites Floreal

02/01/2024

To all our family, friends and customers, we hope that you have had a lovely Christmas and wish you all the best for 2024.

29/05/2023

Fantastic visit to the Domaine de Chaumont with it's chateau, parc, sculptures and international garden festival. Too much to see in one day so concentrated on the gardens and it was worth it. With over 25 individually designed gardens, the festival runs from April to November and each year has a different theme - this year it is the 'resilient garden'.

18/04/2023

Super afternoon tour of Thouars organised by the Maison de Tourisme and only 15 minutes from Gites Floreal. Lots of history with a wealth of beautiful buildings and gardens. Tours are available in both English and French and can be tailored to your interests.

Super après-midi visite de Thouars organisée par la Maison de Tourisme et à seulement 15 minutes des Gites Floréal. Beaucoup d'histoire avec une richesse de beaux bâtiments et jardins. Les visites sont disponibles en anglais et en français et peuvent être adaptées à vos intérêts.

01/04/2023

Last "summer" dates available in Rose Barn, our pretty pet friendly barn conversion, situated in the Anjou region of the Loire Valley. There is just the 6th - 20th September remaining, priced at £600 per week or £90 per night. The Barn sleeps 5 in 2 bedrooms and has a large garden with outdoor entertaining space and private pool. Please take a look at our website for more information www.gitesfloreal.com and feel free to share to family and friends!

04/08/2022

A super weekend at the Retro Grand Prix at Puy Notre Dame. More than 150 pre war vehicles parade at speed (apparently it's not a race!!!) around this beautiful village.

09/07/2022

A lovely afternoon strolling around the renowned potager at Chateau Colbert. It is situated above the beautiful oriental gardens in Maulevrier about 20 minutes from Gites Floreal. There is also a butterfly exhibition, tea room and shop with views over the gardens or for that special occasion, the chateau itself is a hotel with excellent restaurant - perhaps next time!!

18/04/2022

Beautiful weather at last and the gardens are coming to life. The wisteria looks stunning and is full of nesting birds (much to Senna's frustration!!)

02/01/2022

As we say good bye to 2021, a year which has been challenging for us all, we would like to thank our family, friends, and guests for supporting Gites Floreal.
We wish you all a very happy new year, and look forward to welcoming our new guests in 2022, especially those of you who have postpone your stay with us due to Covid!!

12/06/2021

My name is Senna and I have just arrived to live at Gites Floreal. I am an English Springer Spaniel and I am 12 weeks old. When I was born I was given the nickname "le petit singe" or "the little monkey" and I am working hard to make sure that I live up to my nickname!! I love to play ball and "help" with the gardening - I particularly like any flower that resembles a daisy.
I appreciate that some of you may be a bit wary of me, and if that is the case, please let us know because I don't want to scare anyone. I am really looking forward to meeting all our visitors, especially if you are bringing someone for me to play with!

12/05/2021

We are excited to announce the launch of our second Gite, LAVENDER HOUSE.

This traditional house built from the locally quarried tuffeau limestone comprises of 3 bedrooms (1 double and 2 twin), shower room and additional wc. On the ground floor is a large sociable open plan kitchen diner and sitting area with a cosy fireplace.
There is a private garden laid mainly to lawn with a decked pergola and a little barn which houses the games and has a lovely outdoor fireplace.

Lavender House is located separately from our own house and Rose Barn but its close proximity means that the 2 houses can be booked together for that larger get together of family or friends with capacity for 11 plus 3 babies / small children.

We would like to thank all those who have helped us during the conversion process, we really couldn't have done it without you - and also our guests who had the confidence to book Lavender House for this summer without seeing the photographs!!!!

08/03/2021

We decided to make the most of the beautiful sunshine and explore a bit more of our stunning countryside. After dusting off the bikes, we headed for Neuil-les-Aubiers 15 miles away where there is a cycle track that follows a disused railway line. The ride starts at the Val de Scie country park where there is also a lovely outdoor swimming pool and playground. We went as far as Bressuire before returning back but the line carries on to Parthenay.

24/01/2021

We are really proud to announce that Rose Barn has been awarded a Traveller Review Award for 2021 by Booking.Com with a score of 9.9.
We would like to thank all our fabulous guests for supporting Gites Floreal since we opened in 2019, your lovely reviews speak for themselves :

"This is a fantastic place to stay, John & Elizabeth were so helpful & friendly & were on hand if needed to offer help or advice. The property, gardens, pool and outdoor entertainment/chill out area are immaculately kept. The area is rural & quiet so ideal if you want to get away from it all (like we did), however you are not far away from a plethora of things to do & places to visit (the hosts provide you with everything you need to know, if the information is not there, just ask & they will help). We all really enjoyed our stay & will definitely be returning here in the future! Thank you John & Elizabeth for our wonderful holiday!"

08/11/2020

Many thanks to Sarah at Berry Creatif for the beautiful mosaic for Rose Barn, it looks absolutely beautiful. We look forward to seeing the next creation for Lavender House.

17/09/2020

We spend a great day helping with the vendage (grape harvest) at Chateau du Petit Thouars near Chinon. Despite the long hot dry summer, there was an abundance of chenin blanc grapes.
We were rewarded for our efforts with a lovely lunch and a selection of their fantastic wines.

08/09/2020

We are very excited to announce the launch of our new website :

www.gitesfloreal.com.

Many thanks to Sarah at www.sarahberryonline.com for all your hard work and help with our corporate branding and web design.

SELF CATERING HOLIDAY IN FRANCE Barn Conversion with Garden and Pool French holiday cottage, Rose Barn, is a pretty barn conversion nestled amongst the vineyards of the Anjou region of the Loire Valley. The area offers a wide range of things to see and do. The characterful barn is well equipped

31/08/2020

Just visited the beautiful Lac de Ribou and Lac du Verdon on the outskirts of Cholet. There are 11 different walking routes varying from 1.9 to 17.6 km as well as fishing, swimming and watersports. We did the circuit of Lac de Ribou at 11km which included part of a disused railway line. It very much reminded us of our walks around Wayoh and Entwistle reservoirs back in the UK.

06/07/2020

We have just visited the fantastic Parc Oriental at Maulevrier, half an hour away. It is the largest Japanese inspired garden in Europe and showcases over 300 species of plants in 26 hectares of lakes, gardens and woods. There are beautiful water features, pagodas and bridges. It is hard to believe that you are in the centre of the village. They also open at night in the summer months, when the gardens are lit by candles and lanterns and your stroll around accompanied by music and poetry - how magical!

02/07/2020

BOOKINGS NOW BEING TAKEN FOR 2021 !!

We are now taking bookings for both Rose Barn and Lavender House for next year.

Dates are booking up fast and Rose Barn is already nearly fully booked for the summer holidays.

Prices for Rose Barn range from £530 / 600€ per week & £80 / 90€ per night in the low season to £730 / 800€ per week & £110 / 120€ per night in the high season.

Prices for Lavender House range from £400 / 445€ per week & £60 / 67€ per night in the low season and £530 / 600€ per week & £80 / 90€ per night in the high season.

Please note that we offer flexible durations and day of arrival. Our prices are all fully inclusive and include all bed linen and towels (including pool towels), power and a welcome hamper including a bottle of local fizz.
The only additional costs are the Tourist Tax (maximum of 1€ per person per night) and refundable damage / cleaning deposit.
Weekly prices include a 5% discount. Last minute special offers may be available.

To enquire or check availability, contact us either by phone (0044 7450 389157 or 0033 767 287022) or email us at [email protected].

02/07/2020

REMAINING AVAILABILITY and PRICES for 2020

The start of the year was very sad, seeing many guests having to cancel or postpone their holidays due to Covid 19. However we have been inundated with bookings since the lifting of restrictions and now only have a few dates remaining for 2020 :

29th August - 5th September £575 / 630€ per week or £85 / 95€ per night (min 2 nights)

12th September - 20th September £540 / 595€ per week or £80 / 90€ per night (min 2 nights)
30th September - 31st October

Our prices are all fully inclusive and include all bed linen and towels (including pool towels), power and a welcome hamper including a bottle of local fizz. For nights of 7 or more we also provide a breakfast hamper.
The only additional costs are the Tourist Tax (maximum of 1€ per person per night) and refundable damage / cleaning deposit.
Weekly prices include a 5% discount. Last minute special offers may be available.

To enquire or check availability, please email us at [email protected].

01/07/2020

Since re-opening on May 11th we have welcomed a number of French guests and it has been lovely to see people enjoying the gardens and pool and escaping the pressures that covid has brought to everyone's lives. We have had some lovely comments which include :

"During a stay combining the Loire castles and Puy du Fou, we stopped at John and Elizabeth’s. We were surprised by the services offered and so quickly felt at home. A small haven of peace allowing for a few days of disconnection. A big thank you."

"We had a super pleasant family holiday in Rose Barn. Very warm hosts, comfortable bedding, impeccable cleanliness, neat décor, beautiful gardens, superb pool!!! Everything is perfect!!! "

01/07/2020

A huge thanks to everyone for taking the time to like and share our posts we really appreciate it.

One of the questions that you posed was how to get here in terms of ports and airports.
We are well served by a number of different airports, however the most suitable route will depend on the time of year you are visiting, your choice of airport in the UK and the day of the week you require. Most of our guests tend to find that Nantes offers the best choice of flights.
Poitiers : 80km 1 hr 15 min
Nantes : 120km 1 hr 30 mins
Tours : 120km 1 hr 30 mins
La Rochelle : 138km 2 hrs
Limoges : 200km 3 hrs
Bordeaux : 300km 3 hrs

There are a number of ferry ports that you can choose from :
St Malo : 285km 3 hrs 15 mins
Caen : 320km 3 hrs 15 mins
Le Havre : 390km 3 hrs 45 mins
Cherbourg : 440km 4 hrs 30 mins
Channel Tunnel : 565km 5 hrs 30 mins
Calais : 580km 5 hrs 45 mins

The above distances and times assume the use of the french motorways, some of which have tolls. The maximum you are likely to pay is from Calais and is approximately 100 euros for the return journey. It may be worth obtaining a tag for the motorway. The journeys are the same price but it makes it easier and quicker to proceed through the toll booths.

We do not stipulate Saturday to Saturday 7 night only bookings - we appreciate that the majority of the flights, especially the cheaper ones are mid week. If you would like a hand making your travel bookings we are more than happy to help. Please note that this information is a guide and may change due to Covid.

01/06/2020

LAVENDER HOUSE

We are pleased to announce that we have now started the renovation of our second holiday cottage Lavender House. Whilst it looks a bit scary from the outside, the interior is in a good state of repair and plans have been submitted for the renovation of the Barn side of the house (just to make it water tight at the moment).

The garden has been cleared - it was that bad we found 2 barns underneath all the undergrowth! The first, which features a lovely little fireplace, has now been restored and repointed (with some help from Jeff).

Lavender House is a traditional Loire Valley house constructed of the local tuffeau limestone. It has a large open plan kitchen, dining and sitting area on the ground floor with an impressive feature fireplace, whilst the first floor offers 3 bedrooms, shower room and additional toilet. Although it is adjacent to Rose Barn, it has a separate entrance and garden thus offering privacy for guests.

Bookings are now being taken for 2021.

01/06/2020

ROSE BARN Area Information
Rose Barn is set amongst the vineyards and Chateaux of the Anjou region of the Loire Valley. The Barn is surrounded by a wide range of vineyards where you are welcome to sample the local wines, the nearest of which is within walking distance.
There are a number of beautiful towns and villages within an hours drive including Angers and Saumur where there are wide range of shops as well as local markets. In the summer months there are a range of festivals and events many of which centre on the best the region has to offer.
The Barn is surrounded by a wide range of tourist attractions that will ensure that all age groups are entertained, these include theme parks (Puy du Fou, Futuroscope, Terra Botanica), animal parks, outdoor pursuits, historic monuments and gardens.
The Barn is around 1 hour 30 minutes from the coast where there are stunning beaches.
The Barn has a number of adult bicycles that guests are welcome to use.
Pets are welcome at the Barn and there are both walking and cycles routes on the doorstep.

01/06/2020

ROSE BARN Exterior
There are beautiful and tranquil gardens for the use of Rose Barn. The garden is very private and not overlooked. It is mainly laid to lawn with a selection of fruit trees and flowering plants especially roses which are renowned in this area. Rose Barn also has its own herb garden and guests are welcome to sample the produce from the small potager.
Set within the gardens is a lovely heated swimming pool (10x5m) which is open from May to October (weather dependant) with sun loungers and parasols. It is a real sun trap as it is south facing. There is also a small paddling pool and flotation aids for the smaller children.
At the end of the garden is an outdoor entertaining space with BBQ, dining table, seating area and various games (soft archery, badminton, swingball, croquet boules), an ideal place to escape from the sun and chill!
There is undercover parking for 2 cars or motorbikes plus additional parking in the courtyard.

01/06/2020

ROSE BARN - First Floor
On the first floor there are 2 luxurious and characterful large bedrooms with oak beams, wooden floors and stone walls.
The master bedroom, with its grey and yellow colour palette has a wrought iron king size bed and vanity unit with sink. In addition there are 2 bedside tables with reading lights, mirrored wardrobe and large chest of drawers. This bedroom has the capacity to take an additional occasional use bed or travel cot if required.
Bedroom 2 sleeps 3 people in a double and single bed. There are 2 bedside tables with reading lights and a wardrobe with 2 small drawers.
All bed linen and towels are provided (including pool towels) and bathrobes and a hairdryer are provided for guests use.
In addition on the first floor there is a shower room with shower cubicle and washbasin with mirror above. Adjacent is a separate toilet with its own washbasin.
There are electric storage heaters in both bedrooms as well as pedestal fans for the warmer summer months.

01/06/2020

ROSE BARN - Ground Floor
Downstairs comprises of a large open plan sociable room with a kitchen, dining and sitting areas.
The kitchen was newly fitted in 2019 with white shaker style units and solid wood worktops. The kitchen is very well equipped for all your self catering needs including an oven/hob, fridge with icebox, dishwasher and microwave. There is access to an additional fridge-freezer and washing machine in a separate building.
The dining area has an oak dining table and chairs which can seat up to 6 people. There is a lovely log burner for the cooler evenings as well as electric wall heaters.
The sitting area has a comfy 2 seater sofa as well as 3 wicker chairs. There is French terrestrial TV as well as British freesat TV and Netflix. There is also a DVD player with a selection of DVD's and internet radio. WIFI is available throughout Rose Barn.

01/06/2020

Gites Floreal is a rural idyll nestled amongst the vineyards of the Anjou region of the Loire Valley. The peaceful setting offers the best of both worlds, the beautiful garden and pool is ideal for relaxing yet within an hours drive there is a plethora of things to do for all ages.
Gites Floreal opened to guests in May 2019 with the launch of its first property ROSE BARN. This pretty detached 2 bedroom barn conversion sleeps 5. On the ground floor there is an open plan living, dining and kitchen area whilst on the first floor there are 2 bedrooms, shower room and separate toilet.