If, for some reason, you want to do more than eat the food, drink the wine and generally watch the world go by whilst unwinding under the influence of the “douceur Angevine”, we list below a few of the many “attractions” of Anjou and the surrounding countryside.  
 

The Chateaux of the Loire are undoubtedly one of the wonders of France.  A collection of medieval fortresses, royal palaces and renaissance showplaces that clothe both sides of the Loire.  It is as if all the stately homes in the UK were placed alongside the Thames and every time you turn a bend another looms above you, guarding a town, a bend in the river, or a strategic position on a hill.  Most of the major ones are easily accessible from La Pérriere from the brooding fortress at Angers to King René’s Love Palace at Saumur  including the huge ecclesiastical edifice at Fontevraud, burial place of Richard the Lionheart and the Plantagenets. And don’t forget many of the chateaux have superb son et lumiére presentations.

Towns and Cities.  The Loire is an historic area, much of the history of France (and England) has been played out on its verdant acres. For many years the Loire was both the actual and emotional capital of France thus the region is full of towns almost all of which have some relationship to a major event in history, be it Joan of Arc and the Dauphin meeting at Chinon; Clovis, the first king of the Franks crowned in Tours; the advance of the Arabs stopped at Poitiers; the emergence of Saumur as the centre of the protestant “conspiracy”. I could go on and on, but a good guide book will tell it better.

Saumur is the equestrian centre of France being the home of the French Cavalry Regiments and the National Riding School. The town is extremely proud of the “Cadre Noir” which gives superb displays of riding, featuring immense control and precision.  Saumur hosts many international events and every year hosts“The Carrousel” a day long festival of horsemanship which culminates in a evening son et lumiere pageant. The town is also the home of the French mushroom industry and various tours can be arranged, several culminating in tastings of both mushrooms and wine. Saumur is also the home of the largest tank museum in Europe, a must for any fan of history

Doué la Fontaine is about 15 minutes away and is famous for its Troglodyte dwellings and its rose gardens being the Rose Centre of France. It host, every July, “La Journeé de le Rose” attracting over 48,000 visitors, a spectacle that takes place below ground, with hollows in the tuffa rock being decorated in an amazing way using just roses. Also in the nearby Roman Arena, music and dance is enacted all day long. Doué is also famous for its endangered species conservation Zoo, unique in both its usage of all old stone quarry for enclosures and the fact that you are invited to enter many of them, along with the birds and animals, the big cats are optional! Your visit here can be combined with Les Chemins de la Rose, a roseraie of 4 hectares with over 1000 varieties.
 

MONTREUIL-BELLAY is the sole remaining medieval, walled town in Anjou and is about 20 minutes away. It is well worth a visit because of its chateau, riverside walks, restaurants and  general atmosphere. 

The 'Promenade J.R.R. Tolkien'  which meanders from the foot of the majestic chateau on the hill and along the river, in a setting in which one can imagine the fantasy of the 'Lord of the Rings'.  Complete with cave dwellings, ancient trees and towers, and this set in a region where myth and history seems to mirror closely some of the majestic sweep of the book's imagination. 

LA  ROCHELLE is about 2.5 hours away from La Perriére and is a pretty, prosperous town whilst at the same time retaining an elegance and sophistication unusual in seaside resorts.  It boasts dozens of first-rate seafood restaurants. It still has a working port and offers boat trips from the harbour over to the glitzy Marina at Le Port des Minimes holding 3,500 yachts. You can also cruise out into the Atlantic to view the surrounding and beautiful sandy beaches of the Ile de Ré and Ile d’Oreron.

In between La Rochelle and La Perriére is the magical region of the Vendeé known as the MARAIS PONTEVIN which is a region criss-crossed with magical green canals.  It is one of the lesser known natural wonders of France and is called ‘The Green Venice’.  On these waterways powerboats are banned and many of the villages have ports at which one can hire traditional punts and rowing boats. if you are lucky you may still see the bizarre sight of a cow being transported on one of these punts. 

Fancy a day in Paris?  It is possible now to travel by the superb TGV direct from Saumur  to arrive in Paris at 09.30, spend the whole day  there viewing the famous sights and return on the early  evening  train.        

Weekly markets held on different days and diffent towns/villages throughout the week.
Bisonland  at Chateau des Lands, Clere sur Layon, in July/August, with its bison/deer park and resident red indian “Okwaho” from the tribe of the Hurons.

Most of the villages have some festivals or other throughout the year, featuring everything fom mussels via. vintage cars to classical music, one even has a festival of soup! must be getting to the dregs of the S’s. We will, of course provide you with information as to what is happening where when you arrive. Scattered  throughout Anjou  are resturants known as Foue restaurants that serve a traditional menu of four courses, normally with wine and consist of a starter of a field  mushroom topped with melted cheese followed by  “rillettes” which are a form of pork  paste,  then follows a cassolet of duck and  haricot beans  with a green salad.  Then comes cheese and dessert followed  by coffee.  Throughout the meal there is a never ending supply of red hot foué bread, normally  baked in an oven situated on the restaurant floor.  The idea is that you make a sort of “purse” out of the hot foué, spread butter inside and then treat it like a sandwich, stuffing it with rilletes/cassolet etc.  This costs between  €15-20.  There are several near La Perriére, perhaps our favourite being  “La Grange a Dime” at  Montreuil-Bellay. 

Superb for the palate, not so good for the figure!  

Angers, the ancient capital of Anjou, with its 13th century feudal fortress housing the magnificent “and weird” Apocalytic Tapestries.  Over 100 yards long, these comprise of  75 intricate panels each telling a story.  With the buzz of a university town, Anjou is also great for shopping.  On the edge of town is the Cointreau Museum which explains everything about the world’s most famous orange liqueur.

Puy du Fou, famous for its life size Roman Arena with a show that includes chariot races, gladiatorial combats and displays of wild beasts - it all brings back to life the opulence, furore and spine-chilling thrills of the “Games” of Ancient Rome.  A ringside seat awaits you!  Duration 40 minutes.   Night follows day.  Cinescenie is more than just a show.  It is a gigantic open-air fresco.  In 2003 Cinescenie is looking to Hollywood for new music composed specially by one of the most talented composers in the American film industry, Nick Glennie Smith.  All is set in an area of 23 hectares!  Cinescenie also offers 2,700 amateur performers who tell you the epic tale of the Maupilliers; a family of peasants from the Vendee.  The production involves 4,000 costumes, 300 sets of fireworks, 2,000 computer controlled lights and 1,500 computerised fountains.  They create the most spectacular combination of water and fire ever seen anywhere in the world.  There are 28 performances from June to September.

 Watersports complex in Argenton-Chateau (10 miles) with swimming pool, canoeing and pedalos for hire.  Just ouside the town is the beautiful lake of d’Hautibus a favorite local beauty spot. Besides miles of woodland walks there is also a long water sledge ride. Overlooking the lake is a reasonably priced restaurant.

 International Go Karting near Argenton-Chateaux (5 miles).

 Golf for the enthusiast. There are centres in Saumur, Cholet, Angers and Niort and are within easydriving distance from all our properties.

 Walking, We have 22 planned walks in the southern part of Anjou and can supply you with a comprehensive guide which includes such details as length of walk; details of the route and the best spots to take in the views clearly pointing out the salient features of the landscape, the local culture, etc.

 Cycling Bring your bikes! It is superb cycling country because the gentle countryside is interesting without being too demanding.  The rolling hills have few precipitous climbs and most of the villages you pass through have cafés where you can find convenient refreshments.

 Birdwatching and Wildlife

This part of the Loire is in a national park and is a wildlife paradise. At La Perriere early morning is like a scene from Watership Down as so many rabbits are visible across the valley.  We have all the common birds plus the odd species like hoopoes, golden oriels and cirl buntings.  Birds of prey are common with buzzards and harriers being almost commonplace as are barn owls and green woodpeckers.  Dining on the terrace in the evening is normally accompanied by a cacaphony of sound from the crickets and bright green tree frogs down in the  valley.  Whilst in spring and early summer a dawn and dusk chorus of birdsong  accompanies your activities.