Here are a few suggestions:

Heritage: The river Loire was designated a World Heritage Site in 2000 by UNESCO. Discover the longest river in France ! See the Loire in a different light each day with its exceptional flora and fauna, discover the bridges, the villages, the traditional boats… Not to forget the roman sites, prehistoric stone formations, windmills, villages built into the cliffs, the churches and abbeys. Crédit photo : Angibaud

Castles: Within a 30km radius: Saumur with its fairy tale turrets, Brézé with its underground passages, the tallest castle in France at Brissac, Angers where the Tapestry of the Apocalypse is housed, Montgeoffroy, Montsoreau… and a bit further towards Tours; Villandry with its magnificent gardens, Chenonceaux which spans the river Cher, Chambord…the list is endless.

The French National Riding School and Cadre Noir: Only 8km from La Butte de Launay. You can visit the School and watch the riders of the famous Cadre Noir working their specially trained horses which perform the ‘airs above the ground’; courbette, croupade and cabriole. Even better to book for one of their spectacular shows. Regularly during the year there are international competitions held at the School in the disciplines of Dressage, Three Day Eventing and Carriage Driving. La Butte de Launay is happy to welcome you for any of these occasions.

Le Cadre Noir de Saumur

Wine – cellars, vineyards and wine-tasting: Visit the caves and taste the wines of Saumur and Anjou: Saumur sparkling wines, Saumur Champigny (red), Loire rosé, Anjou rosé, and not forgetting the sweet white wines of Layon, Aubance, Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume. Enjoy ! !

Restaurants: There is plenty of variety to choose from ; gastronomic, traditional, salad bars and pancake houses, open-air restaurants on the banks of the Loire with entertainment, restaurants in caves where you can try the local specialities.. and why not enjoy a picnic in beautiful surroundings?

Nature/sports: Enjoy the exceptional scenery of the river Loire and surrounding countryside by bicycle, on horseback or on foot . There are numerous footpaths directly accessible from La Butte de Launay, whether you wish to walk for an hour, or all day. 10 minutes from Launay there are sports facilities for tennis, a municipal golf course, and swimming pools. For the more adventurous you can go canoeing down the river Loire, or take a balloon flight to admire the magnificent views from the sky. Discover the regional game of ‘Boule de Fort’.

Crédit photo : Angibaud

Wildlife: You do not need to go far for birdwatching – a twitcher’s paradise ! – the area is on a bird migration route. Even from the terrace you can see a variety of species if you are lucky. Sometimes, too, you may be lucky to see visiting deer.

Towns: The village of Chenehutte is 3km away, with a bakery, a bar / restaurant, and a post office. Gennes is 9km away with a supermarket, restaurant, bank, bar / newsagent, bakeries, other shops, plus sports facilities. Saumur is 10km away with all the facilities and attractions of a larger town. Ville de Saumur

Museums: A must to visit is the Cavalry museum in Saumur (free), a town with a long history of the Military and horses, also the Tank museum with its unique collection in Europe. The museum of the Horse is housed within the castle at Saumur. Ask your hostess for more information.

Events: Throughout the summer there are events, festivals, flea markets, concerts, shows…A detailed programme will be available on your arrival.