Stefan-Contributor
August 14, 2022
We stayed at La Closerie in mid August 2022, in one of the hottest periods the region has ever seen. We are a family of four, two adults and two children aged 12, and whilst we would not have fit in one of the five bedroom the B&B offers, the hosts made available a separate studio to us where the parents were sleeping upstairs whilst an improvised bed was made available downstairs. The studio was exceeding our expectations by far. Top quality installations in the kitchen and the bathroom, a very cosy and original building standard, easy access to a private parking, a room for the bicycles and a washing machine. When we express our excitement about the studio, this is nothing against the hospitality the hosts Katharina and Marcel provided to us. They offered us to bring some fresh bread in the morning, and we chose to eat our breakfast in the garden whenever possible. We made sure that we could attend two dinners the hosts are cooking for their B&B guest, which are usually four course - started by an apéritif in the underground cellar system of the former monastery. The food was outstanding, and as we believe Chinon to be in one of the best wine regions in France, so was the wine. These hosts think of everything, and after the welcome drinks and briefing, you know how to spend your next five, six days in the Loire Valley. If this is your first time in the valley, you will find most of the castle highlights in max 60 minutes driving distance, and if you fancy a more easy way to go around, Marcel and Katharina will help you rent bike in the village. The valley is loaded with history, and if you are willing, Marcel and Katharina have lots to tell you about. The stay at Marcel and Katharina was the final stage in a three-week-travel through central France, from Gevrey-Chambertin via Bordeaux and La Rochelle to Nantes, and this was the best stay of all our 20 hotel nights. We will return!