We stayed in Arpentis because we wanted the unique experience of staying in a real chateau while in Loire Valley. The chateau itself had evidence of neglect (stained rugs in the hallway, missing tiles in the ceiling) and was somewhat run down but the grounds were lovely. It had an ample supply of taxidermied specimens. The proprietor barely engaged with us but he was pleasant enough when he did. He basically gave us the key to our room and we were on our own. Our room was comfortable enough with a view of the chateau grounds. Breakfast was basic and not worth the cost in my opinion (baguette, pastry, and store bought yogurt along with coffee and juice), we only had it once. A communal kitchenette with a toaster oven and refrigerator was available but it wasn’t very well appointed (no napkins or towels/dish rack to dry your dishes, for instance). Guests also had access to a washer/dryer which we appreciated. Since there were no meals available at the chateau other than breakfast, we drove to the nearby town of Amboise about 10 minutes away at night which was inconvenient because parking there was hard to find. We brought baguette, cheese and wine on our last night and picnicked on the grounds. WiFi was weak and unreliable which made it difficult to purchase our tickets for Chambord, Chenonceau, and Villandry. Overall, Arpentis was a unique experience but it was expensive for what it offered and was not the most comfortable or convenient stay.
Outstanding
59 Reviews