1 - Guides de Charme

The Château des Briottières is off the beaten path and surrounded by an immense English-style garden which is in itself worth a visit. The masters of the house are warm and friendly. A vast gallery leads to the reception areas. The lounges are furnished in 18th-century style, and the large dining room is brightened up by pearl-grey woodwork and pink drapes. The owners join you for the excellent, friendly dinners, which are served on a magnificently set dining table. There is a library with a French billiard table. Upstairs, the comfortable bedrooms are all tastefully decorated with lovely fabrics and very beautiful antique furniture. Some rooms are intimate, while others are vast. The bathrooms are charming, read luxurious. The swimming pool is located in a beautiful garden. The food is healthy and unpretentious, served on porcelain plates and silver service. And if you stay on, the sixth night is free from October 15 to April 15!

2 - Châteaux & Hôtels de France

“The Art ol Living à la Française“... Only 2h30 from Paris, in the courtyard of a hundred-year-old park in the Pays de la Loire region, this private 18th century château with period furniture throughout has been open to guests for 20 years. A tradition of hospitality has been maintained here for the past 7 generations. Inside, you have the unusual feeling of being in a private house and a big luxury hotel at the same time.

3 - Johansens

Surrounded by 360 acres of parkland "á l'anglaise", this magnificent family-owned stately home is set in the heart of peaceful Anjou. The luxurious interior, with its pervading air of serenity, features Louis XV antiques and quirky memorabilia. The immaculately presented bedrooms have windows overlooking the estate, inviting the rich perfumes of herbs and flowers. Traditional Anjou meals are served in the impressive period dining room.

4 - Château Accueil

The long path takes you to the great staircase, leads to the canopied beds you have dreamed of. Candles are on the table, you are awaited in this romantic, 18th century domain. M; and Mrs de Valbray will be happy to welcome you in their château. 100 acre park, outdoor, heated swimming-pool and tennis.Bicycles available, fishing, billiards, poneys in July and August. English spoken. Setting of the film "Impromptu". From June to September, gastronomical cooking made by the Chef of the Cordon Bleu.

5 - Karen Brown's Guides

The de Valbrays are a charming, friendly, enthusiastic, and artistic young couple who truly make their visitors feel like invited guests. Their grand home dates from 1773 and has been in François’s family since 1820 when his great-great-great-grandfather, the Comte de Valbray, resided here. Old family photos and portraits abound in the gracious salons. It is hard to pick a favorite bedroom, as all are furnished in keeping with the style and mood of the château; however, the Rose Room is very special: feminine in decor, it was once inhabited by François’s grandmother. Also very special in their furnishings and outlook are the Lake Room and the Charles X Room. Downstairs, the parquet floors, grand chandeliers, and marble fireplaces in the public rooms attest to a very rich and elegant heritage. The elegance of a bygone era continues as guests dine at small candlelit tables dressed with family silver and china. There are billiards in the library and a swimming pool and tennis court in the park available to guests. A stay of at least two days is recommended to fully appreciate the de Valbrays’ hospitality and the ambiance of this aristocratic setting. The renovated cottage offers quiet and privacy and is ideal for those who want to settle for a week or more.

6 - Charming Small Hotels

Life's hurly-burly has never made it through the gates, let alone up the wooded drive, of this serene château. Two hundred years of unbroken ownership by the same family have kept the atmosphere as well as the contents and appearance of this house wonderfully intact. François de Valbray, the present relaxed owner, has thought of everybody. If you want the undiluted charm and grace of the château, you can stay in it, dine beneath the gaze of the ancestors (by arrangement), relax in the grand salon and generally use the place like home (including a game of billiards after dinner if you're so inclined). Bedrooms and bathrooms vary in size but all offer style and comfort.

If you're travelling in a party, or are worried about how your children and your blood pressure will thrive in this antique-laden environment, then take some or all of the old fruitier: this thoroughly comfortable house is close to the main building, and has its own more utilitarian sitting room. Outside there are 40 hectares of woods, lawn and lake to protect you from the farmland beyond. If you just want to get married, you can take the imposing old stable block but expect to have to arrive along the back drive and leave (quietly) the same way to avoid disturbing other guests. A gem.

7 - Hôtels du Patrimoine

It is only at the end of a long tree-lined drive that the visitors catch their first glimpse of this family-owned château dating from 1760. The pure withe of its tufa stone walls and romantic elegance of its rooms make it the ideal place to savour the joys of the life between the Loire Valley and Normandie… The peaceful, relaxing environnement, the warm and charming atmosphere combine to ensure you enjoy the luxuries of château life in the Anjou region. (Illustration : Yves Daniel)