La Closerie - Self-catering cottage in Indre-et-Loire

Enjoy your morning coffee in the sunshine between the roses... a vast grassed courtyard lies at the heart of this place, and Martine is a delightful hostess.

This stone cottage is next to the Martine’s ‘maison de maître’, with pretty bedrooms to sleep four (plus a single bed in the living room) – one on the ground floor and another up a few steps – as well as a living area in the adjoining section. The kitchen is simple, bright and open-plan and the sitting room is charming and as private as can be. Relax in deckchairs in the courtyard, enjoy a game of ping pong, bask by the shared saltwater pool on the upper lawn. This is the land of famous chateaux: Villandry and Azay-le-Rideau are little more than a half hour drive as well as historic Chinon (6km) with its half-ruined chateau on the hill.

If you don't fancy cooking, book dinner in the main house - Martine serves delicious traditional food at a huge candlelit table, matched by wines from the domaine down the road; ask her about local winery visits and tastings too.