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Two-bedroom 'Saule' (sleeps 5) is the one of three pretty 19th century farm cottages set around a spacious, south-facing, courtyard garden with adjoining play barn and surrounded by beautiful Loire Valley countryside. Set down a quiet country lane, Les Limornieres is wonderfully tranquil yet only 3km, walking distance in fact, from historic Le Grand Pressigny, with its chateaux, shops, bars and restaurants.
Owners Alex and Nicole Crawford and their two young daughters, left the UK and settled here a few years ago and are clearly passionate not just about the area they've made their home, but about looking after their guests too. A generous welcome pack filled with local goodies and an optional 'heat & eat' arrival nights 2-course supper (see Fast Facts) greets guests on arrival. Mini guests tend to be most impressed by the huge array of in and outdoor toys, although the resident chickens often steal the show at feeding and egg collecting times!
A useful list of nursery equipment is provided including stairgates, which are useful since the stairs are open-tread. However, little guests tend to spend most of their time pottering about on the lawned courtyard garden in front of the cottages overseen by parents soaking up the sunshine or scenery and chatting with other guests.
'Saule' is a two double-bedroom gite forming one wing of a traditional 19th century stone longère farmhouse. It features a lovely, private enclosed patio with seating and BBQ and, along with its two double bedrooms, an additional single bed set in the roomy landing area. Downstairs is a spacious open plan living area with comfortable seating, romantic wood-burning stove, CD & DVD player. Plus a dining area and fully equipped kitchen with oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher.
The pretty and historic town of le Grand Pressigny with its charming shops, bistros, bars and chateaux is only 3kms from Les Limornieres and easily reached as Alex & Nicole are happy loan guest bikes on which they can explore the quiet, relatively traffic free lanes around cottages - a pre-breakfast trip to the local boulangerie is always tempting incentive!
For non-cyclists, there are many marked walking routes (randonnee), one of the most child friendly of which takes walkers around the back of the chateau at le Grand Pressigny, through the woods and wild flower meadows and back into town for a reward in the form of ice-cream and coffee stop. Alternatively, from June -August, cool off in the town's heated outdoor pool, which has paddling areas for babies and toddlers.
The multi pool, multi slide complex at nearby Descartes (10mins drive) will prove even more tempting for older children and can be combined with a visit to the town's Sunday morning market. Soak up the atmosphere from the one of the cafe's with outdoor seating. Delicious pastries can be scoffed from the neighbouring patisserie while you watch the world go by. The market is a great place to stock up with local produce or buy a picnic and head to the river and the fantastic public gardens with animals, play park, crazy golf, outdoor pool, rose garden, herb garden all laid out in a pushchair friendly way allowing children freedom to run ahead.
There are plenty of good traditional French bistros in the villages surrounding Les Limornieres, most are at their most animated best during lunchtime service starting at midday - perfect for a meal with young children. Kiddie favourites are Grand’ma in le Grand Pressigny and Café de la Poste in nearby Barrou both serve great local food and are quite happy for little cherubs to be crayoning on the paper table mats between courses! Even more casual and just as delicious is 'Forza Pizza' night in le Grand Pressigny (Sats). A very unassuming mobile van arrives in the village square and offers hand-made, cooked to order pizza’s. Place an order, then sit back with your aperitif outside the bar opposite and wait to be called whilst the children play with the table-foot in the bar or outside on the wide paved area.
Alex & Nicole can also advise on and book various other activities from local Cookery workshops, golf or spa treatments at la Roche Posay, horse riding, canoeing, and even hot air ballooning over the Loire Valley chateaux. Alex himself offers fishing guiding and has over 25years Angling experinece. For an adult a full-day’s fishing including transport, equipment (if necessary), bait, permit & picnic costs 70 euros, Special rates for accompanying children can be arranged.
NEAREST AIRPORTS: Tours & Poiters are within an hours drive. Location Map
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Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Reservation Deposit: EUR0.00 per week
Balance: 56 days prior to arrival
Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Reservation Deposit: EUR0.00 per week
Balance: 56 days prior to arrival
Arrival: , Departure:
Price: EUR
Check-in time: 16:00
Check-out time: 10:00
Reservation Deposit: EUR0.00 per week
Balance: 56 days prior to arrival
Arrival: , Departure:
Price: EUR
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We are an English family of four living at les Limornieres in le Grand-Pressigny since Sept 2006. Our girls are now 14 & 16 years old & go to school in the local village our eldest now boarding in nearby Loches whilst studying her baccalaureat. They speak French better than we ever will & enjoy holidays, eating out in local restaurants, cycling to the village pool, canoeing & swimming in nearby rivers & lakes & being with their friends...
Alex & I split our time between looking after the cottages, gardens & guests at les Limornieres & looking after local private gardens for a mixture of French, English, permanent and second home residents.
We love living in the peace & quiet of the Loire Valley countryside, where 1km by car takes about a minute & so journeys are a breeze...certainly compared to our life before France in the South East of England.
There is much more blue sky & sunshine to be seen and less grey clouds. The lack of noise & light pollution makes for some great nature spotting - owls, bats, deer and wild boar have all been viewed from les Limornieres and millions of stars fill the sky after dark providing a very romantic back drop to an evening of wine & local goodies all within sight of your kids playing or with any luck if you have worn them out & they are asleep then you will be within earshot of them.
There is a plentiful choice of great local wine and food direct from local farms or a one of the many weekly markets in local villages & towns. There are a great choice of charming local restaurants (3 in le Grand-Pressigny) which in this rural area are at their animated best at lunchtime - perfect for eating out with kids in tow. We look forward to welcoming you to stay, Nicole Crawford - Nov 2017
Les Limornieres is set by a country lane, yet within 2.5km of shops, boulangerie, 3 restaurants, bar, cafe, village pool, chateau & museum, pharmacy & other facilities. A wander or cycle down the lane offers visitors the chance to see troglodyte cave houses, horses, cows, lots of wildlife, visit goats cheese & dairy farm.
The countryside setting, the landscaped flower & tree filled gardens are a place to relax, the historic local towns with their farmers markets, bistros & excellent public gardens are all within reach but for an excellent day out we also love nearby Loches, Tours or Chinon.
The headline chateaux & vineyards of the region are all easily reachable in an hour and we are happy to help plan your route to ensure there are interesting child friendly places to stop en route - excellent play areas, places to eat, picnic spots, places to paddle & play pooh sticks!
Despite the region being internationally well known & well visited for the wine, chateaux, history & culture, the local french people are charming and you often get the feeling of having the place to yourself, no traffic, no queues make it a relaxing place to allow smaller children a little more more freedom than in busy city environments. The gentle pace of life, great local food & wine & especially the extra sunshine we often enjoy makes this an easy place to live & love.
Kids just get to be kids at les Limornieres so whilst they are free to let off steam & play, the adults get to relax...the combination means family holidays happen with ease at les Limornieres.
There are plenty of places for adults to grab a quiet moment with a glass of wine & a book, or a more sociable time chatting with us or our other guests.
There are BBQs & plenty of dining & seating space to enjoy the great weather and eating al fresco.
The play areas - trampoline, swings, slide, football goals, swing ball, sand table, games & more are all visible from the garden courtyard but allow older children the chance to make camps & adventure!
For smaller children there is an array of toys in the courtyard garden close by the cottages & if they want to follow the big kids, we have provided adult guests with strategic shady placed benches & easily transportable sun chairs for you to follow but remain able to enjoy your book/snooze/glass of something cold & local!
The chickens provide a place to toddle to and serve up left overs & salad!
We provide a range of bikes for you to explore the quiet lanes en famille or just to give Dad the push in the morning to cycle down to the village for the croissants! We have two rear child seats for bikes - suitable from 9 months -3 yrs.
Whilst many kids don't want to be dragged away from les Limornieres for trips out, we find many families want to head out and explore so the gardens often provide an 'apero hour' club where all the kids come together & play in the evening sun whilst the adults sit back & relax.
Highlight trips for kids: Chateau du Rivau, Loches market & medieval castle, Swimming in the river at Lesigny, Canoeing in the Indre or Creuse, Descartes for the farmers market & picnic in the fabulous park, swimming in the pool in Descartes park, Zoo Beauval, the forest at Preuilly sur Claise, Montresor for a walk by the river and lunch followed by and afternoon at the lake (Chemille-sur-Indrois)
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sleeps 5 in 2 bedrooms, 1 master suite and 1 family room with double and full sized single +infants |
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 | Under 3km from the historic Loire Valley chateau town of le Grand Pressigny with its bars, shops, weekly market, restaurants, rivers & swimming pool in summer. |
 | A relaxing back massage, or reflexology can be arranged in the comfort of your gîte or in the local spa town of La Roche Posay. |
 | Wooden cot (an additional travel cot may be available on request), highchairs, stair gates, baby bath, strollers & baby/toddler cutlery & crockery (including sippy cups) provided |
 | Along with the play barn stuffed with toys, there's a small basket of age appropriate toys and books provided in each property. |
 | The les Limornieres Touraine Platter a tasty supper of local, homemade & seasonal goodies ready to eat (or heat & eat) waiting in guests fridge on arrival. Costs 25pp (12 under 10s) For two courses with bread/wine and soft drinks (must be pre-booked min.48hrs before arrival). |
 | There's a play barn on site complete with trampoline, swings, table football, swing-ball, football, chalks, paints, face-paint, sandpit, paddling pool, bikes & scooters. we have a range of adults bikes to borrow with rear child seats. |
 | The necessary stairgates are provided. |
 | Private enclosed patio garden with seating and BBQ, further shady dining and play space in barn. |
 | The Crawfords are firmly committed to sustainable living. They recycle, harvest rainwater, compost organic waste and treat waste water on site via a filter bed system. In addition they use only bio-friendly cleaning products. Buildings are heated by wood taken from the land & other local sustainable sources. Insulation is to better than recommended standards and 'A' grade electrical goods, low energy light bulbs are used. They focus on local food produce including their own fruit, vegetables & eggs They also provide re-useable shopping bags & info on local farmers markets & vineyards. Bikes are available for all ages, bike seat. |
 | Up to 2 highchairs and cots can be provided in each cottage. |
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Please click the text to scroll through reviews.
This is a really 'chilled out' location. You can easily spend lazy days at the Gite, relaxing in the garden. Great fun for little ones. Very quiet location. Masses of toys, books, DVDs and outdoor toys.
We loved it. The owners are on site, and pass by occasionally for a friendly chat, but are far from intrusive, makes for perfect holiday.
We; me, my husband and our 6-year-old daughter, stayed in Saule gite for 7 nights in July. We arrived on a Sunday evening and really appreciated the welcome pack of food left in the fridge for us; cafetiere coffee, proper milk (not UHT!) eggs from the resident chickens, peaches, tomatoes, wine.
The garden is very large and beautiful; chickens, herbs, flowers, vegetables, lots of green lawn for playing, swings, trampoline. And a very cute kitten!
The setting is so quiet, surrounded by farmland, but a 5 min drive to the village which has a boulangerie, post office, bookshop/newsagents, little supermarket, butcher and weekly market, church, restaurants, bars, plus a fantastic prehistoric museum which has an interactive festival annually.
Really helpful info folder in the gite with advice on local produce, places to see etc. We visited Loches, medieval town, a chateau (many chateaux in this region) open air pool in Descartes. Nicole and Ale ...
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We really enjoyed our stay and the boys had plenty to do. Great welcome and hospitality.
Lovely, romantic getaway from the hustle and bustle of London. Situated in a location where you can hide away or explore to your hearts content. Kids loved it!
Everything that you could want for your baby or toddler is provided for here - just bring things you need for the journey and pack light! Superb child-friendly environment - the smallholding itself has chickens, flowers and interest a-plenty as well as all the toys, and the farms around are also a source of wonder to smaller children. Hosts Nicole and Alex are supremely helpful and their suggested itineraries, along with the wealth of information about local sites and attractions provided in the gites, can really help you make the most of even a short break.
This was the first time time we used a baby friendly property and we would definitely repeat the experience. We have been on holiday with our toddler before but this was the first occasion that my husband and I felt like we'd had a holiday. Nicole and Alex were so welcoming and had thought of everything. Loads of age appropriate toys and some great suggestions of places to visit. I especially enjoyed Nicole's home cooked meals, just delicious and a real treat not to cook.
We were really impressed with how easy Alex and Nicole have made it to get away as a family for a holiday. Everything we needed for our one year old had been thought of. The site is beautiful and the location is a great base from which to begin exploring the surrounding villages and chateaux.
Very nice spot - helpful and friendly owners, beautiful garden, very relaxing location.
great place, owners lovely..and fab food if you dont feel like cooking ..even better a cosy little bar on site.... happy days!
Excellent accomodation in a superb location. Very baby friendly for our toddler (2,5years) and baby (11months) whilst being adult friendly too. Highly recommend. Superb hosts.
My husband and I and our 4 year old daughter have just
returned from an idyllic stay in Chêne cottage, les Limornières. I cannot
praise Nicole and Alex enough for the wonderful setting they have created and
their warm hospitality, les Limornières is simply magical and Chêne cottage was
just perfect for us. On arrival Nicole and Alex had provided us with bread and
cheeses, red wine, milk, jam, eggs; they were even thoughtful enough to drop
over a bottle of fizzy for my husband's birthday. There were toys, books and
DVD's in abundance for our little girl within the cottage and she has come home
requesting new 'heart' bed linen just like she had at the gîte. Outside, where
she spent most of her time, the grounds are large and great to run around, ride
a bike or space hopper between the chickens, vegetable patches, swings, slide
and trampoline. There are a few farms around that you can walk to to buy fresh
dairy produce; Les Limornièr ...
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We recently spent a week in Saule cottage - Les Limonieres and would recommend it to anybody. The setting is gorgeous, the accommodation superb and the Crawfords were the perfect hosts, always going that extra mile to make sure we had everything we needed. In terms of travelling with a young child it was about as stress free as it could have been. This was due to the fact that the cottage was so well equipped and stocked with all manner of age appropriate toys/books etc. This, coupled with the play barn, swings, slide, trampoline, chickens and ample space meant that there was never a dull moment for our little girl (18 months old). Amelie and Isabella were fantastic playmates too and made Eve's first holiday one to remember. Thank you!
We have just had a long weekend at ChezANIA, Les Limornieres, and we have come
back feeling refreshed and relaxed. With so many self catering holidays or
breaks for mum it feels like the same old routine just somewhere different....
This is where Nicole and Alex make a difference. All the details are thought
out, including a wonderful welcome of snacks, cheese and wine on your arrival
(seriously who has family and friends that even do that for you?!) to toys,
dvd's, games, books, bedding, cutlery, high chair etc etc for our daughter.
Mums, I highly recommend you opt for the great value menu option that Nicole
does - without so much as lifting a teaspoon - et viola - there was a delicious
three course home made dinner complete with cheese and bottle of wine....
heaven! The gite is spotlessly clean, the environment, gardens and play areas
are just right and perfectly safe. The gite itself is a cosy, large one
bedroomed cottage with a love ...
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A great place to stay with small children, ours loved everything from feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs, to bouncing on the trampoline, swinging on the swings, playing in the sandpit and riding on the (toy) tractor. They EVEN ate the meals that Nicole made for us - what more can you ask for?
We had a fantastic time and could not find fault with either the accommodation or the property owners, Nicole and Alex. It was more like staying with friends as I had exchanged several emails with Nicole before our arrival.The Crawford's have 2 children themselves and so they are used to kids running around their property making lots of noise. There were lots on indoor and outdoor toys for our son to play with, not forgetting their two girls who are absolutely lovely, a true credit to their parents. We would certainly consider returning here for a holiday and would recommend this accomadation as somewhere you can actually relax with children!
We had a lovely time at Les Limornieres...the Crawfords are lovely people. They had thoughtfully left a box of age-appropriate toys and books and Nicole changed them midway through our stay, which thrilled our daughter who also loved petting the friendly cat, watching the chickens, riding on a child-sized toy tractor, jumping on the trampoline, swinging on the swings and romping around the enclosed grassy courtyard. Les Limornieres is located in a lovely area within a gentle hour's drive of several of the most-visited Loire/Cher/Vienne/Indre chateaux. But just visiting the local markets and poking around smaller villages is also very interesting. We can't wait to go back!
Overall ExperienceChild-FriendlinessLocationHospitality / WelcomeInteriors*Ratings by verified BFB guests who stayed here with young children.
Rated by 15 guests.
