Cottage on a château estate in the Mayenne
Château-Gontier near Laval in Western France
2 bedrooms, sleeps 5 people
Château de mirvault
The château lies beside the Mayenne river, about a kilomètre outside the old town of Château-Gontier in the western Loire, just south of Normandy. It has been in our family since the 16th century and is very much a home that has a great feeling of contentment as well as continuity. Within easy reach of most channel ports, we are 20 kms from Laval, 45 minutes from Angers and an hour from the racing circuit at Mans and some of the great Loire châteaux; Paris is 3 hours from here.
A tree lined drive where you can often spot red squirres and rabbits leads to the cottage, once part of the old stables, set in the middle of the park leading down to the banks of the Mayenne and surrounded by fields and copses. There is a barrage within reach that is a good place for fishing and we have a boat that you can take out on gentle trips throught the locks along this lovely river.
Now at your disposal is a cover heating pool, with a view on the parc of the Château de Mirvault.
The ground floor of the cottage is an open plan living room with a farmhouse table that seats six people and a corner kitchen, equipped with a dishwasher and fridge, a stove and microwave, as well as a kettle, toaster a coffe maker. The living room area is arranged around a log burning fireplace that is cosy and inviting during the cooler months. There is a small CD player, a television with a DVD player, a computer with a wirless internet access and the bathroom also has a washing machine.
The original staircase leads to the first floor landing and a double bedroom and a twin bedroom that share a bathroom with bath. The landing has a handsome armoire and a single bed, if needed.
The garden has outside furniture, and there is a barbecue and swings for children. We also have a small lake stocked with roach and pike. The whole park is yours to enjoy and if you take the boat across the river, there are some marvellous walks and cycle rides along the two path.
Activities
Within a radius of 2 kms you can go water skiing and hire canoes and bicycles. Château-Gontier has a swimming pool open to every one, a small golf course and tennis courts. In the center of town is a cinema. Laval and Angers both have excellent golf courses. If you like fishing, a daily permit is easily arranged.
If you take the boat across the river and moor at the beautiful Jardin du Bout du Monde, you can easily walk around Château-Gontier from there. At the bottom of the gardens is a Romanesque church with frescoes and an 11th century crypt. Further along is the old part of the town with ancient colombage houses and some fine 17th and 18th century houses, one of which houses the museum. Crossing back over the river via the old bridge, our walk brings you now to the outskirts of the town and the 12th century Chapelle du Geneteil and the splendid Convent des Ursulines, which is now the home of the Théâtre Na tional du Pays de la Loire, a talented company that is wellknown and loved here. Just beyond that is where one of the largest markets in the Mayenne is held every Thursday morning. Food is taken seriously in this part of the world and local restaurants range from traditional family run ones ti gastronomic, all at reasonable prices.
Leaving Château-Gontier brings you into rich agricultural farming country, where the rhythm of life continues as it has done for centuries. South of the town is Craon with it's charming medieval streets and 18th century white stone château, surrounded by 42 hectares of gardens. An hour to the west are some of the most beautiful of the Châteaux de la Loire and in two hours you either be on the beach at La Baule or eating seafood in Saint Malo, or gzing at the great island cathedral of Mont Saint Michel.
Plan
Access
Mirvault is half a mile from the center of Château-Gontier, the entrance is found on the national route N 162, which links Laval and Angers.
From Paris, take autoroute A11 in the direction of Angers. Exit at Sablés, then follow the direction of Chateau-Gontier.
Exit the bypass route which circles the town and follow the national 162 towards Laval.
The entrance to the cottage of the château de Mirvault is just to the left, 50 metres after the last traffic circle, michelin map n°63, fold n°10.
From the airport to the cottage:
Paris: 300 km
Nantes: 110 km
Laval: 30 km (small airport for private aircrafts)
From Channel Ports:
Saint Malo: 180 km
Caen: 180 km
Cherbourg: 255 km
From the SNCF train station:
Laval: 30 km (Laval-Paris takes 90minutes by train)
All price are per week Saturday to Saturday
arriving at 4 pm departing at 10 am
Linen is provided
We regret that because of our animals, we cannot accept pets
A deposit of 50 % is requested on booking
with the remainder paid on arrival
Languages spoken: English and French
To book or for more information please contact Ludovic d'Ambrières
Email adress
Mobile: 06 68 36 10 86 (international + 33 6 68 36 10 86)
(Replace the + with your international access code.)