Chateau de la Bouillerie is in the heart of the Loire Valley in France, less than 2 hours from Paris. Prestigious monuments that tell the history of France are everywhere: the castles of the Kings of France, Saumur, Brézé, Ussé, Langeais, Villandry, Chinon, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau … But also other monuments, such as the Abbey of Solesmes, 20 km from La Bouillerie, or Epau at the gates of the city of Le Mans (60 km), the Cathedral of Saint Julien in Le Mans, the Gallo-Roman enclosure of Le Mans or the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud.

Need to escape? Woods, forests, rivers and varied landscapes populate the Sarthe regions, inviting walkers to get lost in these enchanting sites where nature always rules. The Sarthe is the most wooded destination in the west of France, with 5000 km of marked trails open to all styles of hiking (on foot, on horseback, by bike…) and 4000 km of rivers and streams for leisure activities along the water.

The zoological parks of the Sarthe are the place to marvel young and old alike at the fauna of species from all over the world! The zoo of La Flèche is only 8 km from Château La Bouillerie.

Shaylin and Kathryn recommend looking into:

• Day trips or overnight trips to Paris for shopping, touring the Louvre, seeing the Eiffel Tower, and visiting Disneyland Paris

• Trips to coastal towns like Honfleur in Normandy (first photo)

• Touring nearby castles, cathedrals, and historic sites

• Local vineyard tours

• Hikes, cycling tours, and horseback rides

• Boat rentals and tours on rivers, lakes, or the north Atlantic

• Visit Monet’s Garden in Giverny (second photo)

• Mont Saint-Michel, an abbey on an island (third photo)