~ Luxury 17th Century Chateau Hotel near the Loire Valley, Le Mans, Anjou and Touraine in France ~

“ Home of the Count and Countess de Vanssay, this luxurious and inspirational 14th to 17th century
château lies peacefully in 100 acres of private parkland. The hotel is near Le Mans 24 Hours race,
Solesmes, Vendôme, Tours, Blois and all the grand châteaux of the loire Valley. ”

~ One of our "Chateaux & Hotels de Charme" ~
Click here to enjoy / discover our entire portfolio

Suite (53 sq.meters) "Marin de Vanssay"
the husband of the great grand-daughter of the builders of Chenonceaux

Château de la Barre 72120 - Conflans-Sur-Anille (Sarthe) Email: ILALaBarre@ila-chateau.com 3 km North of Saint-Calais off D1 towards La Ferté-Bernard      (DO NOT enter the village of Conflans .... the Château is signposted on D1) 30 km N.W. of Vendôme 43 km from the reknown Le Mans 24 hours circuit near the hotel Fast Train (TGV) Paris to Vendôme (40 minutes) Tours is the nearest airport with direct flights from London Stansted (Ryanair) Paris 170 km - Tours 70 km - Chartres 100 km - Angers 140 km - Orléans 100 km Owners: Count and Countess Guy de Vanssay Number of Rooms / Suites: 3 / 2 Rates: from 130 € / from 200 € Restaurant: Table d'hotes (Candlelit dinner) - Advance Reservation compulsory Annual Closing: 10 January / 10 February

“It's France's best Château Chambre d'Hôtes by a stretch”
(Sunday Times – March 2007)
 

Garden View of La Barre
~ a 14th to 17th century residence ~
with dry moat, fortifications, pond, chapel and flower gardens.
In the Vanssay family since 1404

Magnificently French and Strictly for Romantics

Hidden away in the beautiful rolling countryside of the Perche, La Barre is definitely a must and one of the ultimate places to stay.

Francophiles will already have noticed that times are changing in rural France. Every month sees Châteaux being opened to paying guests, and B/B is on the upsurge with those "Chambre d'hotes" signs increasingly in evidence on the secondary roads. For the non well-informed travellers it's quite difficult to make the correct choice as there is no real classification on which to rely.

Only a few up-scale Châteaux are receiving "paying-guests"...... with a big difference. La Barre is one of them.

Informal elegance and style have made this château very popular. Living with the French Aristocracy and experiencing the best of country life in France is what La Barre is proud of and glad to offer you.

Staying at La Barre is a grand moment as there is an air of graciousness throughout the house thanks to the Count and Countess Guy and Marnie de Vanssay, both charming aristocrats, who only recently decided to open their residence which has been in the same family since the beginning of the 14th century. They live here all year round and are now happily watching the 21st generation growing up.

La Barre has been lovingly maintained. It's a very welcoming relaxing home full of memorabilia, portraits of various ancestors, paintings and valuable period antiques, many of which have been in the Vanssay family for many generations. The guest rooms are all elegant, comfortable and spacious - with superbly appointed bathrooms- and none of which is a copy of the other. Dinners are a splendid, sociable occasion with a fixed menu changing daily, including pleasant wines selected by Guy de Vanssay, a connoisseur, who enjoys the possession of some remarkable Grand Cru bottles in the impressive cellars of the Château.

For location, La Barre is ideally placed on the edge of the Anjou and the Touraine. It is very convenient for visits to the Loire Valley and its grand châteaux, many of which are state-operated, as well as the area's serene forests, endless vineyards and picturesque villages with Romanesque XIth century churches and frescoes. Also, not too far away the hotel is near Le Mans with the famous "24 Hours" motor race and the glorious Benedictine Abbey of Solesmes where you can attend the Gregorian mass at any time of the year.

Undoubtedly you'll have some day a real feeling of regret.

Either to have missed La Barre or to have to leave it one morning.

~ Le Grand Salon ~
A Chef-d'Oeuvre of the 18th century

~ Comte et Comtesse Guy et Marnie de Vanssay ~
Your Hosts

~ Suite Esprit de Jouy (Two adjoining rooms) ~
Prestigious remnants of the days when the Queen identified with the pastoral

~ The Yellow Room ~
Simply Radiant

~ The Blue Room ~
French Classicism and Splendid views

~ Room with a View ~

~ La Grande Salle à Manger ~
Sharing a splendid home-cooked dinner with the de Vanssay
is a rare experience of French joie de Vivre
(Special New Year decor)

~ Le Salon Rose ~
A glorious 16th century living room
 
"Dans ces meubles laqués,
Rideaux et dais moroses,
Danse, aime, bleu laquais,
Ris d'oser des mots roses...."
(Charles Cros)

~ General aerial view of the Estate ~

[ Return to ILA Home ]