Les Sources De Cheverny

A true invitation to sink into the charms of a quiet French country house life.

• The historic château that houses game rooms and living areas
• The delicious bistro food served in Auberge restaurant or in a picnic basket to your room
• The Caudalie spa with its indoor swimming pool and excellent beauty treatments

There has not been a first-class place to stay when visiting the Loire until now. Les Sources de Cheverny, the sister property to the well-known Les Sources de Caudalie outside of Bordeaux, is a countryside retreat with an excellent spa, great bistro (a gourmet restaurant will open soon) and acres of wildflowers and forest. The Tourbier family, Jérôme and Alice, had their first success in hospitality in Bordeaux with Les Sources de Caudalie, where they married winemaking and cutting-edge spa treatments with a welcome into French country traditions that few get to experience unless they are staying with a family at home. At their new Loire property, there is a wonderful long driveway through the domaine’s 40-hectare forest to reach the estate’s Château de Breuil and the reception barn. The inn’s bedrooms are scattered around the property in wood barn-style buildings with wide-plank wood floors, exposed beam roofs and simple modern French furniture. At Auberge, a bistro restaurant in an old stone farmhouse building, a constantly burning fire is stoked by the chefs, who cook over its coals, while the burning wood scents the room and evokes memories of times around a warm fireplace. The château’s grand salons with their antique mirrors, chandeliers and moldings have fresh fabrics and contemporary couches or tables mixing in with antique heirlooms. Chairs for lounging and tables set up for backgammon as well as a billiards table and a turntable suggest the influence of multiple generations, while a stand bearing rain boots in all sizes suggests country walks in all kinds of weather. Next door is the spa, with a spectacular pool in a space inspired by a wine barrel. Light streams in the glass walls and the aestheticians practice the Caudalie art of pampering with grapeseed-infused products. Most guests spend time relaxing in the spa, château or their rooms or exploring the surrounding countryside of wildflowers, farms and forest. Bikes are available, and the nearest historic château, Château de Cheverny, which includes an impressive armor room and a kennel with more than 100 hunting dogs, is only a 10-minute bike ride away. Of course, Chenonceau, Amboise and other legendary properties can be visited as well, but it’s tempting to stay put and enjoy being a guest of the Tourbier family.