Saumur by Stuart Bradley

Saumur. Even the name conjures up magical images of the creamy tuffeau stone glistening in the early morning sunlight. The mists slowly rising from the Loire as it winds its way majestically through the rich and varied landsape.

Saumur. An ‘appelation’, AOC – Appelation d’Origine Controllée. Your guarantee of a quality branded item, be it a cheese, meat or wine.

Saumur. Overlooked by the fairytale Chateau de Saumur, sat high on the hilltop since the 13th Century like a guardian angel. Once a prison, then a barracks, once a family home, but always a reminder of the past. A meeting place for lovers, or a place to dine in style at l’Orangerie. Take a stroll around the castle walls, close your eyes to the modern-day sights of the town below, and imagine the rising tide of Vendéan rebels storming the castle in 1793.

Wine plays a great part in the history of the town, many caves being large exporters of the Saumur AOC wines across the globe. Saumur Champigny, created from the grapes of the Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay vines. Acre upon acre of chalky escarpment driven to produce the delicious fruity reds, or crisp cool whites. Over 400 million bottles are produced from the Loire region each year from famous names such as Gratien & Meyer, Langlois Chateau, Robert Ladubay. Wines from these producers and many, many more grace the tables of restaurants and hotels from Anchorage to Zanzibar.

It’s not just for the chateaux and the wine that visitors flock to the Loire Valley. Many come to explore the unspoilt countryside by bicycle, or on foot. Grande Randonnée routes criss-cross Saumur. Others arrive with aspirations to travel the uncharted waters of the Loire Valley rivers – Cher, Indre, Thouet, Loir. They bring kayaks or tow dinghies to launch into the cool blue water.

They may even meander along the Worldwide Heritage Site between Maine and Sully-sur-Loire, stopping off here for a picnic, there for lunch at a delightful riverside café. If they have a sense of history, then there’s much to keep them occupied in Saumur. The Cadre Noir offers the visitor the chance to marvel at the skilled horsemen, trained here for centuries at the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation. The Tank museum may fuel the imagination of the young and old alike with a collection of over 800 fighting vehicles, many in working order.

For a more serene glimpse into a past dominated by crusades, knights, and religious wars look no further than the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud. Here lies Richard Coeur de Lion and the Plantagenet King of England, his father King Henry II, by his side his wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. At peace forever in the most beautiful place on earth.

Whatever the reason, whatever the season, you can be sure of the holiday of your choice here in the ‘Jardin de France’. Be it history, culture, gastronomy, wine, fun & games, adventure, thrills or quietude. It’s all here waiting for you. Enjoy!

 

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