Les Verchers is a tiny village, but happily boasts a boulangerie serving scrummy cakes and breads, you will be served by a very friendly and completely French only speaking lady who will happily give you whatever you point to. There is a huge supermarket SuperU just five minutes away where you can buy everything you could possibly want from petrol to wine to cheese Doue la Fontaine boasts a number of shops, coffee bars and restaurants including two Troglodyte restaurants where you will enjoy a meal in a unique atmosphere and surroundings There are lots of bars and restaurants to choose from whether you just want to sit with a drink and watch the world go by or enjoy a scrumptious meal Many of the villages have festivals, particularly at vandage (harvest time). Great fun is had by all and you will be made very welcome. Everywhere you go the people are remarkably friendly and helpful, especially if you are brave enough to attempt some French

Although the immediate surroundings of SOLEIL exudes an aura of tranquility, we do appreciate that not everyones ideal holiday is spent soaking in the peace of a quiet garden or lazing in the sun. Fear not however, as the surrounding area has more than its fair share of attractions to entertain, from the cultural to the educational, the adventurous to the sublime. The region produces many exquisite wines from the world renowned Saumur Brut to the lesser known but delicious wines produced by the smaller wineries such as Jacki Clee's Domaine du Moulin de l'Horizon. This includes several traditional wine producers, who will welcome you with a visit around the caves where they produce the wines, followed by tastings and the opportunity to buy at far cheaper prices than in the UK. Appointments are necessary for many of the visits to the wineries and we will happily arrange these for you Alternatively, if time is limited or you have small children who say "not another one!!", we can arrange a mixed case from several producers for you to try. Simply tell us the type of wine you like (on which, the price will naturally vary) and we will have your case ready and waiting

The region offers so many varied and beautiful places to visit that you will want to return time and time again. You can see everything from a rose garden (Les Chemins de la Rose) at Doue La Fontaine, to a Tank Museum at Saumur For somewhere out of the ordinary, why not pay a visit to MUSEE DU CHAMPIGNON just five Kilometers from Saumur? A centre that cultivates 75% of the country's mushrooms!! You will visit the tufa caves, an experience never to be forgotten where the gourmets amongst you can enjoy a varied mushroom meal at lunch time.

Futurscope at Poitiers is a theme park packed with thrills and despite being an ideal day out for the children, it has plenty to entertain the 'big kid' in anyone with adventures for all ages. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary and seek thrills, this is the place for you. Check out their website at http://www.futuroscope.com. The night shows are fantastic .

On the South Bank in the suburb of St-Hilaire-St-Florent is the ECOLE NATIONALE d'EQUITATION ( the National Riding School) where the prestigious Cadre Noir stage very exciting equestrian shows. For more information, The Loire is world famous for its beautiful Chateaux, very many of which are open to the public and should not be missed.



The historic towns of Amboise, Blois, Saumur and Beaugency are jewels in the Loire's crown and therefore worth visiting Saumur, which is only a 15 minute drive from the gite is a beautiful town, bordering the Loire river where there are many pretty walks to amble along. A visit to the Chateaux is a must, there is an optional 90 minute guided tour which covers the porcelain and equestrian exhibits The 'Parc Mini Chateaux' at Amboise is a revelation. Go along and marvel at the 44 chateaux in miniture which grace the Loire. Gasp in admiration of workmanship and the care taken building these fantastic 'mini' chateaux. Everything is laid on for you to enjoy: a fantastic meal either in the restaurant, sandwich bar or picnic area. Chateau Villandry; The elegance of the renaissance. Villandry is renownedfor the harmony of its architecture and its gardens and is the last of the great Renaissance Chateaus built on the banks of the Loire and less than 45 minutes drive from the gîtes. The area boasts, golf courses, riding, fishing, swimming, cycling, canoeing and wonderful walks.

The Zoo at Doué La Fontaine is world famous. The animals are housed as near as possible to the terrain they originate from. The zoo boasts a very successful breeding programme which reinforces how happy and contented the animals are. You can even feed a vulture from your hand!!

Saumur has a small but very friendly airport, where it is also possible to buy fuel if you have flown yourselves in. Parking is cheap and the people couldn't be more helpful in providing a high quality aeronautical service. It is also possible to book parachute tandem jumps or lone jumps, or organise a complete parachute training course.

JUST A FEW OF OUR GUEST BOOK COMMENTS FROM PREVIOUS CLIENT'S

Great Location, Wonderful hospitality & excellent weather! Thanks for a Perfect Holiday.
(Nina & Jasper London October 2007)

Great holiday. Thank you both!
(Wright family September 2007)

Have had a fab time here. A big thank you for making our hols so good. Sue the meals were great. The gite is fabulous, the weather great, food and wine great, as it is here. Many thanks again!
(The Holmes North Yorkshire September 2007)

We have had a fabulous two weeks – absolute heaven! Jon and Sue, our only regret is that we didn’t have enough time to spend with you, as we so enjoyed your company. Everything has been wonderful, the baguettes, of which we have eaten so many, the visits to the chateaux, the wonderful Zoo at Doue la Fontaine, the visit to Chemins de la Rose, the magnificent pottery at Rose Bleau and the wonderful meals. The company of Jon, Sue and the other guests was so enjoyable. The pool is great, the kitchen is so well equipped, everything we need. The pool is delightful – the raspberries from the garden are a joy. All the time and attention Jon and Sue put into Les Fleurs paid off for us in every way. Our many thanks in giving us an amazing place to spend our time in France. What a joy for us all! We hate to leave!
(The Arnald & Elliott family, USA, August 2007)

Excellent Holiday! Soleil is a first class gite. Jon and Sue are excellent hosts. They are most welcoming, friendly and helpful. Sue’s home cooking is highly recommended as it is out of this world! The whole location is wonderfully designed
and laid out. The pool being the attraction for adults and children alike in the hot weather. The zoo at Doue la Fontaine, the troglodyte village at Rochminier and chateaux are recommended days out. An evening stroll along the vineyards finishes off a perfect day. The DVD/video library is very useful for entertaining the children.
The gite is superbly equipped and in a tranquil location. Thank you for a superb holiday and your hospitality. Very highly recommended. Au revoir.
(The Stimpson and Callow Families Buckinghamshire August 2007)

Our first visit to the Loire Valley really enjoyed our stay. Jon and Sue are perfect hosts. Lovely meals, Sue. Thank you!
(Steve, Debby,Daniel and James, Strafford-upon-Avon, July/August 2007)

What a wonderful week! Perfect hosts in Jon and Sue, we loved the food and the accommodation! Sundays, Wednesdays and Friday meals are not to be missed!!
(Irving Family, Worcestershire, July 2007)

Fantastic house in a lovely spot. Has everything you could possibly need and probably a bit more!! On a nice day, you can simply stay here, play in the garden, have a swim and rink wine, no need to go out at all. Jon and Sue are great hosts with lots of hints and trips about the area.
(The Proffitt family, July 2007)

Our first visit to France was very enjoyable. Lovely scenery and good food. Thank you Sue for the delicious meals
(Phil and Di, Bideford, June 2007)

Dear Jon and Sue. Thank you for yet another lovely stay. Wonderful cooking Sue – much appreciated! Hope you have a good season.
(The Bowden Family N. Devon June 2007)

Jon and Sue couldn’t have been better hosts!!! The maps and information were invaluable. Sue’s cooking is wonderful! This was our first visit to France and we truly enjoyed it. The friendly people, lovely weather and gorgeous countryside made it a holiday to remember. Merci beaucoup Jon and Sue!! Les Fleurs is truly 4 stars!!
Au Revoir
(Bob and Jody, Northern California, May 2007)

Very good, comfortable accommodation. Hosts’ very pleasant and helpful, enjoyed generally good weather. Troglodytes, Rose Garden and the Zoo at Doue la Fontaine are excellent. Visited Saumur and several other chateaux, all well worth visiting. Thank you Jon and Sue for making our stay worthwhile.
(Peter and Sue. North Yorkshire, April 2007)

Self catering rental prices vary from £360 to £735 per week; plus the £100 refundable security deposit.
A booking deposit of 20% is required with booking with the balance being due 8 weeks prior to your holiday