Loire Valley family holiday accommodaiton, France
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Our cottage is in the countryside and we recycle whenever we can. There are plenty of recycling bins throughout the village, pretty much everything is recyclable, cans glass, plastic cartons, newspapers etc. We also ask our guests to turn off unneeded lights, even when out of the room for a short time. We use low energy light bulbs wherever possible. We encourage the use of solar lights brought into the house to use as night lights. Unplug the appliances that are not being used and try an use the microwave or bbq instead of the conventional oven. Only use the electrical appliances when you need them. Please dont wash dishes in running water. We ask to use the rain barrel water and recouperator in the garden filled from the well to water the plants. Compost vegetable scraps. We use wood for our double sided log burner, taken from sustainable local source. Depending on the time you visit you pick your own fruit from the garden, cherries, mirabelle plums, and pears. We have a fosse (septic tank) sewerage system with the process of naturally occuring bacteria is filtered and eventually runs clean water into our field. We use bio-friendly products and ask guests not to put anything other than biodegradable toilet paper into the toilet system
Community
Please support the local community by using local services. Sample some of the tasty food in locally run restaurants and cafe's, boulangeries, supermarket. Soak up the atmosphere with our brilliant friday market in the village with local produce including, fruit, vegetables, chicken, meat and fish. You might even find yourself some unusal crafts/gifts. There are many beautiful chateaux and museums in the Loire Valley to visit, steeped in history, including Fontevraud home to the Kings & Queens of both France and England.
The are also numerous vineyards The vineyards of the Loire valley stretch from east to west, the Tours region, Anjou, the Saumur region and the Nantes region are the main appellation areas. The tourist route around the vineyards of the Loire valley leads wine lovers and beginners alike from cellars to vineyards. The wines of the Loire Valley reflect the mood of the landscape. They are soft, pleasant, charming and light. About three quarters of the production are white wines. The main grapes are Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon for white wine and Cabernet Franc for red wine.
Visit the local Vide greniers (flea markets) where you can haggle and find a bargain. These are usually held in the village market places and the local cafes and bars open their doors and local produce is on sale.
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