Les Sources de Cheverny, Loire Valley

Les Sources de Cheverny is a destination hotel and a rural estate focused on excellent food and wellness, perfectly positioned as a tranquil place to relax and unwind in the celebrated Loire Valley.

Les Sources de Cheverny can be found at the end of a long path winding through a mature forest bordering a narrow country road. This sets the scene for a rustic escape. And yet, the hotel at the heart of the estate does not compromise on any luxuries.

The region

Loire Valley owns its popularity to grand castles and rural palaces, so essential to the experience of France. Typically, these chateaux stand amidst the sprawling countryside in the valley, frequently punctured by vineyards and buffered by thick forests. The region’s proximity to Paris makes it a must-visit on many an itinerary.

So was the case for us. And what’s better than to start with a 49-room, wine-producing country manor located less than a two-hour drive from Paris? Enter Les Sources de Cheverny.

Wine-themed

The area is famed for quality wine, and de Cheverny builds parts of its identity around winemaking. The estate’s winery produces a wine vintage, while the large hotel spa taps into the themes and flavors of grapes.

The spa promises to unlock the antioxidizing secrets of grapes through innovative massages and wellbeing experiences. The treatment menu is extensive, while the health facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a hammam, and a gym. Pilates, yoga, and fitness classes are also available.

Chateau rooms, wooden chalets

The hotel sits on a 110-acre estate of forest and fields, with a large manor house at the center. It houses the spa and several “castle” rooms. These are furnished with antique-market pieces, brightened up by colorful rugs, and decorated with cute framed pictures.

Other than the manor rooms, the property also offers luxury chalets — one of which we stayed in. It’s a clever idea. The old chateau rooms can offer a ton of charm, but they don’t render themselves well to the style of modern luxury abodes. But the purpose-built chalets? You bet. Our suite was located on the shore of a small pond, and it was as spacious and comfortable as it was elegant.

For the palate

The L’Auberge restaurant, resembling a barn with an open fire, offers culinary experiences based on the local produce from the fields and forests of the Loire Valley. It’s mostly comfort food, perfectly fitting the rustic character of the place. There is also a bar — make sure to try the produced-on-site house wine, La Grand’Vigne white vintage made from Romorantin, one of the rarest varieties of white grape.

in our opinion

Les Sources de Cheverny offers a luxury hotel stay in a country estate famed for wine. For us, it was a fabulous start to the road trip across the Loire Valley.

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What we love

• Tasteful interiors in both the manor house and the modern chalets. Antique furniture and carefully selected fabrics and technology blend perfectly with the contemporary architecture, creating an atmosphere of a lived-in, refined countryside estate that has a touch of a bohemian spirit. We stayed at a pond-facing wooden cabin, set apart from the manor building — and loved how its style balanced a sense of a home-from-home with refined luxury and elegance.
• The top accommodation choice is Le Baron Perché, a similar style suite that stands on stilts on the shore. It comes with a private Nordic outdoor bathtub and panoramic views of the estate from a wooden tower.
• Le Spa des Sources. It offers various treatments in excellent facilities, using Caudalie cosmetics. The Signature beauty treatments are based on extracts from wine grape seeds.
• Great location, less than two hours from Paris. The hotel is quite close to two celebrated chateaux in the Loire Valley, Château de Chenonceau and Chambord. The nearby Cheverny village also has its own Château, which is well worth visiting.
• And by the way, Château de Cheverny is located only 10 minutes by bike. Conveniently, the hotel provides elegant bikes which guests can grab at any time. The car can be left behind (in the on-site parking space) while guests explore the picturesque countryside on two wheels.

What you should know

• Alongside the excellent spa, the hotel facilities include a family-friendly outdoor pool, a library (with a roaring fireplace), and two restaurants. All common areas in the hotel and some guestrooms are adapted for wheelchair users.
• How to visit the Loire Valley? The region is not small, and we figured that the best way to explore it was on a road trip. We planned for two weeks of sightseeing, which allowed us to take time and slow down. Plus, it gave us the perfect excuse to make frequent hotel changes and check out the best of French hospitality, chateau-style.
• Every winter, the hotel closes for a few weeks. Make sure to check the dates as they may vary.