91d4624b

Brocante Weekends in the Loire Valley

Mon, 24 May 2021 15:12:00 GMT

Visit broc'ARThenay new to La Grande Maison d'Arthenay for 2021

This season we have opened a brocante/antique shop at the house. Specialising in small antique items and pieces of art that are transportable and make ideal gifts or decorations for your home. A little reminder of your holiday in France. broc'ARThenay is open to guests at La Grande Maison and to outside public on a rendez-vous only basis.

If you are interested in visiting some of the Sunday Brocantes in the Loire Valley then we are also offering a Brocante Hunters Weekend Package which you can find out all about on the link here : https://www.lagrandemaison.net/brocante-hunter-weekends

If you wish to make an appointment to visit broc'ARThenay at La Grande Maison d'Arthenay then please email resv@lagrandemaison.net with your request and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you.

Le Musée d'Art Moderne - Fontevraud

Thu, 20 May 2021 15:50:27 GMT

The new gallery at Fontevraud is now open and it's sublime!

It has been a long wait for the opening of the new Musée d'Art Moderne situated in Fontevraud on the site of the Abbey. Due to open last year and then delayed because of C19, it was finally opened on the 19th May 2021. We got the chance to visit today and after booking online to reserve a slot we were the only people there apart from the over zealous but masked security guards.

A GENEROUS DONATION MADE BY A COUPLE PASSIONATE ABOUT ART

For more than sixty years, Martine and Léon Cligman collected paintings, drawings and sculptures by 19th and 20th century artists, as well as antiques and artefacts from outside Europe (Africa, Oceania, Asia and the Americas). In 2017 their generous donation was made and the Region Pays de La Loire announced the opening of a museum of modern art at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, which belongs to the State and is protected as a historical monument., the collection is both original and truly first class.

MARTINE AND LEON CLIGMAN THE DONORS

Martine was herself the daughter of collectors. Brought up among paintings by Maurice de Vlaminck, Raoul Dufy and Chaïm Soutine, sculptures by Auguste Rodin and drawings by Degas, Martine could not but embark on a path of creating art and wanting to collect it from a very young age.

When she met Léon Cligman at the end of the war, this young man, who was a brilliant student at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce business school and a member of the Resistance at the age of twenty, started a career in industry in the textile sector, which he would pursue with great success in companies he created or acquired. Newman, Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, Christian Lacroix and Lacoste were some of his standout brands. His factories, which were often ultra-modern, were located within an area that he liked to say had the Abbey of Fontevraud at its epicentre (Issoudun, Tours, Angers and Cholet).

Léon and Martine Cligman married in 1954 and decided to follow the family tradition and start collecting works that would form the backdrop of their everyday living environment throughout their lives. Drawn to expressions of classic modernity, they collected pieces from figurative styles of art from the inter-war period, as well as artists from Eastern Europe who contributed to the vibrancy of the École de Paris (School of Paris) from the beginning of the 20th century.

Echoing this, works from all origins, if they stood out because of their expression, their synthesis of forms, or the solidity of their structure, were acquired on impulse during trips, on the Paris art market, in galleries or at public sales.

They followed the principle of never purchasing works without agreeing it with each other first – every work had to reflect their shared perspective. (Source : Fontevraud.fr)

The gallery itself is really stunning. It's has been re-constructed from a pre-revolution building called the ancient 'Fannerie' that was originally used to lodge the staff who looked after the Abbess who ran the convent. The building has been empty for many years and finally it has found it's future. On the three levels you will find paintings, sculpture and other 'objets d'art that have previously been unseen by the public.

Martine Cligman is an artist in her own right and there is also a beautiful recreation of her own studio containing many of her own works along with a few surprises that I won't spoil here. I love her story of being sent to the Château of Valençay during the 2nd World War. The chateau also hid art works from the Louvre during this period and in a video she describes how she and her father would open the packages of art work after dinner and discuss them late into the evening.

There is no particular order to the way the works are displayed but the combination of avant-garde art, sculpture and artefacts are cleverly combined to create a picture in itself. I would imagine this mirrors the way the Cligman's randomly purchased their art and included periods from Fauvism, Cubism, Impressionism a true “museum of the imagination”.

There is such a mixture of periods and styles in this gallery that you will want to return to discover what you have missed. Seeing so many previously unseen works (by the public) took my breath away. The lighting and arrangement of the art is superb (although you can easily get lost and miss a few rooms so make sure to follow the arrows on the floor). It will make a fabulous addition to any visit to the area and if you want to combine it with a visit the the abbey then it will take a full day with a lunch break in the village.

Tickets 6 euros available online at www.Fontevraud.fr NOT TO MISS!!!

Winocuts - Wine Art for Christmas

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 15:24:16 GMT

Bring a little of the sprit of La Grande Maison into your home this Christmas.

Our Winocuts Christmas Cards are now available to purchase in packs of six on the website. Each card is hand printed and signed in a limited edition of 50 (14cm x 10cm with envelope.)

https://www.winocuts.com/prod.../christmas-cards-handprinted

Private Commissions a Special Christmas Gift

Please feel free to contact us if you are looking for a private one off commission. A piece of art work designed especially for you, a friend or relative is something to treasure. We can produce our linocuts from a photograph of your choice and the results can be supplied mounted or mounted and framed along with the original engraving 1/1. Two unique pieces of artwork make a personal present to last a lifetime.

So far we have produced private commissions for several clients including an architectural property, a cave, a series of Landrover Defender prints, holiday memories at La Grande Maison and bottles of wine! So, how ever crazy your idea might seem let is know and we'll give our best to produce it.

Plenty of Works on the Winocuts Website to coose from.

Check out our website https://www.winocuts.com to see what we have to offer. We can post worldwide and if you order now in time for Christmas.

Wine Touring by Ebike in times of COVID19

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 07:52:33 GMT

A lovely guest review for our Electric Bike Wine Tour in the Loire

As seen in The Guardian and The Observer

20 of the best sustainable holidays in Europe for 2020

Listed in Sawdays and FurtherAfield.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/dec/26/20-best-sustainable-holidays-europe-2020-green-getaways

“ We booked the 2 night Ebike Wine Tour at La Grande Maison in spring 2020 for July. Micaela and Sue had carefully adapted the itinerary to fit with covid-19 guidelines, and since travel restrictions were fortunately lifted just in time, we felt comfortable enough to travel.

Micaela greeted us with a glass of bubbly on arrival, followed by a fantastic three course spread and more delicious local wine.

Breakfasts and the picnic post-wine tasting were equally fantastic! The views, sunshine and food were really the stuff of dreams.

Particularly under the circumstances, using the E-bikes to get around for our wine tasting was an ideal way to enjoy the best that the region has to offer: we were out in the open the majority of the time, which made it easy to maintain social distancing without compromising on experience. The e-bikes are comfortable and easy to use - we cycled a picturesque route both on and off-road, through vineyards, along quiet country roads and along some rougher tracks too.

We enjoyed two fantastic tastings, the first in the morning at a locally owned vineyard and cave at Le Puy Notre Dame, Domaine de la Paleine and the second in the afternoon at Chateau de Fosse Seche. We tried a range of excellent whites, reds and sparkling wines which we then had the opportunity to buy at very reasonable rates.

In both instances, Sue provided additional information on viticulture, the wine-making process and tasting notes and tips. She is clearly extremely knowledgeable about the region, its producers and its wines - being fairly inexperienced wine tasters we both felt we learned a lot without being overwhelmed.

Between tastings, we enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant which was also lovely - setting, food and wine were all fantastic.

After almost four months being unable to travel, we felt that the tour was the perfect antidote. Fresh air, sunshine, wonderful food and wine and perfect hosts - an idyllic weekend.” Catherine and Iain - London UK July 2020

To find out what is included in the Ebike Wine Tour click on the link here :

https://www.lagrandemaison.net/covid-aware-electric-bike-wine-tour-loire

To request an Ebike Wine Tour from La Grande Maison simply complete the availability form here using the REF: Loire by EBike

https://www.lagrandemaison.net/book-loire-wine-experiences

As seen in The Guardian and The Observer

20 of the best sustainable holidays in Europe for 2020

Listed in Sawdays and FurtherAfield.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/dec/26/20-best-sustainable-holidays-europe-2020-green-getaways

Winocuts, Holiday Postponements & COVID19

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 10:20:55 GMT

Life under lockdown at La Grande Maison

We were due to re-open on the 20th March 2020 this year for the new season but our first cancellation from the USA came in pretty swiftly prompted by cancellations and postponements for April, May and June. We are currently on lockdown in France until the 15th April but the general feeling is that this second period of confinement will be extended again so we will keep you posted. We are feeling very sad for all our returning and future guests that were due to arrive over the next couple of months for bed & breakfast and wine tours. If you have any queries regarding a future reservation then please do not hesitate to email me on : resv@lagrandemaison.net

Obviously life goes on at La Grande Maison. There are dog walks to be had, gardening to be done, bricolage to be carried out and general up keep of the house ready for your arrival. We have also been working on an art project called WINOCUTS a series of wine related art that we were due to exhibit at the Portes Ouvertes at Domaine de la Paleine in May. It is not for sure that this might also be postponed so in the meantime we have created a website where you can buy our art online : https://www.winocuts.com

Missing your holiday, missing La Grande Maison or just missing the Loire Valley and France then why not order the latest copy of Catherine Taralon's "Mon Voyage Sur La Loire" featuring La Grande Maison along with many of our favourite restaurants, shop, wineries and places to visit. We have added the guide to the Winocuts site so that you can order it online. (Photo : Marc Brossard Loire Vallée Magazine)

We also have copies of the Loire Vallée Magazine II for sale on the site (featuring La Grande Maison d'Arthenay) which is packed with beautiful photography of famous Loire chateaux, artists and places to visit during you future trip. Head over to https://www.winocuts.com to order your copy and fend off the holiday blues. (Photo: Marc Brossard Loire Vallée Magazine)

Stay safe folks and in the meantime we are taking bookings for 2021 from 1st April so don't hesitate to get in touch if you want to plan ahead and have something to look forward to. The first 5 bookings for 2021 will receive a FREE copy of the Loire Vallée Magazine on arrival at La Grande Maison. Hope to see you then! Take care Micaela and Sue xx

Mon Voyage Sur La Loire

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 10:39:19 GMT

Loire Vallée Magazine Guide from Montsoreau to Le Thoureil via La Grande Maison

17th February 2020 marks the anniversary of our arrival at La Grande Maison and to celebrate the start of our 17th Season we are offering a Loire Vallée Magazine Guide to the first person who books a stay with us this year using the code : LGM17:17

The guide is hot off the press and full of exciting places to visit, great restaurants, hidden wineries and unique boutiques. Along with yours truly La Grande Maison d'Arthenay, it is an indispensable guide to accompany you on your holiday around Le Puy Notre Dame, Montreuil Bellay and Saumur in the Loire Valley. Including some lovely days out to Montsoreau and Le Thoureil.

For those of you that have stayed before you will find many of our favourite haunts including restaurants such as Auberge des Isles in Montreuil Bellay, VerVert in Montsoreau and La Route de Sel in Le Thoureil and much much more all beautifully captured on camera by Marc Brossard. (French Text by Catherine Taralon)

So BOOK TODAY First to book using the code : LGM17:17 will receive their complimentary guide worth 14.50 euros on arrival at

La Grande Maison https://www.lagrandemaison.net

FRANCAIS

Le 17 février 2020 marque l'anniversaire de notre arrivée à La Grande Maison et pour célébrer le début de notre 17e saison, nous offrons cette année le guide BRAND NEW Loire Vallée à la première personne qui réserve un séjour chez nous cette année en utilisant le code : LGM17:17

https://www.lagrandemaison.net/mon-voyage-sur-la-loire

RÉSERVEZ MAINTENANT et récupérez votre guide Loire Vallée Magazine à votre arrivée. Le guide sera bientôt disponible dans notre boutique en ligne au prix de 14,50 euros plus 5 euros de frais de port. Si vous le manquez, vous pouvez toujours en commander un ici en nous envoyant un courrier à resv@lagrandemaison.net.

BONNES VACANCES !

Loire Wine Tour by Electric Bike from La Grande Maison

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 11:36:43 GMT

New for 2020 - As featured in The Guardian and The Observer

Loire Wine Tour By Electric Bike direct from La Grande Maison into the Saumur Le Puy Notre Dame Vineyards

We will guide you through the vineyards on a fun fully electric ebike and take you tasting to Organic, Biodynamic and Natural wineries that follow green practices. Environmentally friendly with zero emissions we are also reducing our use of plastic by offering each guest an A6 flat re-usable water bottle to take away with you after the tour.

A delicious organic picnic stop in the vineyards with vegetarian and vegan options available. Our cargo bikes will allow easy transportation of your wine purchases back to La Grande Maison.

Part moped, part utility bike, part cargo bike and part ebike the Radrunner is the perfect vehicle with it's fat tyres to go off road in the vineyards. With a top speed of 25 mph the bikes are easy to ride and need no licence. You will be shown how to ride the Radrunner and helmets are provided.

You can read about what is included in the tour here : https://www.lagrandemaison.net/loire-wine-tour-by-electric-bike

Feature in The Guardian as one of the 20 best sustainable holidays in Europe for 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/dec/26/20-best-sustainable-holidays-europe-2020-green-getawa...

Featured in The Observer in the Top 5 « ...these stylish European holidays give the planet a break too » Gemma Bowes The Observer - La Grande Maison makes the top 5 https://www.pressreader.com/…/the-…/20191229/282638919500047

For those who don't feel like cycling we have an Electric Car Wine Tour available too. Arrive by train and we will collect you from Saumur station. Totally ECO and Zero Emissions. Reduce your carbon footprint today.

Read about The Eco Electric Wine Tour here: https://www.lagrandemaison.net/ECOWineTourLoireFullElectric

Herbicide Ban in the Vines of Anjou Saumur!

Fri, 01 Nov 2019 15:12:42 GMT

Anjou Saumur become the First Appellation In France to Ban Use of Herbicides from 2020

Delighted to report that as from 2020 the appellations of Anjou-Saumur will end to the use of chemical weeding by herbicides.

At last! The decrees formalising the new specifications of the 27 appellations of Anjou-Saumur have just been published. This means the end of chemical weeding on the 18,000 ha of the vineyard in AOC.

In the official text, this sentence makes the Directive explicit: "A controlled plant cover, spontaneous or sown, is mandatory on the row between rows; in the absence of this plant cover, the operator shall tillage the soil to control spontaneous vegetation or justify the use of biocontrol products approved by public authorities in viticulture. If biocontrol herbicides are used on a plot, the use of other herbicides is prohibited.

The Angevin vineyard is the first in France to ban chemical weeding on a large scale on all vine surfaces.

From now on, it is prohibited to use chemical herbicides (such as glyphosate) to control weeds between vine rows. It has been more than two years since the winegrowers of the eighteen wine appellations of Anjou and Saumur voted in favour of this environmental measure.

One step closer to a full organic status in all 18,000 hectares of the Anjou Saumur vineyards.

Translated from a report by Quest France.

Loire Vallée Magazine

Fri, 11 May 2018 14:12:51 GMT

Featuring La Grande Maison B&B and Loire Wine Tours

This new annual magazine - Loire Vallée Magazine - is available online and is in French and English. It features a beautiful article about Micaela and Sue at La Grande Maison, their B&B and Loire Wine Tours. Written by Catherine Taralon with stunning photography by Marc Broussard the magazine also features Villandry, Chaumont, Fontevraud Abbey, Bouvet Laduaby, La Route du Sel amongst many other exceptional places to visit. We feel honoured to be included in their presence and think you will enjoy the visual imagery that Marc has captured along with the sublime text of Catherine. We will soon have online sales of the magazine available but in the meantime you can email : resv@lagrandemaison.net to reserve your copy. Alternatively why not reserve a copy in advance of your stay here and we will put one aside for you to collect.

à bientôt

18 euros (plus P&P 5 euros UK & EU : 10 euros Rest of World)

Meet the Owners of La Grande Maison

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 15:35:40 GMT

David Matthews of Further Afield interviews Micaela and Sue

In one of France’s most famous and prolific wine regions, these beautiful houses (La Grande Maison and La Petite Maison ) are an ideal way to explore and learn about the wines of the area, but are just as much about being able to kick back and enjoy the peace and beauty of the houses and their settings. We find out what it is that makes these Maisons so beloved by their hosts and their guests…you can read their story here.

https://www.furtherafield.com/blog/meet-the-owners-la-grande-and-petite-maisons/

New Tasting Room and Cellar for Domaine de Vieux Pressoir

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 17:30:20 GMT

The Vagon family putting investment into local village winery.

Friday saw the inaugaration of one of our closest wineries to La Grande Maison that of Domaine de Vieux Pressoir. Now owned by the Vagon family they opened their new tasting room and recent cellar excavation with a pop yesterday evening.

Domaine de Vieux Pressoir was originally owned by Bruno Albert who was responsible for creating the new appellation of Saumur - Le Puy Notre Dame for the Cabernet Franc red wines around Le Puy in 2009.

The Vagon family have brought in Frédéric Etienne to manage/produce the wine and Luce Delhumeau who is responsible for the commercialisation and wine tourism.

The winery are known for a good quality range of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc and as well as dry wines produce a sparkling with the renowned Saumur sparkling wine house of Louis Grenelle and a delicious late harvest Coteaux du Saumur.

The jarres will give a purity and freshness to the wines whilst protecting the quality of the fruit and the authenticity of the aromas. The domaine has it's Portes Ouvertes this weekend 14th and 15th April when the cave will be open to the public for the first time and the wines can be tasted.

Going Underground in Saumur Champigny

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 11:03:59 GMT

On the surface you will find 'demeures de caractère et de maisons de vignerons' beautiful houses of characters and winemakers houses but this weekend we were more interested in going underground with our wine tour group.

We witnessed the first signs of bud burst today whilst out and about in the Saumur Champigny vineyards. Now we have our fingers crossed that there is no frost or hail during this delicate stage of the vines growth. The last 2 years have been difficult in certain parts of the Loire Valley due to frost damaged vines and hail. The buds start with a wooly bud of 'coton' and now the buds or 'bourgeons' as they are called in French are starting to open. The vines are coming out of their dormancy period and the new years growth is about to start for 2018.

Wine Tour Season starts for 2018

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 15:10:42 GMT

Let the wine tasting commence...

After a cold and wet start to March we were so lucky to have a sunny and well...almost warm day for our first Loire wine tour of the season. A lovely group from Seattle USA had the opportunity to taste the biodynamic wines from Domaine de la Paleine close by to La Grande Maison.

After a delicious fireside picnic in front of the woodburner we then headed out into the Anjou appellation for a meet up in the vineyards with Gilles Bigot winemaker at Chateau de Fesles before tasting some of his Bonnezeaux, a late harvest Chenin Blanc.

Later in Brissac Quincé, Christophe Daviau was in top form at Domaine de Bablut and delighted that one of his sons will soon be joining him in the winery. Well the winery has been in the family since 1546 so it would be a shame to break with tradition.

Welcome to the new La Grande Maison Blog

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 14:24:38 GMT

Hope you like the new website for La Grande Maison Loire Wine Tours

After 14 years at La Grande Maison we are again in the process of re-building our website for a third time in order to keep up with developing technology and mobile communications. We hope that you will like the results. We are also starting a new blog here on this site but in the meantime you can read entries on our old blog site by clicking here .