In the Deux-Sèvres  (département 79)  of western France in the region of the Poitou-Charentes we find the remarkable and romantic Château de Saint-Loup.   This château, open year 'round, offers guest rooms in the château and the Keep -- and for those so inclined, the Keep is available for rent by the week.  If you would like to read about the restoration of the beautiful gardens and five-acre potager, try to find a copy of House & Garden Magazine, October 1999, for a delightful story about Comte Charles Henri de Bartillat and his work to restore his beloved Château de Saint-Loup.

Although south of the Loire Valley, the château still allows easy access to the grand châteaux of the Loire, as well as local spectacles such as Puy du Fou and the wonderful theme park,  Futuroscope -- its crystal cinema "Kinemax" has the biggest screen in Europe!  You will find easy drives to the Atlantic beaches and the Île de Ré.   Moreover, for those who would like to stay close to home, horseback riding, biking and fishing can all be enjoyed right on the château grounds.

Several interesting cities dot the area around Château de Saint-Loup, not least of which is Poitiers, the place in 732 where hero Charles Martel (grandfather of Charlemagne) halted the Arab invasion.  Centuries later, in 1431, the doors to its university opened, making Poitiers one of the early centers of higher education in France.  As the regional capital of the Deux-Sèvres, Poitiers is a thriving, modern city with a fascinating historical past.  When there, you will want to spend some time at Notre-Dame-la-Grande, a church famous for colorful geometric designs on its interior pillars and a magnificent façade complete with sculptures of the twelve apostles of Christ.  Another worthwhile visit is to the small medieval city of Parthenay, quite near Château de Saint-Loup.  Its ancient center of winding streets will hold your fascination.   Parthenay is  known as a sleepy town except on Wednesday mornings when the weekly livestock market takes place, so be forewarned.  Parthenay also recently held the distinction of having the highest per capita number of personal computers in France  - due to action by local government to introduce computers into the schools and homes of this medieval town.    There is also the town of Thouars with a Romanesque church displaying a Gothic rose window, and Niort, capital of the Marais Poitevin -- an area of marshes turned into navigable canals and known as the Green Venice.  This is only the tip of the iceberg of the interesting pastimes that await you in the Deux-Sèvres if you become a guest at Château de Saint-Loup.

This well-loved château wants to welcome you!  Your hosts offer  a wide selection of accommodations both in the château (nine guest rooms) and in the Keep.  They would love to give you more information about bed and breakfast accommodations or perhaps renting the entire château -- it is available as a bed and breakfast.  The Keep, however, is available to rent as a gîte  -- a self-catering accommodation complete with salon, a kitchen and other facilities.  See our web site for price information and booking details.  Sumptuous dinners of regional cuisine are available at a very reasonable price including wine.  As a guest you may be served dinner in the romantic pavillon that is pictured above -- complete with candles! 

Whatever you are seeking on your next visit to France, we are sure that you will be well pleased by a stay at Château de Saint-Loup -- off the beaten path, deep in the beautiful Deux-Sèvres countryside.  Make a reservation soon  -- Château de Saint-Loup and its owners are waiting for your knock on the door!