Symboles de France gathers 310 charming Chateaux-Hotels, historical monuments and cultural sites in France, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, India and Madagascar. Symboles de France, associates charming hostelry and cultural heritage. All our charming 3 and 4 star hotels offer a cultural visit and have a typical architecture, witness of the French history: abbey, manor, historical chateaux... The beauty, the comfort and the Art de Vivre of these chateaux-hotels will charm you.http://www.symbolesdefrance.com/en/Charming-Chateaux-Hotels-Spa-Restaurants/Centre and Val de LoireenThu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsscubeRSS30http://www.symbolesdefrance.com/La-Tonnelleriehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/La-TonnellerieLa Tonnellerie, a 19th century wine-merchant's house is located in the Loire Valley, at Travers, a picturesque village near Beaugency, a medieval city with heritage and cultural wealth. Only an hour and a half drive from Paris by the A10 motorway, La Tonnellerie invites you to relaxation and discovery. It opens its gates to the chateaux such as Chambord, Blois, Cheverny, Chenonceau... The Sologne nearby offers opportunities for pleasant country walks, cycling and horse riding. We are also surrounded by the most beautiful golf courses of France. The restaurant opens on the garden and you will enjoy a traditional cuisine, enriched by the famous wines of the Loire Valley. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Le-Choiseulhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Le-ChoiseulAmboise, Chenonceau, Chaumont sur Loire, Blois, Cheverny, Chambord... The history of France is all around the Choiseul. Bellow the ramparts of Amboise Royal Castle, tucked between the hillside and the Loire river, the ground of this 18 th century setting of buildings features a labyrinth of Italian-style gardens. In the time of Louis XV it was « a property» for one of Louis 15th less favored advisors. Today it offers the ideal step to discover the sights and the flavours of the Tourraine region. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Domaine-de-Beauvoishttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Domaine-de-BeauvoisHere nature is king. In the middle of a 350-acre park, next to the banks of the Loire river and the pond Briffaut, where Louis XIII is said to have hunted birds. In the heart of this legendary landscape is a beautiful building with a 15 th century tower that is mirroring a reflecting pool. A beautiful place at the gates of Tours filled with charm and tranquillity.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-d-Artignyhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-d-ArtignyOnce upon a time, there was a perfume maker who dreamed of living in a castle. So, was borned the Chateau d'Artigny, an immaculate building built in the 18th century style, nestled in a jewel case of green, fifteen kilometers from Tours. Marble, wood panelling, frescoes in trompe l'oeil… nothing was too beautiful for this house, making it today a chateau-hotel of the utmost elegance.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-Rochecottehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-RochecotteIdeally located to discover the Chateaus of the Loire Valley and the famous vineyards of Bourgueil and Chinon, registered to the “Patrimoine Mondial de l’Humanité” The Chateau de Rochecotte, former residence of the Duchesse de Dino and Prince de Talleyrand is an historical site in a peaceful and relaxing setting, in a magnificent wooded park. The chateau also offers a heated swimming pool. For a romantic getaway weekend, with family or for a seminar, Rochecotte offers you many opportunities for an unforgettable stay.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Les-Greniers-de-Cesarhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Les-Greniers-de-CesarThe "Greniers de César" is a complex of caves owned by the Choiseul and has been classified by the survey of additional historical monuments). It comprises three parallel chambers with several floor levels, and four cylindrical silos which were used for storing tithes paid by the people during the period when the french kings resided in Amboise. They now contain a collection of sugar loaf moulds from the old sugar refinery at Chanteloup.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-Villandryhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-VillandryVillandry was completed toward 1536 and was the last of the large chateaus built in the Loire Valley during the Renaissance. Villandry was built by Jean le Breton, one of François I’s Finance Ministers, whose coat of arms can be seen on the gable of the left-hand dormer window. His most impressive achievement in this field was the construction of Chambord, that vast flight of regal fancy, which Le Breton supervised under the aegis of François I. While directing this project, he built for himself nearby a small replica of Villandry called Villesavin near the Chambord chateau. Le Breton had first been ambassador to Italy where he spent all his time studying the Italian Renaissance art of gardening. In order to build the present chateau, Le Breton had razed an old XIIth century castle, from which he had only kept the old tower that can be seen behind the main courtyard. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Domaine-de-Chevernyhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Domaine-de-ChevernyThe present Château de Cheverny is an original jewel among the more famous monuments that stretch along the Loire Valley. In fact, Renaissance style did not find its place in Cheverny, which is built in the purest Louis XIII classical style, distinguished by an extraordinarily symmetrical architecture. Cheverny, which was built in the first part of the 17th Century, is a prime example of this style. Its delicate features also stand out through the perfect whiteness of the stones, from the Bourré quarries in the Cher Valley. This particular stone not only comes out white, but also becomes harder with time. However, this almost rigid architectural layout also has its contrasts, such as the variety of roofing styles, from domes, to bell-towers and other French-style roofs.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de Francehttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-Chenonceauhttp://www.symbolesdefrance.com/Chateau-de-ChenonceauBuilt on the river Cher, where the unique beauty of its architecture reflects in the water, the Château de Chenonceau is the Val de Loire’s finial. Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin. The lovely surroundings, the formal garden and the park surrounding it add to the impression of delicate grace emanating from the castle. Chenonceau is not only remarkable for its architecture and history but also for the fine quality of its collections as can be seen from the inside visit: Renaissance furniture, a vast ensemble of XVI th and XVII th centuries tapestries and a great number of masterpieces. Le Primatice, Rubens, Le Tintoret, Rigaud, Nattier, Van Loo are among the most famous names that can be found there.Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:03:58 +0100Symboles de France