Manoir Saint-Gilles de la Cirottière

From the moment you drive through the gates, you will be enchanted by the Manoir Saint-Gilles de la Cirottière, a storybook-perfect, 15th-century château accented by manicured lawns, clipped box hedges, and fragrant rose gardens. It is immediately obvious that the owners are perfectionists, for everything is tended immaculately. One wing of the house, a charming two-story stone building accented by a tall turret, is totally dedicated to guests. It has an inviting lounge where small tables with colorful Provençal tablecloths are set in front of a massive stone fireplace. The attractively decorated bedrooms are reached by the stone staircase that spirals up the tower. My favorite is room 3, the Typhaine, an exceptionally large room with windows capturing a view of the front garden and the wooded park behind. Your gracious hosts, Monsieur and Madame Naux, have a daughter who lives in the USA, and they seem especially to enjoy entertaining guests from abroad.