LA MAISON DES GRENOUILLES

Her slight English accent gives her away, but Susan de Smet calls herself de Férolles: she's lived here for over 30 years and loves her village. It's away from the busy roads, but on the Loire à Vélo cycle route, where her gîte can be a stopover. With flowers everywhere, a large garden and orchard with guaranteed organic fruit, and benches set up under the trees, all the ingredients are there for a pleasant evening. Three en-suite bedrooms are available: the blue, the yellow (family room with two double beds) and the green with its kitchenette. Simple, functional furnishings and comfortable beds. Two of them have their own private terrace for a quiet moment after a journey by bike or car. For hot weather, one of the rooms has air conditioning. The all-you-can-eat breakfast is copious, and Susan makes a point of offering her homemade jams.