Château du Plessis

Description

“Château du Plessis” is located in Thilouze at the geographical center of the Loire Valley with its historical Châteaux and Vouvray and Chinon vineyards. Most sites are within one hour drive from Thilouze: Azay-le-Rideau (12km), Villandry (15km), Ussé (20km), Tours (22km), Chinon (25km), Abbaye of Fontevraud (35km), Amboise (40km), Chenonceau (45km), Cheverny (40km). Activities include canoeing, ballooning, wine tasting, mushroom picking, dining, golfing, and tennis. The gentle hilly landscape and small country roads make for ideal bicycling; forest trails invite walking and hiking.

Château du Plessis offers the best of modern comfort with up to date technology throughout. Approximately 6,000 square feet of living space are nestled in the midst of a nineteen acre wooded park. Four spacious and comfortable fully appointed bedrooms with adjoining baths sleep eight guests.

From the Entry Hall french doors open to the “Salon” (living room). Fourteen feet high wood beamed ceiling and a massive fireplace reveal the XV Century origin of the Château. Classic XVIII century French antique furniture and comfortable contemporary American sofas balance style and comfort. Ample light and air flow through screened double glazed windows and french doors. Built in bar, hidden TV and DVD/CD player with surround sound, complete the appointment of the salon.

Across the central hall paved in natural Pierre de Bourgogne (lime stone), french doors open into the elegant Dining Room. A massive fire place, fourteen feet high beamed ceilings and decorative niches surround the Louis XV dining table for up to ten guests. Light and air flow freely between double glazed screened windows and french doors.

Between the dining room and the kitchen the backdoor is in the SAS or mud room. It provides convenient access from the rear parking area.

The spacious Kitchen is located in the 19th century south wing of the Château. French doors with screens open onto the terrace where tables await guests for an al fresco breakfast, lunch, aperitif, or dinner. The elmwood cabinets provide ample storage for glassware, cookware and chinaware. The restaurant style gas stove with oversized electric oven and its étuvée (steam warming oven), enable the chefs to prepare elaborate meals. An additional electric wall oven and a hidden microwave oven add convenience for the preparation of simpler meals. A large hidden refrigerator–freezer with an automatic ice maker provides fresh and frozen food storage. An ultra quiet dishwasher, a trash compactor, a water filtering system and an under sink garbage disposal complete the list of major appliances. On the counters, a variety of portable appliances include a coffee maker, an espresso machine, a toaster, a fruit juicer, and a blender (some of which are stored in convenient pull-out drawers). The large central island with an elevated pewter counter and bar stools provides sitting for four. A small bistro table sitting two or three is set by the French doors for rainy day convenience. A 20” flat screen TV enables the cook to keep up with local or world news. In a corner a wrought iron 19th century spiral staircase leads to the office upstairs.

Two large glass pocket doors join the kitchen and the “Salon d’Été” (Sunroom). The spacious sunroom is brightly lit on three sides by nine large windows and screened french doors opening to the terrace. An extraordinary outdoor atmosphere is felt from a comfortable indoor location. Two ceiling fans generate ample airflow during those occasional hot summer days. A 50” plasma screen with DVD allows the viewing of favorite sport events or DVD movie in total surround sound. A dining table seats eight guests. The Pierre de Bourgogne (limestone) floor emphasizes the indoor outdoor character of the room.

Outside, on the Terrace, a dining table seats up to ten guests for dinner during those long warm summer evenings. Three large umbrellas provide ample shade. Bistro tables and chairs invite sipping wine. The terrace wraps around to the kitchen where another table seats four for breakfast or lunch. A Webber gas BBQ completes the terrace amenities.

In the tower, a large spiral wooden stairwell leads to the bedroom suites on the second floor and to the third floor bedrooms. At the bottom, a charming powder room is snuggled into a small turret. On the second floor, the Rose Room has a California king-size bed with baldaquin. An armoire hides the 24” TV/DVD combo and stereo player. A bookcase filled with books in English provides a wealth of reading material, from historical information, cultural anecdotes, and fun recreational reading. A small desk is convenient for writing postcards to friends and relatives. Two comfortable chairs with an ottoman invite the reader to browse through books or to watch TV. A walk-in dressing room leads to a large bathroom with double sinks and corner bathtub with shower. Screened windows give ample light and provide pleasant ventilation. Two ceiling fans generate additional ventilation when the air is still.

Also on the second floor the Gold Room has a canopied queen-size American bed, a 20” TV, stereo hiden in the armoire, and a walk-in dressing room. A comfortable sofa, a chair with an ottoman, and an antique small desk complete the suite’s furniture. Large screened windows give generous light and provide refreshing ventilation. Two ceiling fans provide additional ventilation. The adjoining a bathroom has double sinks and an oversized shower.

From the Gold Room, one can access the Study located above the kitchen. A vaulted beamed ceiling soars nearly twenty feet in the air. Screened dormer windows provide ventilation. Additional light pours in through the skylight. The walnut desk holds an “all-in-one” inkjet printer-fax-scanner. Phone jacks and ADSL modem (to Wanadoo/Orange) enables one to plug in a laptop and have Internet broadband access. A sofa sleeper, two arm chairs, and two bookcases complete the furnishing. Adjoining the study there is a full bathroom with a shower in tub unit and a spacious single vanity. A tall cupboard holds the washer and dryer as well as an ironing board. In the adjoining hallway, a spiral stairwell leads down to the kitchen.

The beamed vaulted tower stairwell leads to the third floor. On the left, the Blue Room is decorated in an English cottage style and is ideal for older children and young adults. The room is fitted with twin beds, an armoire, a desk, a chair, and two dressers. Screened windows and a ceiling fan provide ample ventilation and light.

On the opposite side of the hallway, the Green Room is almost an exact replica of the blue room, but in a green and pink decorative motif. Between both rooms is a full bathroom with two sinks, a separate shower, a dressing table, and a separate room with a tub and shower unit.

Beyond the terrace is the old 19th century “porcherie” (pig sty). The private Swimming Pool with its limestone terrace is on the other side of the porcherie. It sits in the middle of a vast lawn, with maximum sun exposure.

Beyond the swimming pool, over two acres of lawns surround the Château. beyond the goats' enclosure, fifteen acre woods provide one mile of trails for enchanting walks. during the fall, there are plenty of mushrooms for the adventurers to pick. A well maintained dirt road through the woods leads to the village for daily shopping for fresh croissants at the village’s boulangerie.

Throughout the château, the owners’ personal touches make the guest feel at home. A thorough guidebook of the house answers most of the visitor’s questions. It also contains the list of surrounding towns and commerce with personal recommendations for restaurants, shops and sightseeing alternatives. Should any problem arise, the caretaker who lives in the apartment on the north side of the Château is eager and willing to solve it and answer any additional questions. The “femme à journée" (housekeeper) comes once a day during the week to spruce up the house. Upon request, she is available to prepare an occasional home cooked dinner.

Guests interested in the Château’s background will find in the sunroom a leather bound illustrated “Chronicles” of the owners eight years remodeling project.

Le Plessis is located less than 2 km from the village of Thilouze, nestled along the river Le Lys, a tributary of the river Indre. Thilouze today is home to more than 1,600 inhabitants. Walking through the village, one would guess that fewer than 200 people reside in the small village. The main square, is bordered by the XIIth century church, the Mairie (City Hall) and the Café/Restaurant. Along the main street, one finds the Post Office, the news and cigarette shop, a beauty parlor and the boulangerie. Behind the Mairie, the elementary school looks out on a lovely fountain. The village is also home to a doctor, a pharmacy, a notary (Estate lawyer), a blacksmith, and a convenience store. On weekdays various vans stop by the café to supply the village with fresh meat, fish, and produce.

Navigation tip: To view the DESCRIPTION of the various rooms, just click on the desired menu item on the right hand column.