Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa, Loire Valley France
Facts in brief
Official star rating 4
Location In 124 acres of park, on the edge of the village of Vernou-en-Sologne, which can be walked to in about 10 minutes from the chateau itself.
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Paris Charles de Gaulle
Distance from airport 3 hours by car
Closest railway station Blois
Distance from railway station 20 minutes by car
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, bar, spa, gym, tennis court, two swimming pools (both heated, and one for adults only and one for families), kids’ play area and kids’ club in summer and school holidays, 124 acres of grounds, terraced gardens with seating, cycles, laundry service, parking, vegetable garden
Complimentary
Wi-Fi
Land sports
Tennis, bicycles
Out and about nearby
The chateaux of Chambord and Cheverny are nearby; the town of Blois with its castle, there is a chocolate museum, beehive visits and cheesemakers; Le Clos Lucé in Amboise (cultural space dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci), vineyards of the Loire Valley and wine routes to follow, long distance walking tracks (GR3, GR31), farm visits, boat trips on the Loire from Blois, garden festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Sports nearby
Walking, cycling, canoeing and paddle-boarding.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 5 nights for self-drive holiday
From about
£1,220 Mid-season
£1,290 High season
Holiday Code EXH46560
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa, Loire Valley France
La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa occupies the Chateau de la Borde and its outbuildings and grounds. It is on the edge of a small village in the Sologne area between the rivers Loir and Cher, a less well-known part of what we term the Loire Valley, but the famous chateaux of Chambord and Cheverny are only about 20 minutes away by car, as is the riverside and cathedral town of Blois on the banks of the River Loire with its former royal castle. The landscape is rural and one of fields, forests and lakes Dating from the mid-17th century, the chateau is surrounded by over one hundred and twenty acres of land, some of it landscaped with English- and French-style gardens, some of it given over to vegetable gardens and the rest is fields and woods. There is also a lake, 1,640-ft long, with a pier that can be enjoyed from the water in a boat for fishing or for pleasure. The current owner, Anabelle Ubald-Bocquet, acquired the chateau from a family member in recent years and set about ‘making luxury affordable in an exceptional setting’ so that the hotel which opened in 2023 maintains its historic roots in the local environment with local tradespeople and artisans supplying the hotel and working on its transformation. Historic features such as mouldings, sculptures, frescoes, woodwork and fireplaces have been preserved. The style of the hotel provides comfort with a contemporary chic whilst respecting the essence of the chateau. The centrepiece of the public rooms is the restaurant, called Mémoire, with 80 covers and open to residents and non-residents alike. Tables are set in three dining rooms with views of the landscaped grounds. It is here that breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, refined and casual in style. The A la Carte menu is short but authentic and reflects local seasonal produce of the chateau itself and its local suppliers. On Sundays the restaurant serves a brunch. The bar and counter are installed in an immense, old family cupboard that is an integral part of the chateau. The thirty five rooms and five suites are spacious, with high ceilings and views of the grounds. Each is unique is furnishings and colour scheme, but classic wooden panelling and parquet floors have been retained. Comfort and authenticity combine to create more home than hotel and family heirlooms, designer pieces and antiques acquired are enhanced by a colourful, bold palette. Fabrics and wallpapers are from Pierre Frey. There are two accessible rooms at the hotel, one a deluxe room and the other a junior suite. A luxurious suite that can sleep up to five people has been created out of the old horse stables. For relaxation there is a spa, gym, outdoor heated adults only swimming pool and gardens. An unusual feature for a chateau-hotel is an outdoor kids’ play area and a kids’ club for up to 7 children aged 4 and over that is held in the summer and school holidays. Activities are organised and it must be pre-booked. There is a second swimming pool for families. La Borde en Sologne offers an enticing stay in this eastern part of the Loire Valley but within easy reach of many cultural and sporting activities as well as food and wine experiences. The average journey time by train from London to Blois is under six hours, so this is a very accessible destination by train, so long as you use a hire-car whilst in France. Likewise, driving time from Calais is about five hours, so also manageable in a day if necessary.
Room descriptions
La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa has 35 rooms and 5 suites, all with private bath or shower and WC, free Wi-Fi, mini-bar, safety deposit box, air-conditioning, smart TV, Nespresso machine, luggage rack, telephone, kettle, umbrella, hair-dryer. Cots are available.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 5 nights for self-drive holiday
From about
£1,220 Mid-season
£1,290 High season
Holiday Code EXH46560
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa, Loire Valley France
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to La Borde en Sologne you can travel in a number of ways: flight to Paris and then a hire-car, flight and then train and hire-car, self-drive with your own car, train London to Blois via Paris and then a hire-car. You do need the use of a car to explore this area.
Additional information
Children: The Borde en Sologne has a kids’ club which takes up to 7 children from the age of 4 in the summer and school holidays. There is an outdoor and an indoor play area, board games, toys and activities and it operates from 9 am until 1pm and from 3 pm until 7 pm. Pre-booking is essential.
Special offers
Call to make your booking and save an extra £50 per adult Call us instead of emailing us when you are thinking of booking a holiday and save an extra £50 per adult (in addition to any special offers that might be available). We want to talk to you to discuss your requirements and a phone call is usually the best way for you to define what you want enabling us to respond more accurately. We want to talk to you and you save an extra £50 per adult.
We particularly loved the Hotel del Sogno on Lake Garda for its character, beauty and amazing views. Great service too from the reception staff. Also they gave us great recommendations for restaurants.Mr and Mrs S, June 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Classic double room for 5 nights for self-drive holiday
From about
£1,220 Mid-season
£1,290 High season
Holiday Code EXH46560
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke hotel holidays to La Borde en Sologne Chateau & Spa, Loire Valley France
About Loire Valley
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to the Loire Valley offers travellers a chance to explore this magnificent region, known as the `Garden of France`, traditionally the hunting grounds of the Kings of France, is renowned for its gentle countryside, vineyards, forests, rivers and numerous chateaux. At the centre of this region are the regal river Loire and its numerous tributaries, attractive historic towns and cathedral cities such as Tours, Blois and Chinon and of course the chateaux. The chateaux range from vast palaces to fortresses, from mediaeval strongholds to Renaissance delights and include the well-known ones of Chenonceaux, Chambord, Villandry and pretty Azay le Rideau. The vineyards offer great variety from sparkling Vouvray to the reds of Chinon and Bourgueil. Our `Loire Valley` covers the central region of Touraine and the more westerly region of Anjou as well as taking in a more southern part that extends towards Poitiers. The visitor to the Loire Valley is embraced by seemingly endless amusements whatever the time of year, enticing for longer stays and so well situated for overnight stops or short breaks. It is very easy to reach the Loire Valley by train, combining a holiday here with a visit to Bordeaux. Alternatively, a self-drive holiday to the Loire Valley is an excellent option, allowing you to explore the region's Chateaux by car or to combine a stay in the region with a holiday to the Dordogne region and Normandy.
Highlights of the Loire Valley
Cultural highlights include wines and wine vinegars, wild mushrooms - (visit the mushroom museum), the Troglodyte caves, and local art exhibitions.
Festivals in the Loire Valley
Son et Lumiere in the chateaux in the summer months. Summer festival in Chinon in August.
Climate of the Loire Valley
Average air temperatures in Centigrade: Jan: 7.8, Feb: 6.8, Mar: 10.3, Apr: 16.1, May: 16.4, Jun: 23.6, Jul: 25.8, Aug: 24.5, Sep: 21.1, Oct: 16.2, Nov: 11.2, Dec: 7.0. Source: Direction de la Meteorologique de France.