The apartment was a studio loft, tucked away in the rooftop of the Hôtel de Beaucé, originally constructed in 1554. Like the towers of La Rochelle, the apartment access was via a spiral, stone staircase - thankfully with plenty of room overhead (well, apart from the very top!), and with much broader steps. The building is glorious! I felt a little like a princess, holding the rope guide as I ascended the stairs!
The apartment owners - Jean-Marie and Marie-Andrée - live in the building (as do other residents), and they rent two apartments for short stays. They renovated the apartments, and the studio is just gorgeous - it has absolutely everything you need (including French Scrabble, which was perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon!). There is a porthole window, and a large window with a view over the city. The bathroom is huge, with typical French double windows that also open to a view over the city. The sleeping space is at the top of a spiral staircase - thankfully with a remote control for the downstairs lights! Jean-Marie and Marie-Andrée have a colourful history and I'd love to return and learn more - their previous residence was a castle!
The apartment is located in the heart of the old town. The town predates the Roman era, and there are examples throughout town of medieval and Romanesque architecture, especially religous architecture. The centre of town is marked by the ornate church Notre-Dame la grande, which is still in use, and very beautiful, both inside and out.
Sunday we spent exploring the streets and wandering through the vast Parc de Blossac, where autumn has just taken hold. The afternoon was wet - so perfect opportunity to hole up in the apartment and enjoy our rooftop view of the passing storms. Then dinner of takeaway pizza - which came with a small container of rocket and parmesan salad perched on top of the box - and wine ... mm'mmm! Perfect Sunday evening.
On Jean-Marie's recommendation we had Monday breakfast at boulangerie Emile, where we sampled the house croissant and pain au chocolate. It was very quiet in town on Monday, with many businesses closed - the usual operating hours appeared to be Tuesday to Saturday. We both loved the calm!
Monday afternoon, back on the TGV bound for Paris.
2 comments:
Hi Sally & Brent,
Love the 'photo of the parc, it looks so inviting. What a great place to
spend a couple of nights, the building looks beautiful.
Love, Lils
Now it truly does look gorgeous, but my mouse did a double take when I scrolled past the photograph of the toilet. I think you may be feeling more like Princess Jane, and Brent is Tarzan!
F
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