La Marine de Loire ★★★★

After an effortless drive out of Paris, with feel-good songs playing on the radio and the wintry grey clouds dispersing the further we got from the capital, we arrived in the stunning village of Montsoreau - celebrated as one of the most beautiful in France. Driving through the winding streets, lined with elegant tuffeau-stone buildings with steeply pitched gothic roves, I frequently had to stop myself from grabbing my partner’s arm from the steering wheel to point out yet another stunning façade or quaint side street. I even squealed with excitement as the chateau, made famous by Alexandre Dumas in La Dame de Monsoreau, loomed ahead of us. I hadn’t even seen the hotel yet.

Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by the hotel’s proprietor, Caroline. She explained to us that the rustic décor is her personal vision: with the help of an architect, they completely revamped this abandoned hotel, decorating it to their tastes – and high standards – for a romantic, intimate, and luxurious result. No homogenous flat-pack furnishings here: every room is unique, and features bespoke furniture loaded with knick-knacks salvaged from flea markets and discovered by Caroline on her travels. The cosy, homely atmosphere makes it effortless to unwind in this tranquil setting.

Each individual room or suite has its own name and theme: we were in the beach-y Les Grandes Sablées. With two enormous windows, the light-filled room is bright and airy, with a generous amount of space for just two people. We threw our bags to one side and spent a while inspecting the curiosities that gave our room its homely charm. As well as two deep, sandy-coloured corduroy armchairs, the beach theme was evoked by driftwood on the table at the foot of the bed, the spectacular, contorted branch re-invented as a work of art above the headboard, and the bedside lamps, made of small stone towers.

But, before spending the night in our comfortable, characterful room, we decided to take advantage of the sunny day outdoors and explore the grounds and the beautiful village beyond, taking a picnic bag from the hotel complete with binoculars. Returning exhausted but happy, having wandered – lost – through the tiny town, we opted to unwind in the hotel spa. With a 10% discount exclusive to VeryChic clients, how could we say no? While I enjoyed an aromatic scrub before being thoroughly pummelled by an adept masseuse, my partner opted to soak in the large, indoor jacuzzi. Thus relaxed, we stretched out on the plush sofas in the salon and enjoyed getting to know some of the other guests, who, it transpired, came from all over France to discover the charms of La Marine de Loire and the neighbouring village. Thanks to bleached beams, large windows and the charming trinkets to be found on every surface in the hotel, the salon, too, boasted the cosy ambience of a luxurious, shabby-chic family home.

I was woken rudely from a deep sleep by my partner’s insistent prodding. He was perched on my side of the bed, fully dressed in a coat and thick scarf. Rolling over to glance out of the window, the dark outside gave no clue as to the time. Handing me a steaming coffee, and ordering me to get up and wrap up warm, I lazily dragged myself from my cosy nest of soft white linens and into the bathroom, intrigue stirring my half-asleep brain. He bundled me into the car and drove to a field where, awaiting us, was an enormous hot-air balloon. Drifting upwards, the only suggestion of time passing was watching the sun rise over the gorgeous countryside and landscaped gardens of the chateaux of the Loire. Now, my favourite Sunday pastime when the days are bleak and dreary, and I desperately want, no, need a getaway, is to daydream of our idyllic getaway to La Marine de Loire.