Some places you walk into and think: here I can exhale. That is exactly how our ten days felt.
We stayed in the tower, the only rental on the estate, with our 11-year-old son. Living here is a bit like being on a boat, but vertical: kitchen, living room, bedroom, mezzanine with an extra bed and bathroom, each on its own floor. The thick walls kept it pleasantly cool even in the August heat. Everything is there, from games and jeu de boules to a dishwasher and washing machine. The interior is largely handmade, with the atmosphere of an old country house. Outside: a private garden, farmland on one side, the ruins of the old castle on the other.
Sophie and Damien make the stay special. Tips by email before arrival, cookies and vegetables from their garden waiting for us, fresh croissants a few days later; when the dishwasher broke down, a replacement was in place within hours. You never feel like a tenant here, but like guests they genuinely enjoy sharing their place with.
It is wonderfully quiet: birds, wind and a little stream. The night sky is truly dark, during the Perseids we watched one shooting star after another. Walks start at the door and the Mayenne region offers a lot to see and do.
The private fishing lake was a highlight: the carp took our boilies eagerly and we caught quite a few.
All three of us were sad to leave. Five stars, and we hope to return.