Your contact:	Maureen Tilford
Email:	Click here to contact Château Delony

Château Delony stands in its own grounds near the rural hamlet of Les Froux, where it dominates the surrounding countryside. Lovingly restored, the property retains its medieval character, with massive fireplaces in the interconnecting rooms.

The house is on three main levels, united by a large spiral stone stairway within the semi-octagonal tower. The chateau is simply, but tastefully furnished. There are a variety of books on many subjects, including history and travel. A television, DVD player and VCR are located in the large family room, which can also provide accommodation for several young people if desired. A computer with broadband internet access is available for guest use.

The modern, well-equipped kitchen, which includes a large fridge, stovetop, convection oven, dishwasher, microwave and other appliances, adjoins the spacious 14th century dining/living room without distracting from its mediaeval ambience.

In summer, meals are often taken outside in one of several secluded garden settings. For example, on long, warm evenings our guests frequently choose to dine on the circular patio, located below the 14th Century half-timbered kitchen wing. A catering service is available upon request.

The oldest part of the château, which dates from the time of William the Conqueror, is the vaulted cave or cellar, opening off a large downstairs room at the foot of the tower.

Château Delony can readily accommodate 10 to 12 guests. There are three double bedrooms on the upper floors, together with a large TV/family room ideal for young people, which can provide at least two sleeping places. On the ground floor, a spacious double bedroom and a small, but attractive, double bedroom open onto the secluded West Terrace. There are four bathrooms and four toilets.

The château enjoys under-floor heating on the two main upper levels, ensuring the building remains comfortable even in cold weather. In winter roaring log fires keep the living areas well-heated.

The property is surrounded by gardens and offers views of the adjoining countryside, which is also visible from the large private swimming pool. Of special archaeological interest is the giant megalith on the front lawn, which stands in silent testimony to the reverence in which this place has been held for more than 10,000 years.

Special features:	• Pool on the property • Pets welcomed • Maid, Cook and Driver can be arranged on request
Swimming pool:	5x10 metre solar heated outdoor pool

Located on the borders of the Poitou and the Touraine regions, Château Delony is far from the usual tourist routes and lies deep in La France Profonde. The surrounding forests and fields contain a multitude of ancient trails and pathways that can be explored on foot, horseback or mountain bike. Wild flowers, birds, and a variety of other wildlife abound in this idyllic area.

Château Delony is a 20 minute drive from the town of Chatellerault, from whence Paris can be reached in an hour and twenty minutes by high-speed train. The spa town of la Roche Posay, an easy bike ride away, has been renowned for its healing waters since Roman times. Visitors can enjoy a variety of massages and other therapies in the town's health facilities. La Roche Posay has a full range of shops and restaurants, as well as a casino, equestrian centre, and a horseracing track. The area is rich in historic sites that extend back to the Stone Age, and include some of the finest medieval church frescoes in Europe.

The nearby village of Angle-sur-l’Anglin is acknowledged as one of the most beautiful in France, and attracts many artists. At the ancient Abbey of Fongombault the monks are renowned for their daily services and Gregorian chant. For those interested in local cuisine and wines, there are a number of exceptionally fine restaurants in nearby villages.

Throughout the Summer and Fall there are many musical and cultural festivals, together with local fêtes and firework displays. Among other possible activities available at Château Delony are: hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback-riding, rock-climbing, French cooking lessons, painting instruction (watercolours & oils), massage and hydrotherapy.

Located midway between the great historic cities of Tour and Poitiers, the region around Château Delony is traversed by numerous tributaries of the mighty Loire river. These confluents divide the land into fertile valleys separated by forested ridges, each retaining its own individual character. To the East lies the Brenne National Park, one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Europe and an important landmark for birdwatchers and naturalists.

The beautiful Atlantic coastal town of La Rochelle, famed for its seafood, lies two hours away to the West. An hour to the North lies the valley of the Loire, with its profusion of magnificent châteaux and palaces. A 40-minute drive South brings one to Poitiers. In addition to its fine historic architecture, Poitiers is also home to Futuroscope, the enormously popular theme-park devoted to technology and the moving image.

The family room	The kitchen
The master bedroom	The tower bedroom
The large west terrace bedroom	The small west terrace bedroom
The staircase	The 11th century cellars
The living room, looking towards the kitchen	The west terrace
Ponies by the swimming pool	Château Delony from the south
Château Delony from across the valley

Thank you so very much. It is a truly enchanting place, ideal to relax and unwind. We will be back.
Henry B. - London, UK

The experience of being at Château Delony is to be surrounded by nature. What I loved most of all was the beauty everywhere - out of every window, every door. We took walks from Château Delony straight into the woods and fields, and had our meals on the terraces. I never wanted to be anywhere else.
Candace C. - Washington, USA

Château Delony is magic--a comfortable, human scale castle with thick stone walls, a tower, fireplaces, several floors of rambling rooms with enticing nooks and crannies, simply and tastefully furnished. It’s regally positioned at the highest point in a landscape of rolling hills and overlooks a wide river valley —filled with fields of spent sunflowers when I was there last fall. There is much to see and do. After my morning run , through woods, pastures and a dairy farm where the resident dog took friendly chase after the crazy, running American, we wrote for several hours every day and then hopped in the red Renault for food and adventure. Trips to the Loire Valley, to the spa town of La Roche Posay, just a short bike ride away, for massage treatments, and visits to Fontgombault Abbey, filled with mediaeval Gregorian chant. Evenings were spent at Château Delony cooking and eating around the country table with a view of the valley in the background and a fire popping and snapping in the fireplace. I’ve wracked my memory for something even slightly negative, but have come up blank. Even being wide awake with jet lag in the middle of the night in the tower bedroom is a pleasant memory, as it was an opportunity to watch the moon tangle and unwind itself in the limbs of the tall tree outside my window and begin a book of tiny collages. Being at Château Delony was an special experience that I hope to find again this summer beside the pool.
Elizabeth G - Berkeley, California, USA