Moulin D'Argent

In central France, Moulin d’Argent is located on the banks of the picturesque Bouzanne river less than half an hour south of Châteauroux, the capital of the Indre department. The former mill is next door to Maison d’Argent, ideal if you are two families or a group of friends wishing to holiday together in separate houses. Each property has its own terrace and they otherwise share the estate's riverside access, canoe, barge, bikes and pétanque set.

The nearest airports are near Limoges, Bourges and Poitiers or arrive via train from Paris to Argenton-sur-Creuse (2 hours 30 minutes from Gare Austerlitz). Alternatively, it is a 4 to 5-hour drive from Caen Ouistreham/St-Malo/Le Havre ferry terminals and just over 6 hours from Calais. The estate is located just off a country road leading to a small rural village in one direction and towards Argenton-sur-Creuse in the other.  

The small historic town of Argenton-sur-Creuse (7km) is by the banks of the River Creuse – there are several beautiful houses lining the water’s edge that can be admired as you wander along the river banks. Pass watermills as you explore – the town has a rich heritage in producing flour, leather goods and shirts which brought wealth to Argenton-sur-Creuse in the 19th century – learn all about the history of the town’s shirt making at French-speaking Le Musée de la Chemiserie et de l'Elégance Masculine. Back in the centre of the town, there is a good selection of cafes, restaurants and shops as well as a Saturday morning market.

Visit Châteauroux (24km) on a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday morning to experience the vibrant market across the main square. There is an attractive city park just north of Châteauroux with a playground, fitness trails and a huge lake for supervised summer swimming and other water-based activities (canoeing, kayaking, pedaloes, stand-up paddle boarding etc). Furthermore, there are wonderful nature trails and bird watching opportunities across the Châteauroux forest, one of the largest oak forests in France (some of Bordeaux’s oak barrels are made from Châteauroux’s forest).

Heading south instead, Gargilesse-Dampierre (20km) is classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ with its riverside setting and pretty historic houses. The village is also home to the impressive Château de Gargilesse and the house where George Sands wrote many of her works. Elsewhere, Saint-Benoît-du-Sault (27km) is another one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ thanks to its medieval houses, half-timbered buildings and ancient streets.

There are more outdoor adventures across the magnificent Parc naturel régional de la Brenne around half an hour to the west of the moulin. Start off at the Maison du Parc in the village of Rosnay (34km) before venturing out to explore the varied landscapes of marshes and fields, a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and bird-watchers. It’s best explored on foot or by bike with several marked trails to follow. In the height of the summer there is supervised swimming and a children’s play area at Étang de Bellebouche (39km) before you reach Mézières-en-Brenne (42km).

The magnificent scenery of this region has inspired so many artists over the years - art-lovers should find the time to visit  Espace Monet Rollinat (40km) and Hôtel Lepinat (37km), both in a beuatiful area known as the ‘valley of the painters’.

Read more about Loire Valley

A region doesn’t get to be called “The Garden of France” without being pretty special, and the Loire Valley is just as luscious and beautiful as its nickname would suggest. There’s countless acres of beautiful woods, vineyards and farmland that produce some of France’s revered ingredients and delicacies, and a wealth of history and beautiful architecture that demands and rewards exploration. Whether you’re heading off with the family, friends, or both, our fantastic portfolio of Loire Valley villas and chateaux means you’ll find fantastic, comfortable and quirky accommodation no matter your preferences.

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