A short tour to Le Mans Classic. We shall be staying at a superb chateau between Le Mans and the Loire Valley. As well as going to Le Mans, take time to explore the Loire and Loir valleys, along with its chateaux, wines and history, as well as the immediate surrounding area. This tour is open to all classic, vintage and sports cars, but we can only arrange parking inside the Bugatti Circuit for E-types and XKs and perhaps some other pre-1966 cars.

Map

It is 30 miles from the Chateau to the race circuit

Accommodation

We have exclusive use of one of France’s best chateaux. Hidden away in the midst of the idyllic wooded hills of the Perche, between Chartres and Tours, at the entrance to the Loire Valley, Château de la Barre progressively unfolds its history. For centuries, its parkland has protected it from noise and disturbance, and it now emerges as an historical haven, close to the small Loir Valley and the famous Loire Valley Chateaux.

Today, the Count and Countess de Vanssay (she is Anglo-American, he is the twentieth generation at his family chateau), welcome you to their home, where the rooms combine elegance and authenticity with all the important modern comforts.

There are a combination of rooms, some of which have private en-suite facilities and some have shared bathrooms.

Chateau

Marin 1 & 2: A four-star room and the largest, most impressive room in the chateau. Marin de Vanssay, the husband of the great grand-daughter of the builders of the famous Loire Valley castle of Chenonceaux created this wing of the château as a monument to his prestige. Facing the imposing century-old oak wardrobe, an important XVIIth century Florentine mirror towers over a magnificient XVIIIth century French Régency commode. The luxurious fabrics on the walls and the king size canopy bed aptly complement the remarkable furniture. The room is 50m2 in size and has three windows overlooking the garden and park. The large bathroom includes an antique bathtub. There is also an adjoining room with a double bed. The bathroom facilities are shared, so this is either a large suite for 2 people, or can be two rooms shared by 4 people. These two rooms must be booked together please.

Esprit de Jouy Verte: Enjoy true French craftsmanship for this elegant bedroom with a king size four poster bed. The ‘toile de Jouy’ fabric, created in France during the ‘Siècle des Lumières’, has since become famous throughout the world. This bucolic décor dates from the days when Marie Antoinette identified with the pastoral way of life. Guests enjoy sleeping in this authentic Louis XVI bed. There are windows on south, west, and north side and and en-suite bathroom & WC. BOOKED

Esprit de Jouy Bleue: This delightful room has a large Louis XVI single bed, with en-suite shower room and WC. The window and balcony overlook the chateau grounds and surrounding park. BOOKED

Oiseaux: This pretty twin bedded room has a private shower room. The gorgeous wallpaper is decorated with birds, as the name suggests. The room has french windows overlooking the chateau grounds and surrounding park. BOOKED

Bleue: This appealing three-star room has a double bed and en-suite shower room. Antique 18th century oil paintings adorn the walls and the window and balcony overlook the chateau gardens and surrounding park. As with the other rooms, much of the furniture is original to the chateau and are valuable and rare antiques. BOOKED

Jaune: A refined four-star double room with en-suite bathroom. Is it the view of the colourful garden, the pond, the stream meandering through the meadow and the distant church tower which one sees from the window, or the mellow golden yellow Esprit de Jouy wall fabric with antique furniture which make this radiant room the most popular amongst guests? BOOKED

Fleurs: A lovely double room which shares an en-suite bathroom and WC with the single Directoire room. Built during the dark ages of the Hundred Years War which hit western France heavily, this lovely room is now brightened by stripes and an exquisite floral patterned fabric forming a striking setting for the antique furniture and furnishings: The adjoining stern watchwalk, with its deep arrow slots, has been transformed into an Italian marble bathroom replete with jacuzzi. BOOKED

Directoire: A genteel room with a very large single bed, sharing an en-suite bathroom with Fleurs room. Scarlet Napoleonic fabrics liven the walls and bed while the view from the window is of the chapel overlooking the defensive walls. BOOKED

The Fleurs and Directoire rooms must be booked together.

Rose: A charming room with a large single bed, and en-suite bathroom, decorated in a gentle red colour. BOOKED

Vasistas: a double room also on the top floor of the chateau, but with a double bed.

Cartes: a lovely room on the top floor of the chateau, decorated in blue and yellow, with old maps on the walls, hence the name. This is a twin-bedded room and has wonderful antique furniture. BOOKED

Cartes and Vasistas  share a bathroom and separate toilet which is separate to both rooms, but on the same floor.

COTTAGE

Azalées: A superb double room with king size bed and feature stone fireplace on the ground floor of the adjacent cottage. This room also boasts a large en-suite bathroom with a generous separate shower, as well as a kitchenette and another WC. A door from the kitchen opens onto the garden. BOOKED

Glycines: Situated on the first floor of the cottage, this spacious room has twin beds, a feature stone fireplace, an en-suite shower room with sauna, and a fully equipped kitchen. BOOKED

Lilas: A lovely room on the top floor of the cottage, with a queen size double bed under the eaves and a bathroom with a jacuzzi bath. There is also a separate day bed. BOOKED

Itinerary

*May be subject to change without notice*

Thursday 8 July

Arrive at Portsmouth for the overnight crossing to St Malo. The ferry departs at 8.30pm so, after settling into your sea view premier club cabin with en-suite facilities, TV, tea & coffee facilities, and twin beds, we shall all join for a welcome dinner in the restaurant.

Friday 9 July

The ferry arrives in St Malo at 8.15am. After a short drive around the pretty coast, drive to the little cove of Port Mer for breakfast. A perfect stop for coffee and croissants on the beach, overlooking Mont St Michel in the distance. Then continue the drive south to Fougeres, home to Europe’s largest medieval chateau, and then Vitre, which makes a lovely stop for lunch and a wander around the medieval old town. From there proceed to Le Mans.

Whilst the track is open from 9am, the practice laps at the famous Le Mans circuit don’t start until 3pm. This gives you plenty of opportunity to discover the delights of vieux Mans – the old town, and to visit the excellent Musee d’Automobile, right next to the circuit. There are also a number of trade stands for those in feel of a little retail therapy!

Head onto Chateau de la Barre. After unpacking, take a stroll around the gardens before joining in the Salon Rose for a welcome drink and then a delicious wine and cheese tasting dinner in the XIVth century billiard room.

Saturday 10 July

The racing starts at 4pm today, so either enjoy a leisurely morning, or get to the circuit to soak up the atmosphere of the races. The racing continues through the night for those who are keen enough to stay. As with Goodwood Revival there is a period theme to the event, so take the opportunity to dress appropriately. If you wish to visit the paddocks, it is preferable for gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie.

There is an optional dinner at a great restaurant not too far from the track, although this must be pre-booked.

Sunday 11 July

Enjoy a full days racing, which finally finishes at 4pm, with prize giving afterwards. Then make your way back to Chateau de la Barre for a fabulous final candlelit dinner in the XVIIth century dining room.

Monday 12 July

Leave Chateau de la Barre and start the journey home. Visit the little village of Montmirail, with its lovely chateau, and then onto Ferte Bernard, which makes an ideal coffee stop. Continue to Alencon, and then north all the way to Caen. If time allows, take the opportunity to visit Pegasus Bridge, a famous World War I memorial. The ferry to Portsmouth departs at 4pm, and arrives at 9pm. Reclining seats have been booked for your comfort on the crossing. Dinner is not included. We can arrange overnight accommodation in or near Portsmouth if you require.

Details

Duration: 4 nights

Dates: 8-12 July 2010

Room Prices: Prices are quoted per room and are in Euros.

Marin 1 & 2: €2,530 for the larger room and €1,995 for the smaller room.
These two rooms must be booked together, as they share an en-suite bathroom.
If you wish to book Marin to use just the main room, the cost is €2,995
Espirit de Jouy Verte: €2,440 – BOOKED
Espirit de Jouy Bleue: €1,565 – BOOKED
Oiseaux: €2,130 – BOOKED
Bleue: €2,130 – BOOKED
Jaune: €2,325 – BOOKED
Fleurs: €2,110 – BOOKED
Directoire: €1,385 – BOOKED
Fleurs & Directoire must be booked together as they share an en-suite bathroom
Rose: €1,565 – BOOKED
Cartes: €1,750 – BOOKED
Vasistas: €1,750
Cartes & Vasistas share a bathroom, but it is separate to both rooms.
Azalees: €2,325 – BOOKED
Glycines: €2,325 – BOOKED
Lilas: €2,325 – BOOKED

If you do not require a ferry crossing, please deduct €300 from the prices above.

If you do not want dinners and wine at the chateau, please deduct €100 per person.

What’s included

• An extensively researched and carefully designed itinerary to optimise your trip
• All accommodation for four nights in the double, twin or single rooms, as detailed above – including one night on board the outbound ferry.
• Breakfast every morning (except 9 July).
• Three evening meals: one on board the outbound ferry and two at the chateau. Both dinners at the chateau include wine.
• General admission into the Le Mans Classic circuit, paddock pass, grandstand access (unallocated seating), and parking with the XK and E-type Clubs.
• Return crossing from UK to France for a car & two people with Brittany ferries. The outbound ferry includes a twin bedded, en-suite, sea-view Club cabin, with TV and tea/coffee facilities.
• Tour book – includes a brief history of the region to be visited, emergency details, maps and directions, accommodation information, and a very detailed, tailored account of sights and visits for each day. The book effectively eliminates the need for any other guide books
• Experienced and friendly Classic Travelling tour guide, Sarah Dowding

What’s not included

• One evening meal (Saturday) and all lunches
• Entry into attractions and activities, other than Le Mans
• Personal travel and medical insurance
• We strongly suggest and recommend you have European breakdown cover, and ensure you are covered for France.
• All drinks are extra to accommodate individual preferences.

Requirements

• Each person must have a passport (and any necessary visas for non-EU passport holders) valid for France to participate on the tour.
• All passports must be valid for six months after the end of the tour.
• You will also need your vehicle registration documents, driving licence (a photo-card licence or international permit is best), and international insurance cover.
• Please check with your travel and motor insurers that you are covered for travel in France.
• You are also required to carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit, fluorescent jacket, set of replacement bulbs and a national identification sticker.
• The most important requirement is that you take pleasure in motoring through fabulous scenery, relish individual, character hotels and enjoy the company of like-minded travellers.