Ali and David Kimber Bates's selection of French property for sale

About our area

South of the Loire, on the borders of Indre et Loire and the Vienne, we live in the beautiful 17th century walled town of Richelieu created as a 'cite ideale' for the Cardinal of the same name. Steeped in history, we are just 20 minutes from the medieval town of Chinon with its fortresse which stands over the town. The chateaux of Rivau, Ussé, Villandry and Rivau are just a few of the royal palaces right on our doorstep. The weekly markets are a foodie’s dream. Local produce and specialities such as truffles, asparagus, saffron, rillette, goats cheese and the delicious tarte vigneronne from Chinon are just some of the many delights to be sampled, washed down with a glass or two of the wines from the region; take your pick from the chalky reds of Chinon and Bourgeuil, the crisp whites and fruity rosés of the Touraine and the sparkling wines of Saumur and Vouvray. With a lovely climate, you can explore the area via the cycle or walking routes, canoe on the rivers, fish and swim in some of the lakes. The beautiful landscape is dotted with vineyards and fields full of sunflowers in the summer. The light is incredible and so are the stars in the inky black sky. Whilst we love the peace of the countryside, throughout the year there are brocantes and vide greniers, music festivals and other events to keep you entertained. Whether you are looking for a holiday home or considering a permanent move, our area is easy to reach; it’s just 45 minutes from Poitiers and Tours airports, both with regular flights to Stansted; you can take the TGV train from Tours or Chatellerault to Paris in around an hour and by car we are just 3 hours from the ferry at Caen and 5 hours to Eurotunnel.

About us

We fell in love with France more than 20 years ago. With busy working lives, we wanted a French bolt hole within easy reach of the UK to enable us to have weekends away. We discovered Richelieu and bought our 17 th century house, renovating it to create our home. Enjoying the regional cuisine and wines, the architecture, history and countryside, we made a permanent move here in February 2017 for a better balance and pace to our lives. We love being part of the local community and work with the mairie to promote local events and activities through an online newsletter.