Sleeping near Fontevraud Abbey: a practical guide

Fontevraud in a nutshell: what you'll be visiting

Founded in 1101 at the borders of Anjou, Touraine and Poitou, the royal abbey of Fontevraud owes its power to the Plantagenets and its close ties with Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of France and then England, who spent her final years there. Her effigy rests in the abbey church, alongside those of Henry II Plantagenet and Richard the Lionheart. A cultural meeting place since 1975, the abbey welcomes visitors daily, resident artists and a programme of exhibitions.

Since May 2021, the Fannerie building has also housed a modern art museum, from the donation of Martine and Léon Cligman, with a collection of over 900 works. Our Visits page lists tickets from €6 to €15, free for children and students under 25, and a recommended visit duration of 2 to 3 hours. Prices and opening times change: check them on the official website, fontevraud.fr, before you go.

Why stay in Candes-Saint-Martin

Candes-Saint-Martin is a village listed among France's Most Beautiful Villages, perched above the confluence of the Loire and Vienne rivers. Fontevraud Abbey is 5 km away, Saumur 20 minutes, Chinon 25 minutes, Tours and Angers an hour. In other words: the ideal base to visit the abbey in the morning without rushing, then return to rest.

Château de Candes Art & Spa is both a hotel and an estate. What you'll find there beyond a bed:

• two hours of Zen Garden spa included per night of your stay (heated indoor pool, sauna, troglodytic hammam, Nordic bath);
• unlimited access to Street Art Parc, five hectares and over sixty works;
• free Wi-Fi in all accommodation;
• a troglodytic restaurant, Le Pressoir du Château, open for dinner Thursday to Sunday.

Which accommodation to choose for your stay

The estate's 26 properties offer 33 bedrooms. They fall into four categories, each suited to very different kinds of visit.

As a couple: a bedroom in the château. Château bedrooms are available by the night from 29 July 2026. Several feature a king-size bed and views over the confluence or the courtyard, such as the Panoramique vue Confluence room with its private balcony, or the Donjon room with its 270° view over the courtyard, Zen Garden spa and grounds.

For an unusual night: Tour d'Aubigny. A 15th-century tower with two bedrooms, overlooking the Loire from the château terrace.

With friends or a small family: a suite with kitchen. The suites in the village houses (Maison Compostelle, Maison Rempart, Maison Perrière) come with a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette, a terrace or garden, and sleep three to five depending on the suite. It's the most flexible option if you're staying several nights and want to prepare some of your own meals.

As a larger family or group: a house. Le Loft and Maison Pressoir accommodate up to five guests across two bedrooms; Maison Katcha sleeps up to eight across three bedrooms. A cot is available on request at no extra charge, and babies aged 0–2 stay free. Pets are welcome in the suites and houses for a supplement of €20 per animal per day; they are not permitted in the restaurant, spa or château.

Full details of each property, with photos and capacity, can be found on the Accommodation page.

A typical day: Fontevraud, then the spa

Here's a sequence that works well for a two-night stay.

Day 1, afternoon. Arrival from 3 p.m. onwards. Drop your bags, then explore the village: the Collégiale Saint-Martin, the tuffeau stone streets, the troglodytic houses and the view over the confluence. In the evening, Le Pressoir serves candlelit dinner beneath 17th-century vaults: three-course menu €59, four-course €69, with a vegetarian option for each course.

Day 2, morning. Head to Fontevraud, 5 km away. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the abbey church, the Romanesque kitchens and the modern art museum. Do check the abbey's programme: concerts, exhibitions and cultural events are held regularly.

Day 2, afternoon. On your return, the Zen Garden awaits you: guests have access every day from 8 am to 10 pm, in two-hour reserved time slots. The hammam carved into the tuffeau stone echoes the stone vaults you've just left behind. If you'd like to extend your stay, an additional hour of spa is available for €20 per person, subject to availability.

How to get here and where to park

By car, allow approximately 3 hours from Paris via the A10 then the A85; you'll arrive in Candes via the D751, whether coming from Saumur, Chinon or Tours. Public parking is free, at the top of rue Trochet, at the corner of rue du Puits Saint-Michel: the château is about a hundred metres on foot. Reception is open every day from 8.30 am to 7 pm, with telephone support available day and night. If you arrive after 7 pm, let us know: we'll send you everything you need to get in.

By train, take a TGV from Paris-Montparnasse to Tours (Saint-Pierre-des-Corps) in just under an hour, then a TER towards Saumur and get off at Port-Boulet, 10 minutes from the château. Saumur station, 20 minutes away, is also an option. The final leg is by car or taxi: remember to book one before you arrive.

Booking: what you need to know

Booking is done online via our booking engine, which displays the exact price of each property available for your dates. The tourist tax (€1.30 per adult per night) is added to this. A 30% deposit is required at booking; it is refundable up to 3 days before arrival, and the balance is due 3 days before your stay. Before your arrival, our team will call you to confirm bed arrangements, your times, any special requests and allergies. Breakfast, served as a buffet at Le Pressoir from 8.30 am to 10.30 am, is an additional charge.

Practical information

• Distance from the abbey: 5 km from the château, at Candes-Saint-Martin.
• Recommended visit duration: 2 to 3 hours for Fontevraud Abbey.
• Ideal for: couples, families (suites and houses for 3 to 8 people), friends, weekend or week-long visitors.
• Arrival / departure: from 3 pm / before 11 am.
• Access: 3 hours' drive from Paris; Port-Boulet station 10 minutes away, Saumur station 20 minutes away.
• Contact: +33 (0)2 47 93 69 16 · reservation@chateaudecandes.com