Hotel de France, historic hotel in La Chartre Sur Le Loir, France
Hotel de France is a hotel in La Chartre-sur-le-Loir, a small village on the banks of the Loir river in the Pays de la Loire region of France. The property has individually decorated rooms, a restaurant called Le Relais de Ronsard, a bar, a heated outdoor pool, and a garden facing the river.
The hotel has been open for more than 65 years and over time became a known gathering point for racing drivers and teams attending the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2013, Martin Overington bought the property and made updates while keeping the character of the place intact.
The village takes its name from the Loir river and is closely tied to the 16th-century poet Ronsard, who lived and worked in this area. Visitors can still walk through streets that carry this literary past in their names and surroundings.
The hotel offers free WiFi, bicycle rental and repair, and shuttle access to nearby cities such as Le Mans or Tours. Pets are welcome, and picnic baskets can be arranged on request for outings along the river or through the surrounding countryside.
The walls of the hotel are covered in signed photos from racing drivers such as Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, as well as figures like Steve McQueen and Jackie Onassis who stayed here. Walking through the corridors feels like browsing an informal archive of motorsport and 20th-century public life.
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