Chateau de la Ruche

Rebecca and Tim's hospitality is second to none; from the beautifully decorated rooms, the tea lights, the fresh flowers, the chocolates, the brownies, the French crisp linen, fluffy towels, fragrant herbal soaps and shampoos, to the welcoming greeting on arrival. Guest requests, were all met with a smile, whether it's 'where do you buy stamps locally,' advice on where to visit in the area, or questions about dietary requirements. Finally Rebecca's food; just delicious!!! Eating on the terrace, the grazing board, full of local produce, and dinner (with Tim 'front of house') are all to be recommended and let’s not forget the chateau pets; Monty, Molly, Steve and the Brian.

We had a fantastic time with Rebecca and Tim at Chateau de la Ruche, they have thought of everything to make staying with them an absolute pleasure. Their description of being laidback but luxurious" is perfect. The setting is great, the rooms are beautifully and thoughtfully decorated, Rebecca's cooking is amazing, and the little touches such as the sweet treats at bedtime are a delight. Rebecca and Tim engage wonderfully with their guests too, recommending local activities and providing details. The icing on the cake is Rebecca's flowers, in the hall, in the salon, in the bedroom, in the bathroom - everyone a vision. Thank you for a fabulous stay.

Tim & Rebecca welcome you on arrival in the front garden. They are both extremely friendly and happy to see us for our second visit. When entering the Chateau the fragrant floral aroma of scented candles in harmony with the delicate perfume of the Spring blooms from Rebecca's cutting garden is the perfect start to our relaxing and peaceful stay. The decor and ambience of the Garden Suite is a luxury retreat after a day out visiting Tim's great suggestions of Sainte Suzanne and the gardens of Chateau de Sourches. Dinner a four course meal, prepared on Saturday by Rebecca, a MasterChef delight. Tim always the attentive host with friendly conversations and course descriptions. Everything about our stay is superb, the comfortable bed, quality linens, towels and pillows plus the views to the garden from our room. What a team you are Tim & Rebecca. Keep enjoying what you're doing and every success is yours. Your attention to detail is not overlooked. Hope to be back.

We returned last week from our second visit to Chateau de la Ruche. We have had yet another wonderful stay in this beautiful place. Our shoulders drop as we turn down the drive and we instantly relax. Tim and Rebecca make you feel so welcome with their kindness and generosity. Always around to give advice and to serve up the most amazing food for dinner. We could not even think of staying less than three nights, it really is our little treat away. We are already looking forward to our next visit. Keep up the amazing work Tim and Rebecca!

OUR WEEK STAY AT CHATEAU DE LA RUCHE We traveled with our college friends to France in September, 2024 to stay at Chateau de la Ruche in Teille, France. We reserved the gite on site…better known as Maurice’s House. Before I write my review, I want to say that this, in my mind, was going to be my #1 BUCKET LIST TRIP. It was marvelous beyond words, and everything my heart was expecting. The accommodations were perfection, a 10/10. Rebecca and Tim have renovated this gite, and it is so spacious, beautifully decorated, comfortable by all means, and calming and relaxing to stay in. The kitchen is on the first floor, and it has been set up with everything you could possibly need to cook and eat there. We were also welcome to eat with the chateau guests for a 4 course meal, cooked by Rebecca herself. ( There is a small fee for this, but well worth it. Treat yourselves. You are so worth this experience.) I would welcome her to cook at my house any day of the week, and I have years more practice than she does…she is by far a better cook. The bedrooms are spacious, beds comfortable, with en suite bathrooms that are just great. I especially enjoyed the oversized living room/lounging area that is on the second floor with the bedrooms at either end. It is very large, with plenty of comfortable seating for many people. Lots of antiques, exposed original wood beams, linen couches and chairs, a TV, a stove for heat if needed, lots of windows for good lighting, and Rebecca’s mom has knit beautiful afghans for you to snuggle up with anytime. (There were so beautifully displayed that I kept telling my friends…Don’t you touch those! We will never get them folded like that again. Kidding…not kidding.) The outdoor setting was woodlands, flowers cultivated by Rebecca, a pond right by the gite, surrounding farmland, true french countryside. We loved the relaxing setting, the birds, the flowers, the family pets…what’s not to like? We ventured out to LeMans, other small towns to explore, we ate at different restaurants, took some drives to other chateaus to tour, no schedule to worry about. Our time was our own. Rebecca and Tim were there if we needed them, always. And last, but not least, let me say that Rebecca and Tim, as our hosts, could not have been more accommodating, helpful, fun, and informative. They are very busy with the daily running of the chateau; with guests, serving meals, caring for rooms, and just general care of the grounds and their immediate family too. I’m exhausted seeing what they accomplished in a day. They might be exhausted too, but you would never know it. They would stop and chat with you, encourage you to go see places and try new things, and all this while taking care of the entire crowd staying at the magnificent chateau. I highly recommend this part of France to vacation in, and please consider the Chateau de la Ruche as your accommodations. It is an experience that I will never forget. So if you are plann

We booked a week in Maurice's House within the grounds of the Chateau. On arrival we were met by Tim and Rebecca and given a tour of the Gite. Would describe it as 'French Rustic Luxury.' It was well furnished, very comfortable, clean, with a warm welcome. We even found a bottle of champagne and a very tasty tart (under glass waiting) on the kitchen table. We had dinner one evening at the Chateau, waited on by Tim, food by Rebecca. Its location was perfect. We took a walk into the village of Teille, then onto Le Boulay, A must place to visit while there is Jardin due Petit-Bordeaux. A stunning private garden. We also went to Coco Plage, in the summer it must be lovely. Still, well worth a visit. Another good place to visit is Chateau du Plessis-Bourre. A stunning chateau, complete with a moat, beautiful gardens. Well well worth the drive. Le Mans is fun. The Cathedral is stunning. Especially on a Saturday evening when it's illuminated as part of the La Nuit des Chimères. All in all we had a great time at Maurice's House. We dinned in several evenings, the kitchen/dining room is a great place to all get together. We managed (weather permitting) to enjoy the garden at the back for an Al Fresco lunch. Our only observations would be: Put some wardrobes in the bedrooms. Hooks are okey for a night our two but for a week you really need someone to hang your clothes. We felt the TV was rather small for the size of the upstairs sitting room. Be aware of the stairs leading up and down to the sitting room / bedrooms. They can be somewhat unsettling, quite steep, not recommended for children or anyone infirm.