We stayed here, we went by car from CDG until Orleans via Autoroute, than on small roads following Loire..:
La Tonnellerie, a former wine-merchant's house, is located in the Loire Valley, at Tavers, a picturesque village near Beaugency. Only 1.5 hours from Paris on the A10 motorway
http://www.france.com/regions/index.cfm?region_id=9
Would go back there. Not too expensive, nice garden, good food, great staff!
From there you can visit many castles... they are all not far away .. you can make 3 a day or so...
We also went to Sancerre, also on the Loire.
The best in Sancerre is the vine and the old town.
Stayed at hotel Panoramic:
This hillside establishment offers a "wide-screen" panoramic view of the Sancerre wine producing region. Spacious and well-equipped rooms; ask for one with a view.
Nothing special, but O.K.
Went also to nearby Bourges:
Saint-Etienne Cathedral ***
Address: Pl. Étienne-Dolet
F - 18000 Bourges
One of the great masterpieces of Gothic architecture.
Comments: Since 1995, Bourges cathedral has been listed by UNESCO as a world heritage site.
BTW, the drive from Beaugency to Sancerre was boring ...
Plan your trip, hotels, restaurants here
http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamich...MaHomePage.htm