Hôtel de Biencourt
In the heart of Azay-le-Rideau, just 100 metres from the château, Hôtel de Biencourt welcomes you to a charming historic residence, with its traditional stone walls and flower-filled courtyard.
Our 17 bedrooms and inviting spaces offer the perfect setting to slow down and unwind, in the warm, welcoming atmosphere of a boutique hotel with the personal touch of a guesthouse.
An ideal base from which to explore the magnificent châteaux and landscapes of the Loire Valley.
Your Hosts, Léa & Thomas
We are Léa and Thomas, the proud owners of Hôtel de Biencourt since the end of 2022. We embarked on this adventure with no previous experience in hospitality, but with plenty of determination, a desire to do things well and, above all, a genuine love of welcoming guests. Since then, we have been learning something new every day, gradually bringing fresh life to this historic property while preserving its unique character.
At Biencourt, we each bring our own personal touch. Léa loves reimagining the interiors, combining the charm of the past with modern comforts to create warm and inviting spaces. Thomas, who has never quite lost his inner child, enjoys adding little nods to his passions for classic cars and LEGO. These personal touches reveal a little of who we are and help give the house its own personality.
In our day-to-day life, Léa looks after breakfast and the smooth running of the hotel, while Thomas focuses more on welcoming guests and managing the administrative side of things. Above all, Biencourt is our shared adventure, one that we continue to nurture together through the seasons.
We are also fortunate to share this journey with a small, dedicated team: two housekeepers and a versatile receptionist who support us every day. Together, the five of us take great care in preparing for your stay. Our two housekeepers play an essential role, and without their hard work and attention to detail, we simply could not welcome you in the way we love to.
With just 17 bedrooms, we have the time to give each guest a personal welcome, recommend a château to visit or share a favourite local restaurant. We cherish the spirit of a traditional guesthouse: thoughtful hospitality, genuine conversations and, above all, the pleasure of making you feel at home.
Our history
Originally, the hotel was an inn known as L’Auberge du Cheval Blanc, the White Horse.
Over time, it became the place to be for enjoying a spot of ‘jeu de paume’, a ball-and-court game that was the precursor to all racket sports, the wall of which survives to this day.
Then, the property was taken over by the Marquis of Biencourt, the last family to own Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, the entrance to which is just 100m from the hotel.
It then took on a new lease of life as a Napoleonic school and, more specifically, the very first girls’ classrooms in the region (in fact, 7 of our 17 rooms were created from those very same classrooms, and you might even see some original period features in there somewhere)..
Since 1956, the buildings have once more returned to their original purpose, hospitality and accommodation.
Our philosophy
To ensure every visitor feels entirely at home during their stay, Hôtel de Biencourt quietly cultivates the art of hospitality, all in perfectly cosy, guest-house style.
Recommended by a wide range of travel guides, the hotel has been ranked 3* and Qualté-Tourisme (quality-tourism) by the French Ministry of Tourism.
Also highly regarded by guests, Hôtel de Biencourt was elected the ‘best 3* hotel in the Loire Valley central region’ by users of Trivago and, as further proof, has been awarded a certificate of excellence for the past 10 years now from users of TripAdvisor who also elected it as Travellers'Choice in 2020 & 2021.
In collaboration with the Regional National Park of Loire-Anjou-Touraine, for which it also serves as a representative, Hôtel de Biencourt promotes the three fundamental values of respect for each other, respect for the environment and respect for the region we all share.
As such, it is also labeled 'Tourism & Handicap' (1 room is suitable for motor, mental and visual disabilities).
Our perfect location in the heart of the Loire Valley means one night just won’t be enough
Hôtel de Biencourt is ideally located along the Loire by Bike route, perfect for visiting all the Loire Valley châteaux and, more generally, for immersing yourself in all the wonderful cultural, natural, culinary and sporting opportunities the Loire Valley has to offer in this official UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here are just a few examples of the attractions nearby:
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau (less than 100m away)
Château de l'Islette (where famous lovers Camille Claudel and Rodin stayed, 3km)
Azay-le-Rideau vineyards (5km)
The Balzac Museum and Alexander Calder’s workshop (7km)
Langeais town, market and fortress (10km)
Château de Villandry and gardens (11km)
Château d’Ussé (the Sleeping Beauty castle, 14km)
Chinon vineyards (15km)
Maison Max Ernst (18km)
Chinon town and fortress (21km)
Château de Luynes (22km)
The old town and museums of Tours (23km)
Etc.
Recommendations and highlights
For at least ten consecutive years, Hôtel de Biencourt has been awarded Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice distinction.
In 2023, Biencourt was also honoured with the prestigious Travellers' Choice Best of the Best award, in the Hotels for Sleep category.
Based on reviews and experiences shared by travellers, these awards inspire us to continue doing what matters most to us: making your stay as enjoyable as possible and giving you every reason to return.
Life at Biencourt
From interior design and homemade breakfasts to little glimpses behind the scenes, discover the everyday moments that bring our hotel to life.
They trusted and helped us in our projects. Thank you !
