Cointreau fans (yes, I

Cointreau fans (yes, I am!) will love a tour of the Cointreau factory and museum. Established more than 175 years ago in Angers, Cointreau is one of the world’s most famous crystal-clear spirits and the distinctive amber square-shaped bottle is a global icon. Made from bitter and sweet orange peel, every bottle of Cointreau comes from this site. A slew of famous cocktails feature Cointreau, some of the best-known include the Sidecar, London 1922 (Cointreau, Cognac and lemon), the Cosmopolitan 1934 (Cointreau, gin, lemon and raspberry syrup), and the Margarita 1948 (Cointreau, tequila blanco, fresh lime juice, and a salt rim). You can find lots of cocktail recipes, and book a cocktail masterclass at Cointreau via their website! Angers is also home to La Maison Giffard who have been producing the famous pastillementhe liqueur since 1885. They also offer a tour, tasting and workshops. Terra Botanica You may never have heard of this theme park but if you are ever in Angers or close by - put it at the top of your list. A short tram ride from the city brings you to Terra Botanica - dedicated to the life of plants. You can easily spend an entire day here amongst the Île Saint-Aubin ferry butterfly houses and themed areas which range from the discovery of plants around the world, huge greenhouses of exotic plants and orchids, Siberian-cold sheds, and everything in between. There are rides through the treetops, on tractors and in boats, plus superb animations - a 4D film about the life of a raindrop will have you staring in wonder next time it rains! This has gone on my list of top theme parks in France, not just because I love gardens and plants but it’s a really fabulous way to relax and spend a day. There are restaurants on site but also plenty of places for picnics. Just down the road from Terra Botanica is one of Angers’ secrets and the locals’ favourite - the mysterious island of Île Saint-Aubin. You can access it from April to October (it floods each winter) via a hand pulled ferry. It’s a little bit of paradise, fields of wildflowers and an enchanting little café - I felt as if I was in an Impressionist painting here. What to see close by A little further afield, the massive seven-storey Chateau Brissac is the country’s tallest castle, built in 1502 and still occupied by the Ducs of Brissac. It stands in the midst of 500 acres of beautiful parkland. As you might know, this is wine country thanks to the Romans who first planted vines in Anjou, and vineyards are never far away in the Loire Valley. Chateau d’Epire, run by Paul Bizard, the 5th generation of the family of wine makers, offers a tour and taste visit (in French/English) in their magnificent cellar - in a former church. Terra Botanica boat ride ‘through the Loire’ Île Saint-Aubin Cellar of the Chateau d’Epiré, Savennières 12 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 13