If you’re interested in Saumur, then there’s a village next to Saumur just up the River Loire which is even nicer. Candes-Saint-Martin – it’s classed as one of the most beautiful village in France. It’s at the confluence (where the rivers join) of the Loire and the Vienne. There’s also the beautiful Abbey de Fontevraud nearby where Eleanor de Aquitaine her husband King Henry II Plantagenet and her son’s King Richard the Lionheart’s tombs are.
Candes-Saint-Martin is an absolute jewel on the Loire valley. It’s an amazing village on the outskirts of Saumur. It’ll be a lot more expensive than Saumur, but do much history and a beautiful town. I highly recommend the gîte de la confluence on the Loire, if you can afford it, while you’re looking for a beautiful home .
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iBQTBfACopvorYJc7 Candes-Saint-Martin – Wikipedia https://share.google/1grnJjK3d2QPB4jt
GOOGLE.COM
Candes-Saint-Martin · Candes-Saint-Martin
Candes-Saint-Martin is lovely, especially if you don’t want to have a car. The main rue through the village is a nightmare to drive on. However, Montsoreau is right next door and also one of les plus beaux villages de France (as is Fontevraud), and there is a bus through Montsoreau and Fontevraud that will take you to Saumur, including to the gare. If you don’t want a car, you’ll most likely want to be on a bus line. Candes-Saint-Martin would work, as it’s right next to Montsoreau, but you’ll need to add in walking time and distance, especially in the rain. Montsoreau and Fontevraud both have weekly markets, Montsoreau on Sunday and Fontevraud on Wednesday I believe.
After looking throughout the Loire Valley, we chose Saumur and bought our house there last year. We are thrilled. We like that it’s equi-distance between 2 big cities. We found our English-speaking GP about 15 min away. May have to go towards Angers for a dentist, but that’s okay. Saumur has a vibrant, active community and the town itself is very civic-minded. There’s a small but supportive expat community there (we’re American). Compared to other towns like Amboise that are on the chateaux tour bus circuit, it is much less touristy in summer. Feel free to reach out to me directly and I can share what I know. BTW, we live about 1/3 of a mile away from the river and have actually been surprised by how few mosquitoes we have! We can sit outside for hours with no problem. 
I live in Saumur and love it. I am in the centre and hardly ever use my car. I don’t know any Americans or Brits but would like to meet some. I can say that the French are lovely here and there are plenty of things to do. I have never had a problem with mosquitoes
Saumur can be a great place to live depending on what you’re looking for. On the positive side, the quality of life is excellent. It’s beautiful, calm, safe, with great vineyards, a charming old town and very friendly locals. Daily amenities are good, medical care is solid, and the train connections to Angers, Tours and Paris make life without a car doable, especially if you stay close to the center.
On the other hand, it’s a smaller town, so the pace is slower and nightlife or international communities are more limited compared to bigger cities. Job opportunities can also be narrower unless you work remotely. And yes, near the river the mosquitos can be annoying in summer.
If you ever need help with a property search in Saumur or the region, my wife and I assist expats buying in France. Feel free to DM me anytime.
LOVE Saumur. There is a Facebook group called English in Saumur, it’s great.
Marilee Taussig