Wednesday 29 June 2016

Nights of a thousand lights at Chateau Villandry

'Nuits des Mille Feux' at Chateau Villandry

1st/2nd July

 


For two consecutive evenings, the gardens of Chateau Villandry are illuminated by 2000 candles ... Imagine the transformation of the place! 

read more...

http://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/project/night-of-a-thousand-lights/

Sunday 26 June 2016

Loire Valley...and its beautiful gardens.


The good spell of weather we are currently enjoying provides the perfect backdrop for a visit to one of the great gardens of the Loire Valley  Whether you choose the formel gardens at Chateau Villandry...

.
 a visit to the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire... 


the delightful gardens surrounding Chateau du Rivau...


the gardens of the beautiful Chenonceau...


the interesting topiary at Azay-le-Ferron.


You will be spoilt for choice!


Friday 24 June 2016

This weekends brocantes in Touraine...

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 25th June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BOSSAY SUR CLAISE  Vide-greniers, Brocante **


Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 26th June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown


BOURNAN  Foire à la Farfouille **

CERELLES  Vide-greniers **

COURCAY  Brocante Vide-greniers ?

ESVRES  Vide-greniers ***

L'ILE BOUCHARD  Brocante Vide-greniers ?

LA CROIX EN TOURAINE  Vide-greniers **

LA ROUCHOUZE  Brocante ***

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

NOUZILLY  Vide-greniers ****

SAINT BAULD  Vide-greniers **

SAINT BENOIT LA FORET  Vide-greniers **

SAINT GENOUPH  Foire aux Entrecôtes - Vide-greniers ***

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers - Jardin Gambetta **

TOURS  Troc du Grand Marché - Vide Grenier Brocante ***

TOURS  Brocante Antiquités Bd Béranger ***




Other departments:
 Source : http://brocabrac.fr/






Wednesday 22 June 2016

Sound of music all over France...and in the Loire Valley



Last night in celebration of France's 'Fete de la Musique' the streets and squares all around the country were alive with the sound of music. These photographs were from Le Petit Pressigny's event in Southern Touraine.



A big part of the festival's success is the contribution made by the volunteers and musicians in the villages and towns in the organization and hosting of these events...a big shout-out goes to them.




Tuesday 21 June 2016

June in Centre-Val de Loire...


Poppies in a field just outside Abilly in Touraine Sud. 

Friday 17 June 2016

Anjou Vélo Vintage


Anjou Vélo Vintage,Saumur

Fete de la Musique 2016...



This week ( 20th/21st June) is the 'Fete de la Musique', the annual music festival here in France where musicians are asked to provide free (plus paid for concerts) live music in a variety of venues. The tradition inaugurated by the then French Minister of Culture in Paris in 1982 continues to reinvent itself with free concerts with everything from hunting horns to hip hop.

Check your local tourist office for what is on near you...or check out some of what's on in your department here

You can also check out some of whats on in Touraine Sud here


Thursday 16 June 2016

Brocantes, vide-greniers this weekend in Touraine...



Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 18th June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown


FONDETTES  Vide-greniers ***
à 249 km

LES ESSARDS  Vide-greniers **
à 272 km

LOCHE SUR INDROIS  Vide-greniers **
à 258 km

PONT DE RUAN  Brocante **
à 266 km


Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 19th  June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

ABILLY  Fête de la Confiture - Vide-greniers **

AMBILLOU  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

ATHEE SUR CHER  Vide-greniers ***

AZAY SUR CHER  Vide Greniers ***

BEAUMONT EN VERON  Bric à Brac du Vélor?

BETZ LE CHATEAU  Brocante Vide-greniers *

CHATEAU LA VALLIERE  Brocante ***

CHINON  Brocante mensuelle **

HUISMES  Vide-greniers **

JOUE LES TOURS  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

LA VILLE AUX DAMES  Vide-greniers ****

LIMERAY  Vide-greniers ***

MONTRESOR  Vide-greniers ?

MONTS  Vide-greniers Monts ***

NEUILLE LE LIERRE  Brocante **

PORTS SUR VIENNE  Vide-greniers ?

ROCHECORBON  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers *****

SAVONNIERES  Vide-greniers ****

TOURS  Vide-greniers ***



Other departments:
 Source : http://brocabrac.fr/







Wednesday 15 June 2016

Montrésor chateau



Recent visitors from Australia to Touraine Sud here in Centre-Val de Loire voted the chateau at Montresor as their favourite outing, They loved the village itself but thought the chateau was a delight. The fact that is is fully furnished and has a real lived-in feel meant they could get a true taste of its history. They are also sure they shared greetings with the owner which added to the day out

Monday 13 June 2016

Discovering the delights of Southern Touraine here in Centre-Val de Loire...


Old Walnut Mill Barrou
At time when many people may perhaps be dismissing France as a holiday destination it was good to hear some good news with visitors extending their stays at vacation homes in the village of Barrou in Southern Touraine. A couple from Sydney Australia had booked the 'Old walnut Mill' in the village for 5 days after a visit to Paris with the intention of travelling on to another destination before returning home. After settling in and doing a bit of local sightseeing, including a visit to the market at Loches, they decided to extend their stay at the house and use it as a base to explore further into the Loire Valley.


Another two couples from Liverpool who had booked 'Le Bourg' in the village decided they too liked the area so much that they extended their booking by adding another 5 days. They described the area as a 'little hidden gem'.

Wednesday 8 June 2016

Brocantes in Touraine Sunday 12th June...


Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 12th  June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown


LA ROCHE POSAY  Les années 50 à la roche-posay: brocante *

ARTANNES SUR INDRE  Vide-greniers ***

BOURGUEIL  Rassemblement et bourse d'échanges auto/ moto **

CANDES SAINT MARTIN  Vide-grenier  **

CIVRAY SUR ESVES  Vide-greniers **

CLERE LES PINS  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

JOUE LES TOURS  Vide-greniers du joué FCT ***

MONTS  Vide Greniers de la Récré ****

SAINT MARTIN LE BEAU  Vide-greniers **

TOURS  Vide-greniers Fontaines ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers place Blanqui ?

TOURS  Vide Grenier Tours Nord - léo Lagrange *

VERETZ  Vide Grenier de la Pidellerie **


Other departments in Centre-Val de Loire:
 Source : http://brocabrac.fr/








Live music...a date for your diary

Tuesday 7 June 2016

Descartes public gardens...

Sunday was a day for 'Rendez-vous aux Jardins' all over France. We took in the 'Au fil des jardin' event in Descartes where the gardens were looking great despite the recent weather...especially the rose garden.


The Descartes' gardeners are always very inventive when it comes to their floral displays...


You can see more photographs of the event on my personal blog here

Saturday 4 June 2016

'Rendez-vous aux Jardins' 2016


This weekend the public are invited to discover nearly 2300 gardens all over France,including 500 special openings, under the umbrella of 'Rendez-vous au Jardin'.You will find a variety of activities for adults and children as you walk the gardens.

Check out their official site to see participating gardens in Centre-Val de Loire.




Friday 3 June 2016

Sunday in the gardens at Descartes...


This Sunday why not visit Descartes morning market then take a walk down to their public gardens to check out what's going on there. 


Thursday 2 June 2016

Weekend's brocantes in Touraine,,,



**It would be advisable to check with the particular Maires before heading out to any brocantes this weekend due to the unusual weather we have experienced recently **

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 4th June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown


AZAY LE RIDEAU  Vide-greniers **




Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 5th  June

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AVOINE  Vide-greniers **

BALLAN MIRE  Brocante vide-greniers **

BENAIS  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

BUEIL EN TOURAINE  Vide-greniers *

CANDES SAINT MARTIN  Vide-greniers*

CHAMBRAY LES TOURS  Vide-greniers ***

CHOUZE SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ?

CINQ MARS LA PILE  Vide-greniers ?

FRANCUEIL  Vide-greniers ***

LA CELLE SAINT AVANT  Vide-greniers *

LA CROIX EN TOURAINE  Vide-greniers ?

LA MEMBROLLE SUR CHOISILLE  Vide greniers *

LUZILLE  Vide-greniers **

MONNAIE  Vide Grenier *****

MONTBAZON  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

SAINT NICOLAS DES MOTETS  Vide Grenier – Brocante **

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-grenier ****
à 244 km

SAVONNIERES  Vide Grenier **

TAUXIGNY  Vide-greniers *

TOURS  Vide-greniers Bergeonnerie ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers de l'Ile-aucard ***

TOURS  Vide-greniers école Primaire Paul Racault ?

TOURS  Vide-greniers Quartier des Tourettes ?

VEIGNE  Vide-greniers ***

Other departments: Source : http://brocabrac.fr/






Wednesday 1 June 2016

Date for the diary...




Sunday 12th June, garden party on the square behind the church, a large garden with horticultural sales, exhibitions, nurseries, garden items. You may well be invited to participate in a scarecrow contest.