Wednesday for windows...inside out at the Musée Lansyer in Loches.

 

The View over the rooftops of Loches from inside the Musée Lansyer in the Royal city. 

Perched on the ramparts of the royal city of Loches, the Emmanuel Lansyer Museum offers a charming, intimate visit into the world of 19th-century landscape painter Emmanuel Lansyer (1835–1893).

 Set in his former family home, the museum showcases hundreds of his works, paintings, sketches and drawings and a lovely stained glass window on the staircase.

Don’t miss the peaceful garden, with stunning views over historic Loches.

Favourite time in Touraine...

 

Tournesols in Touraine.

The sunflower fields in the Loire Valley truly are something special, those golden waves stretching across the landscape under the summer sun create such a striking contrast with the soft stone of the châteaux and the lush vineyards of Touraine. It’s no wonder painters and photographers are drawn to the region.

Monday's chateau...Royal Lodgings,Loches

As you walk along the terrace of the Royal Lodgings in Loches, you can’t help but marvel at the weight of history beneath your feet. This very terrace would have once echoed with the footsteps of some of the most notable figures of French history. Joan of Arc passed through these royal lodgings after her pivotal meeting with Charles VII. Agnès Sorel, the king’s beloved mistress and a symbol of early Renaissance influence, made it her home. Even Anne of Brittany, twice Queen of France, found herself within these walls. From the terrace, the sweeping views over the Indre valley haven’t changed much since their time, offering you much the same views they once paused to admire.

 

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench...In Loches.

 

 At the Royal Lodgings (Logis Royal) in Loches, a unique and symbolic creature, the "cerf ailé" or winged stag, can be seen guarding the benches on the terrace. This mythical animal was the personal emblem of King Charles VII of France.

The winged stag is not just a decorative element; it carried symbolic meaning. The stag typically represents nobility, purity and solitude, while wings add an element of divine inspiration or swiftness, possibly reflecting Charles VII’s aspirations or the qualities he wished to associate with his reign.

This emblem is repeated in the great hall of the Logis Royal, reinforcing Charles VII’s presence and legacy at the château. The Royal Lodgings at Loches were an important royal residence during the 15th century, and Charles VII often stayed there, especially during the critical years of the Hundred Years' War.

Saturday on the streets of Touraine...in Amboise

If you ever wondered where our header was taken...Quai Charles Guinot in Amboise.

Bon week-end à tous, have a good weekend everyone...why not visit Loches market.

More on Loches market.