Monday's Loire Valley chateau — Chateau d'Amboise...looking up!

Standing on Rue de la Concorde in Amboise, the château rises above you like a carved stone cliff. Layers of history stack upward, defensive walls, elegant Renaissance windows and a skyline of spires shaped by centuries of kings and architects.

From this angle, the building feels almost weightless despite its size, the details unfolding only as you look higher. A reminder that in the Loire, even familiar landmarks can feel different when seen from below.

“Some views in the Loire Valley aren’t found — they’re discovered by looking up.”

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Part of the “Château Mondays” Series

Each week, a different corner of the Loire’s château landscape — perspectives, details, and quiet architectural moments that define the region.

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Mon banc dominical — My Sunday Bench...Bléré

Bléré — cold comfort beside the church.

There are quiet corners in the Loire Valley where time seems to loosen its hold. A simple bench, a stone wall, a church tower — and suddenly the world feels softer, slower.

This bench in Bléré carries that kind of stillness. A place where footsteps echo lightly, where the air holds a chill you somehow don’t mind, and where sitting for a moment feels less like a pause and more like a small act of care.

“In the Loire, calm settles in the spaces we almost overlook.”

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Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each week, a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — small places where slowing down feels natural.

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On the Streets of the Touraine...rue Victor Hugo in Amboise.

Amboise, Rue Victor Hugo, a quiet corner of everyday Loire life.

Today we are on Rue Victor Hugo in Amboise which carries a sense of gentle continuity, homes leaning toward each other as the street slips down toward the château.

At this time of year mornings begin quietly, with footsteps echoing between stone walls and the scent of fireplaces drifting through narrow lanes. By afternoon, the street settles into its familiar stillness, sunlight brushing the façades in soft colour.

“Some streets speak softly, yet say everything.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of Touraine” Series

Each Saturday, we explore the lanes and villages of the Loire, places where everyday life meets centuries of history.

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Bon week-end from the Loire Valley...a peaceful Chateau de Montresor.

Château de Montresor, Loire Valley, reflected in the still water as the village settles into the weekend.

It's Friday, we slow down here in the Loire Valley, where weekends arrive quietly, with soft light, calm water, and space to breathe.

In Montresor, a village often described as one of the most beautiful in France, the café fills gently, neighbours pause to talk and the first glasses of wine are poured as evening begins.

Here, bon week-end isn’t just a phrase, it’s a small ritual the region knows well.

“In the Loire, the weekend begins with light, and ends with gratitude.”

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Part of the “Bon week-end from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire, a region that invites you to unwind, one beautiful weekend at a time.

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Thursday's 'taken in Touraine'...in Amboise.

Rue Victor Hugo, Amboise — an unusual façade with twin arched doorways.

Each post in this series highlights a detail from Touraine, a building, a lane, or a quiet corner that reveals something of the Loire region.

This image was taken in Amboise. The house’s paired arched doors and brick arches give it a character that stands out from the neighbouring façades.

Architectural surprises like this are small invitations to look more closely at the places we pass every day.

“In Touraine, every street has a story — some simply whisper a little louder.”

Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

A continuing look at the towns, villages and architecture of the Loire Valley.

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Simple festive balcony dressing in Tours.

Rue des Halles, Tours— a festive touch above the street.

On Rue des Halles, in Tours, this weathered window carries a simple decoration of evergreen and bright red bows. The soft paint, aged shutters, and quiet elegance feel unmistakably Loire Valley — a gentle mix of tradition and lived-in warmth.

“Some windows speak softly — offering a hint of life, colour, and the passing season.”

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Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

A continuing look at the Loire Valley through its windows — each one offering a small story in glass, stone, and light.

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