Richelieu - Towns & Villages of Centre-Val de Loire.

Richelieu is unlike any other town in the Loire Valley. Founded in 1631 by Cardinal Richelieu, it was designed from the ground up with a perfectly ordered street grid and elegant limestone houses that still define its character today.

This view along Rue Paul Viau Laurence leads towards the church, with architecture that has remained remarkably faithful to the Cardinal's original vision.

The irony of Richelieu is that the town survived better than the château it was built to accompany. After the French Revolution, Cardinal Richelieu's vast palace was plundered for its treasures and eventually demolished, its stone sold as building material. Today, the carefully planned town remains the greatest monument to his ambition.

Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Exploring the towns and villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

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Château de Moncontour - Monday's Château.

Perched high above the Loire Valley, it is hard to miss Château de Moncontour as you drive along the Quai de Loire. 

Today, its historic cellars are home to Vignobles Feray, where visitors can discover one of the region's finest sparkling and still Chenin Blanc wines.

 Apparently Charles VII gave Moncontour to his celebrated favourite, Agnès Sorel his 'Dame de Beauté' in the 15th century. While the château became her royal gift, the elegant Renaissance façade admired today was created by later owners, giving Moncontour its distinctive appearance.

Official website.

Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists and of the dream of France itself.”

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Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley's legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region's story.

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Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench... in Ligueil.

If it's shade you're after, this bench in Ligueil is hard to beat. Set in the gardens in front of Église Saint-Martin, the carefully pollarded lime trees create a natural canopy that has been keeping village squares cool for generations.

 Those distinctive rounded trees aren't naturally shaped that way. They are pollarded, a traditional pruning technique dating back centuries that encourages dense new growth, provides welcome shade in summer, and keeps the trees healthy in compact village spaces.

“On Sundays, Touraine speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “My Sunday Bench” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

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On the Streets of Touraine — rue du Chateau in Crissay-sur-Manse.

Crissay-sur-Manse is regularly included among Les Plus Beaux Villages de France , a distinction reserved for villages with exceptional heritage and carefully preserved character. 

The village has fewer than 100 permanent residents, yet its 15th and 16th-century tuffeau stone houses and the ruins of its medieval château have earned it national recognition as one of France's most beautiful villages,you will have to visit yourself to see if this is deserved.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

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Le George, Loches - Bon week-end from the Loire Valley.

Why not spend the weekend in Loches, one of the Loire Valley's most attractive medieval towns, and treat yourself to a leisurely lunch or dinner at Le George? Set beside the River Indre, its terrace is one of those peaceful spots where the water flows gently past as the town carries on around it.

The River Indre has shaped Loches for centuries. Before it became a picturesque backdrop for cafés and riverside walks, it powered mills, fed the town's moats, and helped protect the medieval citadel that still dominates the skyline.

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

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

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On the bridge at La Guerche for an anti-climax.

Waited with others on the bridge in La Guerche to watch the lunar  eclipse last night and although we caught a glimpse through the special glasses it was a little underwhelming from visual point of view we had some dimming rather than the darkness people imagined....the clouds didn't help either!

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

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