Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.
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Crissay-sur-Manse is one of the villages that gives southern Touraine its distinctive character. Many of its houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries, built in the local tuffeau stone, and the village still retains much of its historic layout.
Above the village are the remains of Château de Crissay, built on the site of an earlier fortress, while the 16th-century church of Saint-Maurice stands slightly apart from the main group of houses. Crissay’s period of greatest development came in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the village acquired many of the buildings that survive today.
Château de Valençay combines the strength of a medieval fortress with the elegance of the Renaissance. The present château was built in stages for the d’Estampes family from the early 16th century, with later additions giving the building the form we see today.
Its story took another turn in 1803 when Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord acquired Valençay. Under Talleyrand, the château became a setting for diplomacy and, from 1808 to 1814, the residence of the Spanish princes held there by Napoleon.
Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!
“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”
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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© Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,
The gardens of Château de Villandry are designed to be admired, but they are also somewhere to pause. This bench looks out across the quieter parts of the gardens, with the evening autumnal light filtering through the trees.
Sometimes the best part of a garden is simply finding a bench and sitting down for a while.
“On Sundays the Loire Valley speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”
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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Château d'Amboise has a very different look as autumn begin to take hold around the town and hillside.
The royal château became one of the favourite residences of the French kings during the Renaissance, particularly under Charles VIII and François I.
A fine view of one of the Loire Valley's great royal châteaux — and a good way to finish the week.
Hope your week ends well and it's followed by a lovely weekend.
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.
© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home
