There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over the terraced gardens of La Guerche. The stone walls hold the day’s heat, the leaves on the banana tree that still grows, improbably green, barely move.
Not much has changed here over the years with the only real sign of modernity being the 'dish' on the roof!
The château at La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin has medieval origins, although much of what stands today dates from later rebuilding. In 1464, Bertrand de Lescoët acquired Grillemont and transformed it into a substantial fortress. In the 18th century, François Balthazar Dangé d'Orsay remodelled it as a more comfortable residence, removing the medieval keep and opening up the buildings with much larger windows.
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There is a particularly good story attached to those alterations. Local tradition says that Dangé d'Orsay ordered as many windows and doors as there are days in the year to be created in the château. The actual number is thought to have been 97 but the story has survived.
Grillemont also had an extraordinary wartime history. During the Second World War it was successively used by the evacuated French Ministry of Commerce, occupied by German forces and later used as a prison. 846 people were held there between 1941 and 1943.
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.
Discover more about the Loire Valley
© Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,
Benches at Château de Grillemont, La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin. Today, the courtyard is a peaceful place to sit and enjoy the château and its grounds.
But Grillemont has a surprisingly eventful history, including a remarkable chapter during the Second World War.
More tomorrow...on Monday's chateau!
“On Sundays, Touraine 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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© Experience Loire — My Sunday bench · Back to Home
Rue de l'Abbé Favoreau runs through the center of La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin , a village whose history goes back much further than its quiet appearance might suggest. The settlement is first recorded in the 10th century, and by the 12th century it was surrounded by defensive walls, although no trace of them survives today.
The village also has a strong connection with Saint Martin of Tours, reflected in its present name. In fact, the name La Chapelle-Blanche-Saint-Martin is relatively recent: the commune adopted it in 1918, partly to distinguish it from La Chapelle-sur-Loire.
One of the most intriguing stories associated with the village concerns Abbé Alphonse Marcault , parish priest from 1885 to 1921. He became convinced that several of the miracles attributed to Saint Martin had actually taken place here rather than at La Chapelle-sur-Loire. His investigations even led to the discovery in 1902 of a 15th-century Pietà , which had been hidden behind a wall since the Wars of Religion. The sculpture, attributed to the Tourangeau sculptor Michel Colombe, is now a listed historic monument.
“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”
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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© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home
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
Paulmy lies close to the borders of Berry and Poitou, an area where streams, small rivers and woodland have shaped both the landscape and village life for centuries. Today, places like this are valued less for transport than for the peaceful setting they provide for walkers, anglers and anyone seeking a slower pace.
The stream Le Bignon may appear modest, but waterways like this have long been essential to rural communities. They watered livestock, powered small mills, irrigated nearby meadows and helped define parish and property boundaries. Many of the footbridges found across Touraine today stand where generations of villagers have crossed these streams for hundreds of years.
“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”
Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.
Discover more about the Loire Valley
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© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home
