Château de Brézé – The Underground Fortress Beneath the Renaissance Facade

Château de Brézé. a château that hides as much as it reveals

From the outside, it's a classic Renaissance residence: pale tuffeau stone, tall windows, slate roofs, ornate dormers, and a grand central block flanked by towers—built in the 16th century by the Brézé family (close to the royal court of the Valois) but the real surprise lies below: the largest dry moat in Europe (up to 18 m deep and 13 m wide), dug directly into the limestone, and an entire network of underground galleries, kitchens, stables, wine cellars, and defensive rooms carved out over centuries.

These subterranean spaces include a 16th-century siege tunnel, renaissance kitchens with huge fireplaces, and a troglodyte chapel. the château's owners still live in part of the main building, making it one of the few châteaux that remain privately inhabited and partially open to visitors.From this angle, the main building sits majestically above the deep moat, with gardens, terraces, with its history layered both above and below ground.🏰

Why visit Brézé?

• Guided tours of the underground parts (about 1.5 hours, book ahead in season).
• Beautiful Renaissance interiors, gardens, and views over the Loire.
• Nearby: Saumur (15 min drive) for the château, Cadre Noir equestrian school, and sparkling wine cellars.
• Practical: Open year-round (check winter hours), parking on site, family-friendly with audio guides.

Some châteaux stand tall, others hide secrets deep below. Brézé does both.

Bon lundi dans la vallée de la Loire ! 🇫🇷🏰

“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 - Garden bench at Château de Chenonceau

Today's spot: a modest black bench tucked under a modest shelter in the jardins du Château de Chenonceau.

The sign above points the way: "Potager des fleurs,Vegetable and flower garden" and "Jardin de plantes médicinales, Medicinal plant garden / Parc aux ânes – Donkey pen garden." The shelter itself—worn stone walls, red-tiled roof with moss and lichen, wrought-iron bench supports, feels timeless, a small, simple, refuge amid the château's famous gardens and grandeur. You can almost smell the earth and herbs waiting just beyond the archway.

These gardens, redesigned in the 20th century but rooted in Renaissance tradition, include the potager-fleuri (ornamental vegetable plots) and the medicinal herb garden, both practical and poetic, much like the bench itself: simple, sturdy, waiting for someone to sit and reflect.

A perfect Sunday pause: sit, listen to distant birds or the faint rustle of leaves, let the château's history (Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Médicis, the river-spanning architecture) settle quietly around you.

Bon dimanche à tous ! Have a peaceful Sunday, everyone.

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

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Part of the “Mon banc dominical” 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 Rabelais, Chinon – Medieval Charm.

Today's street: rue Rabelais in the heart of Chinon, one of the most picturesque thoroughfares in Touraine.

This narrow lane, named after the Renaissance writer François Rabelais, born nearby in 1494, winds through the old town with its signature half-timbered houses, pale tuffeau stone, slate roofs, and wrought-iron shop signs swaying gently. Flower baskets and window boxes add pops of color, while the street offers glimpses of the royal fortress (Château de Chinon) perched on the hill above. The cyclist in the foreground, the distant shoppers, the mix of bakeries, cafés, and antique shops, it's pure small-town Touraine energy: historic yet lived-in, quiet yet welcoming.

A few street-level gems nearby:

• Place Jeanne d'Arc (with her statue and the old town hall).
• Caves Plou et Fils or other local wine shops for Chinon AOC tastings.
• The steep climb Saint-Martin leading up to the castle for panoramic views.
• Easy access: Chinon train station or parking at the base of the town.

Touraine streets like this one remind us the Loire's magic is often in the details, cobblestones underfoot, history overhead, life unfolding at walking pace. What's your favorite medieval lane in the region?

Happy Saturday in the Loire Valley! 🇫🇷🍷

“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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Bon week-end à tous...A visit to the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours?

Housed in the former bishop's palace beside Tours Cathedral , the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours showcases art from antiquity to the present day. Beyond its collections, it's known for its formal garden, its famous stuffed elephant Fritz, and a remarkable listed Lebanese cedar. The building has been protected as a historic monument since 1983.

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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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Taken in Touraine – View Toward Église Notre-Dame, Yzeures-sur-Creuse

Cloudy skies over southern Touraine... a quiet path leads the eye to the village spire. 🌳⛪

A scenic outlook in Yzeures-sur-Creuse (Indre-et-Loire), looking across hedgerows, fallen leaves, and the Creuse valley toward the Église Notre-Dame.

The church, rebuilt in neo-Romanesque style between 1895 and 1903 (architect Jean Hardion), stands on the site of an ancient Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to Minerva—evidenced by sculpted blocks and Merovingian sarcophagi discovered during foundations. Its tall spire and stone silhouette dominate the village skyline, a landmark in this peaceful riverside commune (confluence of the Creuse and Gartempe), one of the oldest continuously occupied sites in Touraine (traces back to Upper Paleolithic times).

This viewpoint offers classic Touraine serenity: rural rooftops, and the gentle rise of the church against the clouds. Yzeures-sur-Creuse is a hidden gem for quiet walks, with nearby museums (Musée Minerve, Musée Mado Robin) and spa vibes from La Roche-Posay just across the river.

Taken in Touraine: these understated views remind us the Loire's magic often hides in small villages—history, nature, and calm all in one frame. What's your favorite off-the-beaten-path spot in the region?

Bon jeudi dans la vallée de la Loire ! 🇫🇷🌿

“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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Wednesday for Windows: A listed medieval treasure in Tours

Today's spotlight: the upper gable of 57 rue du Grand-Marché in the historic heart of Tours , a 15th-century timber-framed house officially a 'Monument Historique' (protected for its facades and roof).

The star is the arched dormer window crowning the steep gable—framed by black slate tiles laid in a classic fish-scale pattern, with half-timbered (pans de bois) stripes in dark tones. Red curtains glow softly behind the small-paned glass, adding warmth to the weathered slate cladding. This style is signature Touraine medieval architecture: slate (often from nearby quarries) for fire resistance and longevity, combined with overhanging timber framing for extra space in narrow streets.

Preserved in the protected sector around Place Plumereau, this house exemplifies how Tours windows and roofs blend practicality with quiet elegance, protruding upper stories, small openings for light, and that dramatic gable silhouette against the sky.

• Right in the lively rue du Grand-Marché, steps from Place Plumereau cafés and the old market square.
• Nearby gems: Cathédrale Saint-Gatien (Gothic masterpiece), Basilique Saint-Martin crypt, or Rue Colbert's half-timbered row.
• Easy access: Tours train station or tram A (Hôtel de Ville stop).

Paris may have its Haussmann grandeur, but Tours windows whisper older, more intimate secrets, textured, protected, full of character. What's your favorite historic facade detail in the Loire?

Bon mercredi ! 🇫🇷

 

“Through every window, the Loire breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”

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Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

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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