On the streets of Blois, Centre - Val de Loire.

Anyone arriving in Blois via Place Victor Hugo is greeted by one of the town's most striking sights. Rising above the street is the Royal Château of Blois, its long façade reflecting more than four centuries of French architecture and the changing tastes of the kings who lived there.

The square forms an important gateway between the modern town and the historic centre. From here, a short walk leads into the old streets of Blois, while the château dominates the skyline, a reminder of the town's role as a favourite royal residence during the Renaissance.

Rather than revealing a single architectural style, the château tells the story of its evolution. Gothic, Flamboyant and Renaissance elements stand side by side, making it one of the best places in France to see how royal architecture developed over time.

One of the château's most famous residents was Catherine de' Medici. Tradition says she kept a collection of locked cabinets containing letters, documents and perhaps even poisons. Whether the darker stories are fact or legend, they have helped make Blois one of the Loire Valley's most intriguing royal residences.

“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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Seeking out the shade...at Place Plumereau.

Place Plumereau.

With a bit of cloud cover tomorrow you may not need the umbrellas but Sunday is a different matter! 

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 - summer morning in Le Grand-Pressigny.

Le Grand-Pressigny is known far beyond Touraine, not for a château or a vineyard but for prehistoric flint. Archaeologists have traced the village's distinctive honey-coloured stone across much of Europe, evidence of a trading network that existed thousands of years before the Romans arrived.

On a warm summer morning, Place du Maréchal Savoie-Villars is almost empty, making it hard to imagine that this quiet village was once at the centre of one of prehistoric Europe's most important industries.

The quiet streets and neatly kept square reflect the unhurried pace of life that still characterises many of Touraine's smaller villages.

“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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Windows on a building of character in Blois.

The streets of Blois can occasionally reveal an architectural style quite different from the town's famous château. This late 19th-century townhouse combines red brick, carved stone and colourful glazed tiles in a design that reflects the craftsmanship of its period.

It's a fine example of how everyday homes can possess some of the character as the grand buildings for which the Loire Valley is renowned.

Blois experienced a building boom at the end of the 19th century, and many new homes were influenced by the fashionable Art Nouveau movement and regional architectural styles. Decorative glazed ceramic tiles, like those on this façade, were both ornamental and practical, adding colour while helping to protect the brickwork from the weather.

“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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Le Blanc, Indre, Centre - Val de Loire

Le Blanc is one of those lesser-known towns that rewards anyone willing to venture beyond the Loire Valley's most famous destinations. Set on the banks of the Creuse River, it has been an important crossing point for centuries, with its elegant stone bridge linking the historic centre to the surrounding countryside.

The town is home to medieval streets, the imposing Église Saint-Génitour, and the remains of its former château, while the peaceful riverside provides a reminder that life here has always been shaped by the water.

Although visitors are often drawn to the celebrated châteaux of Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher and Loiret, places like Le Blanc reveal another side of the Centre-Val de Loire region, one of market towns, quiet rivers and authentic French life. It is an ideal base for exploring the nearby Brenne Regional Natural Park, famous for its thousands of ponds and remarkable birdlife.

Le Blanc lies in the Indre department (36), one of the least-visited parts of the Centre-Val de Loire. While Departments 37 (Indre-et-Loire), 41 (Loir-et-Cher) and 45 (Loiret) are best known for their UNESCO-listed Loire Valley châteaux, every department in the region has its own character. Travellers who venture into Indre often discover quieter landscapes, historic towns and a slower pace of life that many visitors never experience.

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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Monday's Château – Château de La Guerche

The elegant façade of Château de La Guerche provides more than a glimpse into the Loire Valley's past. Each summer it also becomes an open-air stage, where history and theatre come together beneath the evening sky.

Since 2019, Théâtre du Perron, an amateur theatre company has transformed the château into a unique performance venue. Using the château itself as a dramatic backdrop, the company brings classical works to life in an atmospheric setting that few traditional theatres can match.

This year's production is Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, proving that some of the playwright's themes, justice, power and morality, remain as relevant today as they were more than 400 years ago.

Whether you're visiting for the architecture or an evening of culture, Château de La Guerche offers a memorable blend of heritage and live performance.

Unlike many château performances staged in temporary marquees, Théâtre du Perron performs directly in front of the château's historic façade. As darkness falls and the building is illuminated, the architecture becomes part of the scenery, creating a natural stage set that changes with the evening light.

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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