Loches on non-market day.

A calm Pl. du Marché aux Fleurs in Loches on non-market day.

“Some towns speak softly — Loches is one of them.”

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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 chateau - Royal Lodgings from a different angle.

Royal Lodgings at Loches.

Bon lundi.

“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 - International Garden Festival, Chaumont-sur-Loire

Not all benches are waiting areas. Some are part of an idea.

This year’s visit to the International Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire will include a small bench collection, four today and more here over the coming weeks. There are many scattered through the gardens and grounds, each one responding to its setting. 

At the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire the benches are part of the conversation between landscape, design but also a place to take a sit and ponder the gardens which this year are designed around the theme 'The garden goes to the movies'.

“On Sundays, the Loire 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 - expect the unexpected.

Mosnes does not really have a traditional village square, instead, its church seems to sit almost like an island in the middle of the street, with everyday life flowing around it rather than gathering in front of it.

That unusual layout makes this scene feel all the more unexpected. Beside the church, a trio of metal musicians appear permanently mid-performance, turning what might otherwise be a passageway into a stage. Old stone, quiet streets and contemporary sculpture create one of those small Touraine moments that reward slowing down.

It is the sort of place where you realise that village centres are not always planned spaces, sometimes they simply evolve around whatever was already there.

Bon samedi dans la Touraine !

“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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Something for the weekend...

More info. here:

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 - La Lanterne de Rochecorbon.

There are landmarks you notice so often that they almost become part of the landscape, and in Rochecorbon the Lantern is one of them. Standing above the limestone cliffs beside the Loire, this slender stone tower catches the eye of anyone passing through, yet nobody seems entirely certain of its original purpose.

Known locally as La Lanterne de Rochecorbon, theories range from a medieval watchtower to a symbolic marker connected with river traffic or religious use. Local legend has also added its own layers over time, with stories of secret passages and hidden meanings attached to its solitary position above the troglodyte hillside. What is certain is that it has become one of those familiar Touraine landmarks, quietly watching over the valley while keeping part of its story to itself.

From below, framed against the sky and perched on the pale tuffeau rock, it feels less like a monument and more like a question left unanswered.

“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.

 Discover more about the Loire Valley
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