Mon banc dominical/My Sunday Bench at Chateau de Cande.

A bench stands facing the Château de Candé.

The stone façade rises quietly behind the trees, its towers and windows catching the light of a clear Sunday afternoon. Nothing presses forward here. The bench waits, placed at a respectful distance, offering a view rather than a destination.

Candé is known for its history, but on a Sunday like this, the château feels simply present — solid, unchanged, and open to being looked at slowly. Sitting here, the grounds invite a pause, the kind that belongs naturally to the Loire.

À bientôt et bon dimanche !

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

---

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.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Mon banc dominical · Back to Home

On the streets of Touraine - Place du Marché aux Fleurs in Loches.

Place du Marché aux Fleurs in Loches, this charming, market place right in the heart of the old town, buzzing with life on market days.

The scene today: white market stalls and tents spread across the wide paved rond-point, vendors offering fresh produce, flowers, cheeses, local honey, and artisan goods under a pale winter sky. Locals and visitors mingle among the market stalls. Surrounding the square: elegant white-stone buildings with slate roofs, classic Touraine façades, a few half-timbered touches, and the striking Tour Saint-Antoine soaring 52 meters above it all, a Renaissance bell tower (built 1529–1575) that dominates the skyline with its elegant lantern top and stone carvings. At its base, the bronze statue of poet Alfred de Vigny (erected in the square) adds a literary touch, patina turning green-blue over time. In the background, glimpses of the medieval Château de Loches perch on its rocky spur, with pointed turrets and the royal lodgings peeking through.

Quick history: The square takes its name from the historic flower market that once filled it (now part of Loches' famous twice-weekly markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays). The Tour Saint-Antoine, originally a belfry linked to a chapel of St. Anthony at its foot (long gone), was built in pure Renaissance style, the only one of its kind in Touraine, to serve as the town's communal bell tower after the old church structures evolved. Loches itself is a medieval gem: fortified since the 9th century, royal residence under Charles VII (who gave it to Agnès Sorel), and a key stop on the Loire Valley trail.

Loches— the charm of everyday Touraine life.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

---

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.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end à tous. Have a good weekend everyone!

Argenton-sur-Creuse

---

Part of the “Bon week-end from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, one beautiful weekend at a time.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Thursday's taken in Touraine…Gare de Tours.

As evening settles over Tours, the Gare de Tours comes alive in a soft glow. The grand glass roof of the 1898 station catches the last light of day, while the deep blue sky above creates a striking backdrop for its ornate stone facade and statues.

Travelers move across the forecourt, some heading to trains for Paris, others arriving with suitcases rolling and voices carrying under the canopy. The warm interior lights spill out through the arches, inviting one last look at the architecture before night fully arrives. A classic Touraine moment: the meeting point of history and everyday journeys, where the past grandeur of the railway age meets the present life of the Loire Valley.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

---

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
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home 

Amboise - inside out!

Through the glowing window of 'Pâtisserie Chocolaterie Bigot' in Amboise, the Loire Valley invites you in with pure indulgence. Golden croissants, sugar-dusted brioche, apple chaussons and towering kouign-amann-style treats line the shelves, their warmth contrasting the cool February light outside.

Beyond the glass, Place Michel Debré stretches toward the iconic Château d'Amboise perched on its hill, towers and rooftops catching the overcast sky. Passersby in coats hurry past half-timbered facades and cobblestones, a living postcard of Touraine charm.

Bigot, a family treasure since 1913 (now in its fourth generation), isn't just a patisserie, it's a chocolatier, glacier, and salon de thé beloved for hot chocolate, tarte tatin, and seasonal marzipan fruits. Right opposite the château, it's the perfect stop for a moment of sweetness amid Loire heritage.

This "inside-out" view captures the essence of the Loire: everyday beauty framed through windows, blending temptation with timeless architecture.

 

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

---

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.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home

Tuesday for towns & villages - Amboise.

We stopped here longer than planned, mainly to look in the window of 'Patisserie Chocolaterie Bigot'. The street narrows just enough to pull your attention forward, toward the tower at the far end and it’s easy to forget whatever sent you this way in the first place - probably the chocolate!.

From this spot, Amboise feels unguarded. Shop windows reflect timber beams and pale stone rather than people in a hurry. Nothing asks to be photographed and yet everything feels worth noticing.

The old clock tower doesn’t dominate the view; it simply waits. It has seen the street fill and empty countless times and today is no exception. Life continues at a human pace, framed by buildings that have learned how to age without spectacle.

I like streets like this. They don’t perform. They just exist, and invite you to do the same for a moment longer than you intended.

“Every town and village in the Loire Valley tells its story gently — in rooftops, stonework and narrow streets.”

---

Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Each Tuesday, we visit one of the Loire Valley's towns or villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home