My Sunday Bench — Musée des Beaux-Arts, Tours.

Just beyond the cathedral, the gardens of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Tours offer one of the city's most peaceful places to sit. With clipped hedges, mature trees and the former Archbishop's Palace as a backdrop, it's a Sunday bench with a distinctly elegant setting.

Anecdote: The museum occupies the former Palais des Archevêques , a residence that became one of the grandest in Touraine. Its formal gardens remain open to visitors, providing a quiet retreat just a few steps from the busy streets of central Tours.

“On Sundays, Touraine 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 — Chinon

Chinon's medieval streets still follow the same narrow lanes laid out centuries ago, with timber-framed houses leaning gently towards one another. It's a town best explored on foot, where every corner seems to reveal another piece of its long history.

Many of Chinon's half-timbered houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Their upper floors were often built to project over the street, giving homeowners a little extra living space while keeping these medieval lanes pleasantly shaded during the summer.

“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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Étang du Louroux - Bon week-end.

The return of cloud cover and more sensible temperatures makes this the perfect weekend to rediscover one of Touraine's loveliest nature walks. The circular trail around Étang du Louroux offers peaceful lakeside views, abundant birdlife and plenty of shady spots to pause along the way.

Covering around 60 hectares, Étang du Louroux is one of the largest wetlands in southern Touraine. Originally created by monks in the Middle Ages, it has become an important nature reserve where herons, kingfishers and dozens of migratory bird species can be spotted throughout the year.

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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The Hart of the matter - Taken in Touraine

Standing before the Royal Lodgings of Loches, the striking Cerf Ailé (Winged Hart) creates an unexpected meeting between medieval history and contemporary art. It has become a memorable welcome for visitors exploring one of France's most important royal residences.

The winged hart is far more than a modern sculpture. The hart was the personal emblem of King Charles VI, symbolising nobility and resilience, while the addition of wings gives this contemporary artwork a sense of freedom and imagination. Set against the 15th-century Royal Lodgings, it beautifully bridges six centuries of French history.

“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 - inside out!

A view from a window onto chateau de La Guerche.

This view could be yours as house is for sale - you can take a walk through the house here.

“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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Richelieu - Towns & Villages of Centre-Val de Loire.

Richelieu is unlike any other town in the Loire Valley. Founded in 1631 by Cardinal Richelieu, it was designed from the ground up with a perfectly ordered street grid and elegant limestone houses that still define its character today.

This view along Rue Paul Viau Laurence leads towards the church, with architecture that has remained remarkably faithful to the Cardinal's original vision.

The irony of Richelieu is that the town survived better than the château it was built to accompany. After the French Revolution, Cardinal Richelieu's vast palace was plundered for its treasures and eventually demolished, its stone sold as building material. Today, the carefully planned town remains the greatest monument to his ambition.

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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