Chinon, a view from Tour de l'Horloge.

Seen from Fortress Chinon’s clock tower (Tour de l'Horloge), the Collegiate Church of Saint-Mexme still sits among the houses of the old town much as it has for centuries.

Saint-Mexme was the principal religious building in Chinon until the Revolution. Its oldest surviving parts date from around the year 1000, while the church was enlarged during the 12th century as the cult of Saint Mexme developed. The central tower collapsed in 1817, destroying the eastern part of the church, leaving the medieval nave and western façade seen today.

Today the former collegiate church is a cultural centre, but its position within the historic town remains much as it was.

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

Exploring the towns and 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

Betz-le-Château - a night underground.

The Château de Betz-le-Château is a 15th-century fortress, built between 1444 and 1476, with a substantial medieval feature below ground: a network of ancient subterranean passages and refuge chambers. The château retains its towers, former defensive features and part of its old fortifications.

This October, the château will be taking part in La Nuit des Châteaux, opening on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 2026 from 6pm. The evening includes a walk through the illuminated park, exploration of the medieval underground passages in small groups by torchlight and access to one of the towers.

Bon lundi.

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists and of the dream of France itself.”

---

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.

Discover more about the Loire Valley

Browse the full series

 © Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · ,

Back to Home

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench, Meung-sur-Loire.

There is a kind of bench that does not announce itself.

In Meung-sur-Loire it sits slightly off the path, half-swallowed by the plants that grow along the water of 'La Mauve'. You could walk past without noticing it at all. The wooden slats catch the light only for a moment, and then the greenery closes around it again.

It feels less like something placed there for visitors and more like a quiet decision the garden made for itself. A place to sit if you happen to see it, and if you do not, the water and the trees continue without you.

Fortunately there are also more obvious options

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

---

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.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — My Sunday bench · Back to Home

Rue Robert-d'Arbrissel, Fontevraud-l'Abbaye.

Rue Robert-d'Arbrissel is the main street through Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, the village that grew around the great abbey founded by Robert d'Arbrissel in 1101. The village did not develop in a straightforward way, however. For centuries, the abbey kept its immediate surroundings largely free of ordinary housing.

It was only from the late 16th century that building began to fill the gap between the abbey and the older hamlet of Les Ormeaux. Much of the street was completed later, with houses built on land released after the old village cemetery was moved in 1814.

The abbey itself became the royal necropolis of the Plantagenets. In the nave of the abbey church are the remarkable recumbent effigies of Henry II, King of England and Count of Anjou, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their son Richard the Lionheart.

So this ordinary-looking village street leads directly into a place with an extraordinary royal history.

Fontevraud Abbey 

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

Exploring the towns and 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

October at Chateau de Langeais.

Château de Langeais has a particularly atmospheric setting, with the medieval château rising at the end of the street. And this October there is another reason to visit after daylight has gone.

On the weekend of 17th and 18th October, Château de Langeais is taking part in La Nuit des Châteaux for the first time. From 6.30pm to 9pm, visitors can enter the château after dark and discover the legends surrounding Louis XI.

Hope your week ends well and it's followed by a lovely weekend.

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.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

Reflections at the Plan d’eau, Paulmy.

 The Plan d’eau at Paulmy sits in the centre of the village and is used for walking, picnics and fishing. On a calm day, the pond becomes a natural mirror, reflecting the trees, sky and planting around its edges.

It is also the starting point for Paulmy’s village walking circuit.

“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