Bon week-end - have a good weekend everyone - Chateau du Rivau.

Autumn brings a particularly appropriate celebration to Château du Rivau, where the Potager de Gargantua becomes the setting for the Fête de la Citrouille et de l’Automne. The potager is known for its collection of cucurbits and forgotten vegetable varieties, making pumpkins and gourds very much at home here.

This year’s festival takes place on 10 and 11 October 2026, with garden tours, creative workshops, pumpkin activities, a market of around 50 artisans and exhibitors, and the chance to discover the gardens in their autumn colours.

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.

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Taken in Touraine - today in Loches.

Empty terrace with fresh flowers today at 'Au Comptoir' in Loches, just after the lunch service. Quiet moment in Touraine.

“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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Did anyone notice autumn sneaking in?

From the bridge at La Guerche as it crosses the Creuse, linking the village with La Petite-Guerche on the opposite bank.

“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
Browse the full series

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The Windows of Basilica Notre-Dame de Cléry.

Notre-Dame de Cléry is a major example of Flamboyant Gothic architecture, built largely in the 15th century after an earlier church was destroyed during the Hundred Years' War. Its history is closely tied to Louis XI, who chose Cléry as his place of burial.

The king's connection with Cléry began when, as a young man, he made a solemn vow to the Virgin. He later rebuilt the church, made it a royal chapel and arranged for his tomb to be placed here. He was buried at Cléry in 1483, rather than with his royal ancestors at Saint-Denis.

So while this photograph is about the windows, it is worth remembering what lies behind them: Louis XI chose Notre-Dame de Cléry as the place where he would spend eternity.

“Through every window,Touraine 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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Abilly in Southern Touraine.

Abilly has a much older story than its quiet appearance suggests. The village's name is traditionally traced to the Roman period, from a landowner called Abillius, giving rise to Abilliacum, meaning the land or estate of Abillius. The name appears later as Vicaria Abilliacensis and Abilly was already an established settlement by the early medieval period.

There is prehistoric history here too: Abilly lies within the southern Touraine area famous for its Neolithic flint-working sites around Le Grand-Pressigny. 

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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All towers and chimneys...

The Loire Valley’s most iconic silhouette never fails to impress, even under a moody sky. Some places need no introduction. Chambord simply stands there, all towers and chimneys, and the rest of the landscape seems to arrange itself around it.

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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