Taken in Touraine - river Indre at Loches.

Seen from the Porte des Cordeliers in Loches, the River Indre moves quietly beneath the trees and old stone houses that line its banks. On warm days, the reflections soften the edges of the town, creating a calmer view far removed from the busy streets on market day.

This part of Loches reveals another side of Touraine, where water, greenery, and centuries-old buildings blend naturally into the landscape. Hidden corners like this are easy to miss, yet they often become the moments visitors remember most clearly after exploring the town.

“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 - pretty in Loches.

On the way to the gates into Loches’ public gardens, this graceful stone facade on Chemin de la Prairie de la Foire offers one of those perfect little moments the Loire Valley does so well.

The soft colours of the roses against the weathered walls and pale blue shutters make it easy to pause and simply admire the details. Loches itself is a medieval town with a royal château, yet refreshingly free of the bigger crowds found elsewhere in the valley.

These are the scenes I look forward to sharing every Wednesday.

“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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Towns & Villages - Boussay in Southern Touraine

Boussay — a quiet corner of southern Touraine.

Today we pause in Boussay, a southern Touraine village whose stillness could be from any moment in the past century. Stone houses, gentle lanes and rooftops that curve softly. this is the Tourainie at its most timeless.

In Boussay, history is not declared; it is simply lived. The old stone walls and narrow streets carry the easy calm that defines this part of the Loire Valley.

“Some villages speak softly — Boussay 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 Château — and a bit of prehistory.

Le Grand-Pressigny is one of those Loire Valley villages where history stretches back far beyond the medieval stones that dominate the skyline.  

This is also a place where prehistory is never far away. Beside the château stands the Musée de Préhistoire du Grand-Pressigny, one of France’s major prehistoric museums. Before even entering, visitors are greeted by life-size models of prehistoric animals, reminders that this quiet corner of Touraine was once inhabited thousands of years before castles or villages appeared.

The contrast between medieval fortress and prehistoric past gives Le Grand-Pressigny a character unlike anywhere else in the Loire Valley. Some more recent history here.

Bon lundi dans la vallée de la Loire !

“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...another in Loches

A quiet shady bench in the public gardens of Loches 

More Loire benches here.

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

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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.

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On the streets of Touraine - in Langeais.

In Langeais, history never feels very far away. Around Place Pierre de Brosse, everyday life continues beneath the shadow of the old château tower, where centuries of stories seem to rise above the rooftops.

Walking the streets here, you notice how naturally the medieval and the modern sit together. Langeais is often remembered for its château and royal history, but the streets themselves are just as memorable. They carry that unmistakable Touraine atmosphere, calm, lived-in and quietly timeless.

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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