Towns & villages...smelling the roses on pre festival visit at Chedigny.

In Chédigny doing a walk through before the annual Rose Festival at the end of the month. 

 As one of the most charming villages in Touraine, Chédigny is unique in France as the country’s only village to hold the “Remarkable Garden” label. Rather than a formal park, the entire village has been transformed into a living garden, with hundreds of rose bushes and flowering plants woven through its streets and houses.

Before the festival crowds arrive, there is a quieter atmosphere, with the first blooms already bringing colour and fragrance to the village lanes beneath the bright Loire Valley sky.

“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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A peaceful discovery in the southern Loire Valley — Château d’Azay-le-Ferron.

Tucked away near the Brenne Regional Natural Park, Château d’Azay-le-Ferron offers a wonderful mix of architectural styles spanning from the late 15th to the 18th century. Its elegant tower, classic façades, and beautifully maintained formal gardens create an intimate and romantic atmosphere.

Often less crowded than its more famous neighbours, this château feels like a true hidden gem. The view through the foliage in spring, as captured here, perfectly highlights its harmonious blend of medieval, Renaissance, and classical elements.

The château remains fully furnished, giving visitors a rich glimpse into centuries of French aristocratic life. Its gardens combine both French formal design and English landscape influences across 25 hectares.

A lovely, tranquil spot to add to your Loire Valley itinerary.

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 - Chedigny.

Bit of shade on a sunny spring day at Chedigny where they are preparing for their annual rose festival at the end of the month.

“On Sundays, the Loire 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: Rue du Lavoir, Chedigny

In the village of Chédigny, Rue du Lavoir is especially beautiful in the days leading up to the annual rose festival. Like today, climbing roses spill across façades and garden walls, giving the village its quiet, timeless character.

Known throughout Touraine for its remarkable rose displays, Chédigny became France’s first village to receive the “Remarkable Garden” label. In late spring, before the festival crowds arrive, the streets feel peaceful and full of colour, with roses already beginning to cover windows, gates, and doorways.

Rue du Lavoir is one of those small village streets that invites a slow walk and a pause to 'smell the roses'.

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.

See more from Experience Loire

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

Bon week-end have a good weekend everyone.

 

Nature’s magic carpet in Loches.

In spring, the Loire Valley treats you to these unexpected moments of beauty. Here, a vibrant tree has generously laid down a thick purple-pink carpet of blossoms along the path, turning an ordinary riverside walk into something enchanting.

Loches and the surrounding Touraine region are famous for their beautiful gardens and floral displays in spring. These blossom “carpets” are a delightful annual gift from nature that locals and visitors look forward to every year.

A perfect reminder to slow down and enjoy the small wonders while exploring the Loire Valley.

“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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