Chateau de Montpoupon

Standing on the edge of the Forest of Loches, Château du Montpoupon has watched over this corner of Touraine for centuries. Unlike many of the Loire Valley's grand royal residences, Montpoupon has remained a family home for generations, giving it a more intimate character while preserving its medieval towers and Renaissance additions.

Its distinctive round towers and defensive walls hint at its origins as a fortified castle, while the elegant windows and refined details reflect the changing tastes of later centuries. Surrounded by woodland and open countryside, it remains one of the quieter château experiences in the Loire Valley.

If you're exploring the region between Chenonceau and Loches, Château de Montpoupon is well worth adding to your itinerary.

Montpoupon is especially associated with hunting traditions. Inside, the château houses the Musée du Veneur (Museum of the Huntsman) , dedicated to the history of hunting with hounds in France. Even if hunting isn't of personal interest, the museum offers a fascinating insight into a centuries-old rural tradition that shaped life on many French estates.

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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A simple stone bench beside the River Claise...

A simple stone bench beside the River Claise offers a peaceful place to pause in Preuilly-sur-Claise, one of Southern Touraine's oldest settlements. From here the river drifts quietly past, reflecting the trees and the village beyond, while life seems to move at a gentler pace.The Claise has shaped the village for centuries, powering mills, supporting local industry and providing a natural focus for everyday life.

On a warm summer afternoon, this bench is an invitation to slow down for a while and enjoy one of those understated corners of the Loire region that rarely makes the guidebooks but leaves a lasting impression.

“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 Blois, Centre - Val de Loire.

Anyone arriving in Blois via Place Victor Hugo is greeted by one of the town's most striking sights. Rising above the street is the Royal Château of Blois, its long façade reflecting more than four centuries of French architecture and the changing tastes of the kings who lived there.

The square forms an important gateway between the modern town and the historic centre. From here, a short walk leads into the old streets of Blois, while the château dominates the skyline, a reminder of the town's role as a favourite royal residence during the Renaissance.

Rather than revealing a single architectural style, the château tells the story of its evolution. Gothic, Flamboyant and Renaissance elements stand side by side, making it one of the best places in France to see how royal architecture developed over time.

One of the château's most famous residents was Catherine de' Medici. Tradition says she kept a collection of locked cabinets containing letters, documents and perhaps even poisons. Whether the darker stories are fact or legend, they have helped make Blois one of the Loire Valley's most intriguing royal residences.

“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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Seeking out the shade...at Place Plumereau.

Place Plumereau.

With a bit of cloud cover tomorrow you may not need the umbrellas but Sunday is a different matter! 

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 - summer morning in Le Grand-Pressigny.

Le Grand-Pressigny is known far beyond Touraine, not for a château or a vineyard but for prehistoric flint. Archaeologists have traced the village's distinctive honey-coloured stone across much of Europe, evidence of a trading network that existed thousands of years before the Romans arrived.

On a warm summer morning, Place du Maréchal Savoie-Villars is almost empty, making it hard to imagine that this quiet village was once at the centre of one of prehistoric Europe's most important industries.

The quiet streets and neatly kept square reflect the unhurried pace of life that still characterises many of Touraine's smaller villages.

“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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Windows on a building of character in Blois.

The streets of Blois can occasionally reveal an architectural style quite different from the town's famous château. This late 19th-century townhouse combines red brick, carved stone and colourful glazed tiles in a design that reflects the craftsmanship of its period.

It's a fine example of how everyday homes can possess some of the character as the grand buildings for which the Loire Valley is renowned.

Blois experienced a building boom at the end of the 19th century, and many new homes were influenced by the fashionable Art Nouveau movement and regional architectural styles. Decorative glazed ceramic tiles, like those on this façade, were both ornamental and practical, adding colour while helping to protect the brickwork from the weather.

“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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