Villandry under an autumn sky.

Villandry is perhaps best known for the precise geometry of its Renaissance-style gardens, but they are never quite the same from one season to the next. In October, the colours begin to change and the garden takes on a distinctly autumnal character, while the château remains the constant backdrop.

Bon lundi.

“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 in Chedigny.

One of the many lovely spots to sit and smell the roses in in the pretty village of Chedigny in Southern Touraine. 

“On Sundays the Loire Valley 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 Xavier Branicki.

Rue Xavier Branicki runs beneath the château at Montrésor, following the line of the old dry moat. The street takes its name from Xavier Branicki, the Polish aristocrat who acquired the château in 1849 and restored it as his home. His influence is still very much part of Montrésor today.

Look at this street and it is easy to imagine an earlier generation making its way beneath the château, with little more than the names and people having changed.

.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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Alexander Calder at Hôtel Goüin, Tours.

The Hôtel Goüin is one of Tours’ most distinctive historic buildings, dating from the 15th century and now used for temporary exhibitions. This autumn it is part of the major Alexander Calder programme across the Centre-Val de Loire, with an exhibition of more than fifty works on paper, photographs and other works running until January 2027. A monumental Calder stabile is also installed in the courtyard.

With some events in Tours affected by the current unrest, it is worth checking arrangements before setting out. The Calder exhibition at the Hôtel Goüin is currently maintaining its published schedule.

Calder in Touraine

Calder in Centre-Val de Loire

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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A view from a bridge.

Standing on the bridge in Preuilly-sur-Claise, a classic Touraine view unfolds: soft October light, traditional slate roofs, and a lamppost dressed in a cascade of flowers. The Loire countryside feels gently timeless here quiet streets, brick and stone houses and that unmistakable sense of unhurried French village life.

“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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Rapunzel’s Window in Barrou.

High above the ground, a small dormer window rises from the steep slate roof of this house on the Route du Moulin à Vent in Barrou in Southern Touraine. With its rounded turret, pointed roof and solitary upper window, it has all the ingredients for a Loire Valley version of a Rapunzel tower. 

“Through every window,the Loire Valley 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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