Lovely Loches...

A favourite place in Southern Touraine here in the Loire Valley for many visitors is the medieval town of Loches. There are many reasons for this, its lively markets,its festivals, its restaurants but mainly for its charm in the actual fabric of the town itself. .It has managed to retain a great deal of its character while still embracing modern living.

                     Let us take you around the walls of this lovely town to show you what we mean.

We will we normally start at the impressive 'Porte Royale' where there are many parking spaces if you get there early enough                                       

         

                                                        

  On this visit we are not taking you through the gate,we will save that for another time ...

        

                   but instead we are going to continue along 'Mall du Dunjon' by the walls of the town,

Then left around behind the dunjon walls itself

As you look up at the dunjon you are passing under its gardens 'Parc Bachet' and here you will find an opportunity to buy some real estate which would allow you to have an prestigious  neighbour.

Continuing along 'Bvd,Philippe Auguste' takes you past the impressive St Ours church high up on your left...

then further town towards the busier end of the town with the royal lodgings dominating the skyline.

You will have to take a slight detour left to catch the impressive 'Porte Cordeliers'

Then you can make your way back to the centre of town or your car via the rambling streets of the old town.

The Ladies'skirts are off...

One of the few criticisms we have had from visitors to our houses here in the Loire Valley over the last few years has been the fact that their visit to Chateau de Chenonceau, the Loire's most popular, has been marred by the fact that it has been clad in scaffolding to some extent or another. This was due to a renovation project over the last three years to spruce but the good news is that the work has now finished. So visitors can now view this beautiful chateau in all her splendour. Chateau de Chenonceau is often described as ‘the ladies chateau’ as throughout its history it is women who have most influenced its design and its destiny