Experiencing the Loire Valley and Southern Touraine...

Canadians visiting the Southern Touraine area of Centre Val de Loire were telling us this week that it will be difficult to explain to their friends back home what it was about their experience that was so great as it was perhaps not easily quantifiable.They loved the restaurants and the friendliness of the restaurateurs and local people plus the beauty of the countryside which had them delighted at almost every turn of a corner but there was something else...maybe the pace of life, the lifestyle..'.la joie de vivre'...they would just have to come and experience the Loire Valley for themselves.

Living here we know exactly what the mean!

Jack and Marion from Ottawa, Canada  stayed at 'Le Bourg' in Barrou.where there is still one week available in June plus 5 days available to rent in August

Chedigny Rose Festival 2105...

This weekend 30th and 31st of May 2015, The Roses Association of Chédigny celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 'Festival of Roses'...a must for gardeners. 

Official website: http://rosesdechedigny.canalblog.com/

This weekend's brocantes / vide greniers in Touraine, Loire Valley

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 31^st May

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Brocante  **

BEAULIEU LES LOCHES  Brocante **

BLERE  Brocante  **

CIVRAY DE TOURAINE  Brocante vide-greniers **

CORMERY   Exchange toys, clothing and childcare articles

DESCARTES  Brocante, vide grenier **

LUYNES  Vide-greniers **

MONTBAZON  Brocante vide grenier ****

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

POUZAY  Vide greniers *

RIGNY USSE  Vide-greniers ?

RILLY SUR VIENNE  Vide-greniers ?

SACHE  Vide grenier fete de la moto **

SAINT CHRISTOPHE SUR LE NAIS  Vide grenier **

SAUNAY  Vide-greniers**

SAVIGNY EN VERON  Bourse d'échanges et vide grteniers **

TOURS  Vide-greniers Place Beaujardin

TOURS  Vide-greniers de Tours nord**

VILLANDRY  Vide-greniers **

Tours could be the place to be this weekend...here in the Loire Valley

http://www.vinsvaldeloire.fr/

Vitiloire, Tours celebrates the wines of the Loire Valley 

May 30th and 31st 2015
Saturday from 10h to 19h - Sunday from 10h to 18h 
place de la Gare - Boulevard Heurteloup - Garden Prefecture
 

Up to 150 winemakers will be filling glasses for the weekend.

It's right in the city centre, on the Boulevard Heurteloup , Station Square and in the garden of the Prefecture, the public is invited to discover the diversity of the Loire wines. 
 

There is also a market and gourmet village  dedicated to the gastronomy of Touraine  where you can taste the famous goat’s cheese of Sainte-Maure, rillettes, Foie gras and even local beers.

Whether you are experts or amateurs, come and relax, share, discuss, enjoy our wines - Saturday, 30th and Sunday 31st May.

Popping up all over the Loire Valley...

As you drive around the Loire Valley at this time the poppies are bursting out around you...even by the side of the road

Amboise brocante...

Head over to Amboise here in the Loire Valley on Monday (25th) to their brocante...and you may just grab a bargain!

Something else for the weekend...

The 'Mix'Terres' festival over the weekend in Blois promises much .... 18 shows (13 free) 

Here is what their website says ...

 "...founded in 2007, under the leadership of the team of the House of Bégon. The intersection of the Arts is the orientation of the festival. Mix'Terres invitation to a journey to the heart of world cultures through artistic disciplines oven: the modern circus, dance, music, street arts. Offer different artistic disciplines is not the Easiest path to go to the general public encounter. HOWEVER Gives the festival this source of innovation, creativity and artistic opening. A Mix'Terres coeducation is not a simple concept, it Sees with milliers icts of spectators from all backgrounds. The event is really well supported by a strong identity, cultural diversity Focused on Enhancing. And this identity is Justified by the Particular rental of the festival since it takes up in a suburban area Where intertwine various nationalities ."

May be worth a visit to see if it delivers!

Search for treasures in the Loire Valley...

At this holiday weekend brocantes (flea markets ) and vide-greniers (empty your attic) you will find all sorts of treasures and distractions. Something for everyone...

Gardeners can buy /exchange plants at Cangey just outside of Chargé (along from Amboise)  

If you are taking the kids then this small affair at Courcay might offer them a distraction...

Courçay - Jeux brocante  ( less than 50  stalls )

If its just to have a walk around a town or village you haven't visited then choose from one of these... 

Sunday 24th May 2015

Athee sur Cher - Vide-greniers  (100 to 200 stalls)

Azay le Rideau - Brocante / Vide-greniers  (50 -100 stalls)

Ballan Mire - Vide-greniers   (100 to 200 stalls)

Chateau Renault - Brocante

Dolus le Sec – Brocante / Vide-greniers  ( less than 50  stalls)

Lignieres - Vide-greniers  (50 -100 stalls)

Ligueil – Brocante / Vide-greniers  (50 -100 stalls)

Loches - Marché du chineur (bargain hunter)  (50 -100 stalls)

Louans - Brocante Vide-greniers  (50 -100 stalls)

Saint  Avertin - Vide-greniers  (100 to 200 stalls)

Saint Quentin sur Indrois - Fête des Oisons

Tours - Brocante professionnelle  (100 to 200 stalls)

The holiday weekend means that Monday has some events...if you have never visited Amboise then this might be a good time...but then again maybe not, as it will be busy!

Monday 25th May 2015

Amboise - Brocante / Vide-greniers     (200 to 300 stalls)

Music in the Loire Valley...Music Festival De Sully & Du Loiret

The Music Festival De Sully & Du Loiret originated way back in 1973 as a musical event held within the delightful chateau of Sully-sur-Loire. It has now grown to become a ‘departmental’ (Loiret) event with classical and jazz concerts also being held in Orleans, Beaugency,  Montargis, Olivet and Ferrières-en-Gâtinais.

You can see the full programme here:

www.festival-sully.fr/

Spring in the Loire Valley...

Yesterday's photo was taken in the pretty town of Bléré which sits on the river Cher. The flowers are in the public gardens 'Republic Square', which was the former cemetery of Bléré which closed in 1840.

All that survives from the original cemetery  is the small Renaissance style 'Chapelle Jehan de Seigne', a memorial, built in 1526 by  in memory of his father, William of Seigne who had been the treasurer of the king's artillery. The gardens also contain the town's war memorial.

Taken in Touraine - but where? More Loire Valley spring flowers

Find out tomorrow.

Weekend's brocantes / vide-greniers here in Touraine in the Loire Valley

Sunday 17^th May 2015

 Anche - Vide-greniers  (50 to 100 stalls)

Azay sur Cher  - Brocante Vide-greniers  (100 t0 200 stalls)

Chinon - Brocante Rabelaisienne  (50 to 100 stalls)

Gizeux -  Brocante Vide-greniers  (100 t0 200 stalls)

Joue les Tours - Vide-greniers  (50 to 100 stalls)

La Chapelle Blanche Saint Martin – Brocante   (50 to 100 stalls)

Mazieres de Touraine – Brocante (50 to 100 stalls)

Nouatre - Vide grenier brocante  (50 to 100 stalls)

Saint Pierre des Corps - Vide-greniers  (100 to 200)

Saint Maure de Touraine - Vide grenier  (100 to 200 stalls)

Tours - Antiquités brocantes vide-greniers  (200 to 300 stalls)

Loire Valley sunsets...

The Loire Valley is blessed with some wonderful sunsets...this is from Barrou in Southern Touraine.

Weekend's brocantes / vide-greniers here in Touraine in the Loire Valley

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2015

Amboise – Vide-greniers -  less than 50 stalls

Cinq Mars la Pile – Vide-greniers - !00 to 200

La Riche – Vide-greniers - Over 300 stalls

Neuville sur Brenne  – Vide-greniers - 50 to 100 stalls

SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2015

Amboise – Brocante /  marché gourmand - less than 50 stalls

La Chapelle Aux Naux – Brocante - 50 to 100 stalls

Montbazon – Brocante / vide-greniers – 200 to 300 stalls

Savigne sur Lathan – Brocante - 50 to 100 stalls

Savonniers - Brocante / vide-greniers - 50 to 100 stalls

Beer fest...