Brocantes / vide greniers in Touraine,Loire Valley, Saturday1st & Sunday 2nd April

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 1^st April

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

CHINON  Vide-greniers Braderie de Printemps *

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 13th November

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

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Vide-greniers **

BALLAN MIRE  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

BOURGUEIL  Brocante des Halles *

CHARGE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

ESVRES  Bourse aux Vêtements Disques et aux Livres *

LIGRE  Vide-greniers **

MAZIERES DE TOURAINE  Brocante Vide-greniers **

NEUILLY LE BRIGNON  Vide-greniers ?

••

PONT DE RUAN  Brocante Vide-greniers **

SAINT ETIENNE DE CHIGNY  Vide-greniers ***

TOURS  Vide-greniers Bd Béranger *****

Other departments: Source : http://brocabrac.fr/

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Chateau du Grand Pressigny...a different view

This is a view looking towards Le Grand Pressigny and its chateau fro the road to La Guerche.

A visit to Chateau Villandry in the Loire Valley in the spring...

A visit to Chateau Villandry here in the Loire Valley is one of our top recommendations for our clients. It is beautiful all year round but its gardens change with the seasons and spring is a great time to visit...

Loire Valley church for Sunday...St.Etienne,Tours

Perhaps often overlooked on the normal toursist trail of the city of Tours the church of St,Etienne is,in our opinion, well worth a visit.

Its interior is of cathedral proportions and is a delight.

You can read more here

Fete des vins de Bourgueil...Tours

 

On Saturday the 25^th of March fifty winemakers from Bourgueil will be decanting themselves to Tours for the day and setting out their stalls along Boulevard Heurteloup.

After buying your tasting glass (€ 2) you are invited to taste their 2016 vintage from 10.00am until 7.00pm  More information vinbourgueil.com 

Joan(s) at Chateau du Rivau

Yesterdays Joan(s) can be found in one of our favourite Loire Valley chateaux, Chateau du Rivau where there is a room dedicated to her.

You can see more on what's in the room on a previous post here on our personal blog,

Where's Joan(s) ?...

Where is perhaps the largest collection of Joan of Arc memorabilia to be found in Touraine here in the Loire Valley?

What to look forward to now that spring has arrived in the Loire Valley...the tulips at Cheverny

Chateau de Cheverny opens its doors on the 1st of April and the month is a great time to visit as their river  of over 100,000+  tulips, 10 metres wide by 160 metres is a joy to behold! The fully furnished chateau is well worth a visit on its own but this adds a whole new dimension to this famous Loire Valley residence 

Here is a link to the official website of the chateau

Loire Valley photo...looking over the Loire river to Candes-Saint-Martin

More on Candes-Saint-Martin on our website

Loire Valley church for Sunday... St. Andrew's church in the village of Villaines-les-Rocher

See more detail on our website here

Joan of Arc in the Loire Valley...

Yesterday's statue of Joan can be found overlooking the river Loire from the 'Bishop's Garden' by the town hall in Blois. The impressive statue is by American  Anna Hyatt Huntinton and there are versions in her native New York,San Francisco and Gloucester (?)

Wednesday...where's Joan?

Where would you find this impressive Joan of Arc statue?

Answer here tomorrow 

Most popular chateau of the Loire Valley?

We would have to plump for Chateau de Chenonceau as it never disappoints, whether it is a personal visit or a visit by guests at one of our holiday rentals. We have spent time here during every season of the year and even experienced its delights at Christmas when it is even more enchanting than normal.

We have just updated our page on Chateau de Chenonceau on the website.

Church on Sunday...LoireValley churches,Notre-Dame de Rivière

One of our favourite interiors of the Loire Valley churches

More detail on our website here

Springing into spring...

Le Grand Pressigny

With temperatures hitting 18 degrees in Southern Touraine, Centre - Val de Loire is springing into spring.

Tours à Tours

More on Tours here

Church on Sunday...Loire Valley churches - St. Nicolas, Tavant

More info on website here

Rare photograph of Chateau de Chenonceau...no tourists

This is a photograph of possibly the most popular chateau in the Loire Valley, Chateau de Chenonceau but it is rare in that there is not a tourist to be seen! Normally this would be impossible for this view but if you choose your moment...this was taken in early April by American guests staying at 'Le Bourg' vacation rental ,who as it happens are returning for their 4th visit this year!

I have become quite adept at avoiding  people in my photographs of the Loire Valley, although Pauline doesn't like me ushering people out of my shots!