Loire Valley church for Sunday...Saint Christophe, Bléré

The church of Saint Christophe, in the pretty town of Bléré on the banks of the river Cher.

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'Muguet' at Chateau de Chenonceau

For the holiday weekend Chateau de Chenonceau's floral displays will be set around bouquets of Lily of the Valley.The 1st May is a public holiday here in France, officially known as ;La Fête du Travail' (National Labour Day) but also called La Fête du Muguet (Lily of the Valley).

Tradition has it that way back in the 16th century the then king of France was handed a sprig of Lily of the valley as a good luck charm on the first of May and he decided that he should continue the tradition by giving the ladies of the court the same day on proceeding years. Over the weekend you will no doubt be offered a sprig but may have to pay 1€ for the privilege!

FYI 

Currently the bedroom of Louise of Lorraine is closed to visitors due to conservation work

More on Chateau de Chenonceau here

La fête du Thoureil...

FESTIVAL OF THE THOUREIL - TRADITIONAL SAILS AND FESTIVITIES OF LOIRE

More info here

Brocantes / Vide-greniers this holiday weekend, in the Loire Valley...

Touraine...

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 29th April

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

TOURS  Vide-greniers rue Lamartine ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 30th April

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

AUTRECHE  Vide Grenier *

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Brocante de l'ile *

BLERE  Vide grenier ***

CHINON  Bric à Brac **

JOUE LES TOURS  Brocante Bric a Brac Fête de la Grande Bruére ***

LE GRAND PRESSIGNY  Brocante ** (cancelled)

MARRAY  Vide-greniers *

RILLY SUR VIENNE  Brocante **

  

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide Grenier ***

SAINT OUEN LES VIGNES  Vide-greniers ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Monday 1st May

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

BALLAN MIRE  5ième Foire aux Plants-plantes/brocante Jardin **

BERTHENAY  Brocante Vide-greniers**

CANGEY  Bric à Brac ****

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante

FERRIERE SUR BEAULIEU  Brocante *

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

MONTS  Vide-greniers ***

PARCAY MESLAY  Brocante Vide-greniers ***

SAINT BENOIT LA FORET  Brocante **

SAINT PIERRE DES CORPS  Vide-greniers ****

Other departments

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

New attraction in Tours...Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre

We would love to give you a review of the centre and as we were in the city yesterday we decided to check it out but unfortunately we didn't check out the opening times! Currently it is on 'winter' timings and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

Who was Olivier Debre?

You can read his obituary here

Opening times are:

• 11/03/2017 to 20/05/2017 : from 11:30 to 18:00 (except Monday - Tuesday)

• 21/05/2017 to 15/09/2017 : from 11:30 to 19:00
• 
  

Tours, the Loire Valley's favourite city...

Hotel de Ville

We never tire of visiting the city of Tours here in the Loire Valley as it has so much to offer all the 

year round. Springtime brings its own colours to all the major landmarks parks and gardens.

Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé

Gardens of Musee des Beaux-Arts

Rooftops of Chateau de Langeais on the Loire Valley

Chateau de Langeais, one of our favourite castles in one of our favourite towns of the Loire Valley,France.

Sunday's Loire Valley church...Saint Ythier in Sully sur Loire

Read more on our personal blog here

Preuilly-sur-Claise - 'Foire de la Saint-Georges'

Today the village of Preuilly-sur-Claise in Southern Touraine holds its annual 'Foire de la Saint-Georges' brocante. Visiting brocantes on a weekend is a popular French pastime and one that has  also been embraced by people from other countries who have chosen to settle here permanently or have holiday homes. They use them as social occasions and as an opportunity to perhaps find some 'treasure' to add some local 'charm' to their property. 

We find that they are also a good day to visit towns or villages as where they may normally be quite quiet, on brocante days they come alive with locals and visitors alike.You can also use it to check out whether the town or village is worth further exploring or indeed a return visit. 

Preuilly-sur-Claise is a place that deserves a visit but may not necessarily on everyone's list of things to do in Centre-Val de Loire so explore deeper if you choose to visit its brocante and be sure to explore its little back streets and if open, its glorious abbey church.

You can read more on the village here

Brocantes / Vide-greniers this weekend, 22nd/23rd April, in the Loire Valley...

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 22^nd April

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

  

CHAMBRAY LES TOURS  Vide-greniers **

PREUILLY SUR CLAISE  Foire de la St-George ***

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 23^rd April

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

BLERE  Vide-greniers **

CHINON  Vide-greniers ***

CROTELLES  Vide-greniers *

HUISMES  Vide-greniers *

JOUE LES TOURS  Vide-dressing *

LA'NGENNERIE  Vide-greniers *

MONTLOUIS SUR LOIRE  Brocante de la St-jean ****

NOUANS LES FONTAINES  Brocante Vide-greniers **

NOYANT DE TOURAINE  Vide-greniers **

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers **

SAINT LAURENT EN GATINES  Brocante Vide-greniers *

à 219 km

SAINT SENOCH  Brocante **

SAINTE MAURE DE TOURAINE  Marché aux Livres de Printemps *

TOURS  Vide Grenier APE Camus Maurois **

TOURS  Brocante BD Béranger ***

VALLERES  Vide Greniers ***

VILLAINES LES ROCHERS  Vide-greniers *

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Chaumont-sur-Loire - 2017 Garden Festival opens today

Chaumont International Garden Festival opens its doors for business today and even if you are not a gardener it is well worth a visit. We have visited for many consecutive years and have never been disappointed. The featured gardens are always interesting but the permanent displays are worth the walk through as is the art exhibitions...and you also have the chateau to visit.

A walk through the beautiful village of Montresor,Centre-Val de Loire

Springtime at Place Plumereau in Tours in the Loire Valley...

Our favourite Place in Tours here in the Loire Valley...Place Plumereau, great at any time of year.

Love thy neighbour...

When visiting Chateau Azay-le-Rideau we recommend a visit to its delightful neighbour Chateau de l'Islette and its gardens...you won't be disappointed! 

Fortress at Chinon...

Church for Sunday...Notre-Dame,Montbazon

As you pass through the towns and villages of Centre-Val de Loire, if you have the time, you should pop your head in to the local church. Often the plain exterior can often hide a gem of an interior,this is certainly the case at the church of Notre-Dame in Montbazon just south of Tours.

You can see more here

Easter egg hunts at the Loire Valley Chateaux 2017

During the Easter weekend (15th 16th & 17th April) many of the major chateaux of the Loire Valley offer egg treasure hunts for children, of all ages!  Rivau with its magical setting may just get our vote as the place to be.

www.loire-castle-rivau.com/kids

Chateaux with egg hunts this Easter weekend in the Loire Valley:

Château du Rivau

Château de Breze

Château de Langeais

Château de Valençay

Château de Meung-sur-Loire

Château de Beaugency

Château de La Ferté St Aubin

Château de La Bussière

Château de Chambord

Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire

Clos Lucé park in Amboise

Château de Brissac

Château de Montgeoffroy

Brocantes / Vide-greniers this Easter weekend in the Loire Valley...

Chanceaux sur Choisille...great for kid's stuff!

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 16th April

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

CHANCEAUX SUR CHOISILLE  Brocante Vide-greniers *****

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle **

ESVRES  Vide-greniers**

MONTS  Vide-greniers ***

SAINT ROCH  Vide-greniers **

TAVANT  Brocante Vide-greniers ****

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

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

River Indre at Loches...

Not to be missed...tulips at Cheverny

This weekend's brocantes 8th/9th April, in Touraine,Loire Valley

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 9th April

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

ATHEE SUR CHER  Brocante ?

  

CHARGE  Brocante Spéciale Musique *

CONTINVOIR  Brocante Vide-greniers **

DAME MARIE LES BOIS  Vide-greniers **

LA VILLE AUX DAMES  Vide-greniers *****

RIVIERE  Brocante **

SAINT BRANCHS  Brocante - Vide-greniers + Foire à l'Oignon ***

SAINT CYR SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

  

SAINT QUENTIN SUR INDROIS  Brocante **

SEUILLY  Vide Penderie, Jouets et Puériculture *

TOURS  Vide Grenier Quartier des Fontaines **

TOURS  Vide-grenier Tours léo Lagrange *

TOURS  Vide-greniers Esplanade François Mitterrand *

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

Cher (18)

Indre (36)

Loir-et-Cher(41)

Loiret (45)

Maine-et-Loire(49)

Villandry gardens in the Loire Valley...

Villandry read more

Bringing Americans and Australians to Southern Touraine in the Loire Valley, France

The tourist season has arrived and we are delighted to report that many world travellers are, as ever, choosing to visit Southern Touraine in the Loire Valley in France... with vacation rentals in Le Grand Pressigny and Barrou welcoming Australian and American visitors.

You can understand the attraction, for as well as being close to many of the Loire Valley's premier sites they can also sample a taste of rural France and its villages, Whats not to like?

Beautiful days...

 sunsets

nights,

and mornings

These images taken around Barrou...

and Le Grand Pressigny



*Sunset and starry night courtesy of Vivien Bluteau

Windmill Moulin des Agrémonts in Bléré,Touraine, Centre - Val de Loire.

The mill is an authentic 19^th century hollow post mill. Abandoned, the town of the Bléré bought the mill in 2003 after it had been left to deteriorate since ceasing operations in 1877. They spent years restoring it and opened it to the public in 2009. The post mill was unique in that it pivoted on a central post allowing the complete sail structure to rotate to take advantage of the wind in whatever direction it was blowing.

Images...springtime at Chateau de Azay-le-Rideau in the Loire Valley

Loire Valley church for Sunday...Notre Dame de Richelieu

Today we feature the impressive in the town built by the egotistical Cardinal. 

You can read more here on our website