Saturday 28 October 2017

Something for the weekend at Chateau du Rivau


image courtesy of amboise-valdeloire

‘Festival des Fleurs d'Automne’ October 28th and 29th ... discover the marvellous blossoms of autumn over the weekend at Chateau du Rivau.  More details here

Friday 27 October 2017

Thursday 26 October 2017

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

stalls at brocante in Azay-Le-Rideau
Azay-le-Rideau

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 29th October

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

AZAY LE RIDEAU  Vide-greniers Foire au Pomme ***

CERE LA RONDE  Foire aux Chèvres Vide-greniers

LOCHE SUR INDROIS  Bourse aux Vêtements, Jouets et Materiel Puériculture

REUGNY EN VOUVRILLON  Foire a la Bernache / Brocante ****

SAINTE MAURE DE TOURAINE  Vide-grenier **








Tuesday 24 October 2017

Tours in the Loire Valley in October

Fountain at Place Jean Jaurès in Tours France

The pretty fountain at Place Jean Jaurès in Tours...taken during the delightful spell of weather in the first week of October !

Monday 23 October 2017

A taste of Leonardo at Amboise in the Loire Valley

de Vinc drawing in gardens of Chateau Los Luce


A visit to Amboise for the Chateau and the town itself is well worth it but add to this the Leonardo de Vinci connection and it makes for a good day out. His home for the last three years of his life was at 'Clos Luce' in the town and the local tourist industry have made the most of this by turning the house and gardens into an interesting homage to the great man.

Flying man model at Clos Luce



Sunday 22 October 2017

Loire Valley church on Sunday Saint-Jean-Baptiste,Montresor


As you walk the pretty streets of Montresor in Southern Touraine, along with the chateau, the other dominant feature of this beautiful village is the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.


In our opinion one of the prettiest churches in Touraine.





Saturday 21 October 2017

Seeing the light in Montresor


If you visit beautiful Montresor  here in the Loire Valley then you have visit 'Exhibition le Gemmail' currently on display in the 'Halle des Cardeux' it is breathtaking. Gemmail a process developed in the late 1930's in France by artist Jean Crotti which became known as the 'Art of Light'. As an art form it was popularised during the 1950s with works inspired by paintings of  Degas,Picasso, Monet and others, Picasso actually produced a number of pieces himself.The name derives from combining the words 'gemme' precious stone and 'émail' enamel,the binder used to build up the three dimensional panels.


We had visited exhibitions here before and found the building is worth the visit alone but adding this display is inspirational and a credit to the village for securing what may prove to be a permanent exhibition of these beautiful pieces.






Thursday 19 October 2017

October in beautiful Montresor in the Loire Valley, France.

 Looking on to St. John the Baptist church in Montresor from the chateau

Montresor in the Southern Touraine area of Centre-Val de Loire is listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France (Plus-Beaux-Villages-de-France) and is a certainly delightful...even in October

Rue Xavier Branicki in Montresor looking towards the church

 Looking along Rue Xavier Branicki in Montresor

  The Chateau at Montresor from Rue Xavier Branicki

street below the chateau in Montresor in the Loire Valley in France

looking over a field towards the Chateau and church in Montresor

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Francois Rabelais - a giant of a man?


This is the statue of Francois Rabelais sits in 'Place Anatole France'  in Tours near the university that bears his name. He is much celebrated here in Touraine as one of its 'sons' though apparently the exact whereabouts of his birth are open to conjecture, 'near Chinon' keeps him within its boundaries. 
As a monk, humanist,physician and writer he is a fine example of the importance of education to the many young people who climb the steps of the nearby building. His most celebrated work 'Gargantua and Pantagruel' was written under the name Alcofribas Nasier (an anagram of François Rabelais). It tells the story of two giants,a father, Gargantua and his son, Pantagruel. It is, according to what I have read about him,said to have been written in "an amusing, extravagant, and satirical vein".  Maybe I should seek out a copy!


Tuesday 17 October 2017

Pont Wilson Bridge in Tours, France


Pont Wilson Bridge in Tours France

Today we are featuring one of our favourite bridges over the Loire river...the 'Pont Wilson Bridge'in the city of Tours. The photograph above was taken at the beginning of the month on a fine October day. We have said before about how this mighty river doesn't feature that much in the city but at the bridge is where they try and bring it to life. We almost always take a walk up Rue Nationale if we are visiting the city to catch a perfunctory glimpse of the river here and depending on what we find we linger or turn around happy in the fact that river and city life flows on.  

Ferris wheel at the Pont Wilson Bridge by the river Loir in Tours

It is during the summer that this part of river comes alive with  the setting up of 'La guinguette de Tours'  with a diverse range of programmes under the banner of 'Tours sur Loire' . We have only ever visited it during the day but can imagine it must be buzzing on an evening - we will have to give it a go next summer.

La guinguette de Tours on the banks of Loire river in

River Loire flowing under the Pont Wilson bridge in Tours

Away from 'high season' it is a place for reflection.


Saturday 14 October 2017

Back to summer for the weekend in the Loire Valley


With temperatures set to climb to 27°C over the weekend it's back to blue skies over the river Loire