Have a great weekend...

Friday, from a different angle - Chateau de Chenonceau

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Something for the weekend...a walk in the vineyards

Saturday August 31st and Sunday September 1st - choice of 17 walks through the vineyards joining passionate winegrowers.

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Loches on Wednesday...a good day out

Visit our page on Loches here

Tuesday for towns - Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine in images

Monday's Loire Valley chateau...back to Breze

Now this is what we call a moat! Unique among the chateau of the Loire Valley the deep moat at Chateau de Breze provided, unneeded as it happens, protection from potential invaders.

You can see more here

Permanent gardens of Pres du Goualoup - Hualu, Ermitage sur loire

Today we continue exploring the permanent gardens at Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire by visiting the Chinese garden 'Hualu, Ermitage sur loire' which is a joy to explore.

Now well established, this garden provides a lovely spot to shelter from the hot summer sun and even when the garden festival is busy you will normally find it more tranquil here. 

You can read more about this garden here on the official website 

Loire Valley church for Sunday...Saint-Gatien de Tours

Well cathedral actually - Saint-Gatien de Tours with its stunning stained glass widows that can compete with any in the world - quite stunning!

More on the cathedral here

Have a great weekend...

Friday from a different angle - Chateau d'Amboise

More on Chateau d'Amboise here 

Permanent gardens of Prés du Goualoup - Carré et Rond

Today we continue exploring the permanent gardens at Chateau Chaumont-sur-Loire by visiting the garden 'Carré et Rond'.This instillation, designed by landscape architect Yu Kongjian, has been here since 2013 as part of the Chinese gardens,our personal favourites at Prés du Goualoup.

You walk over water on a winding path with the red ribbon of colour making you imagine you are walking through a rain shower. 

You can check out more on this garden on the official website of the garden festival here.

Wednesday is Loches day - enjoy the sites

More on Loches here

Permanent gardens of Prés du Goualoup - Le Jardin des Hypotheses

After our visit at the end of July to this year's annual garden festival at Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire we also took a walk through some of our favourite permanent gardens within 'Prés du Goualoup' the contemporary 10 hectare park within the chateau grounds.

It was during our very hot spell here in the Loire Valley so we tried to stay under some shade as much as possible. Our first visit was to 'Le Jardin des Hypotheses'   a colourfull display of open-air theatrical backdrops which are a delight.

Tuesday for towns - Amboise on the river Loire

 Place Michel Debré in Amboise

More on Amboise here

Monday's Loire Valley chateau - return to Chaumont-sur-Loire

This week we are heading back over to Chaumont -sur-Loire for our Monday chateau and we are going to explore some of the gardens that feature in the 'Prés du Goualoup' within the grounds.This is a contemporary 10-hectare park laid out by the landscaper Louis Benech, where visitors  to the chateau and its garden festival can enjoy more gardens which are permanent...and a delight! 

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Loire Valley church on Sunday - Saint Nicolas, Tavant in Touraine.

Saint Nicolas, Tavant

Something for the weekend?

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Friday,from a different angle -Chateau de Montpoupon

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Happy holiday in the Loire Valley

Why not get out and about and visit one of the glorious chateaux of the region 

Wednesday is Loches day- the Citadel

Loches is a citadel town with a medieval complex within its walls which contains a mighty dunjon, a royal residence and a collegiate church that holds the tomb of Agnès Sorel the first official mistress to a French king - Charles VII.

L'Art et la Matiere - Le Grand Pressigny

Well worth the visit

Check out a previous visit here.

Monday's Loire Valley chateau - Rivau - from a different angle

More on Chateau du Rivau here