Slipping quietly back into lockdown...

We would normally be wishing you a 'bon weekend' today but as we are slipping back into 'lockdown' for many it is going to be a month of what feels like weekends without, sadly, the perks of friends and activities. The message today has to be 'keep in touch'.

 

Friday from a different angle - Chateau du Grand-Pressigny in autumn

 

The chateau at Le Grand-Pressigny puts on its autumn coat.

Thursday's 'taken in Touraine' - another boat on a river.

 

This time on the river Indrois at Montresor

Autumn on the river Indre at Loches...

 

Picture yourself on a boat on a river...

with tangerine trees...

and marmalade skies.

Tuesday for towns and cities in the Loire Valley - Tours in October

fountain  at Place Jean Jaures in Tours

 

Monday's Loire Valley chateau - Chateau de La Celle Guenand

Today we feature the charming chateau of La Celle Guenand. This 15th/17th century castle was the former seat of the Baronnies of Preuilly and St.Maure, today it offers accommodation to visitors to the beautiful Southern Touraine area of Centre-Val de Loire. 

Church on Sunday - two for the price of one in Descartes

An October walk in the public gardens at Descartes gives us a view on two of its churches, Notre Dame de La Haye (above) and Saint Georges 

The town actually has a third church Saint-Pierre Balesmes  (our favourite) but it can not be seen from the gardens.

Take time to turn the clocks back tonight...

 

Have a good weekend everyone - obey the rules and stay safe.

 

Chateau Rivau

Friday from a different angle - the gardens at Chateau Villandry

October at the gardens of Chateau de Villandry

Thursday's taken in Touraine - autumn by the lake at Chemillé-sur-Indrois

Looking over the lake towards the restaurant 'Le Moulin de Chaude'

Wednesday is Loches day - an autumn street view,Rue Picois

More on Loches here

 

Tuesday for towns in the Loire Valley - lovely Langeais

 

More on Langeais here 

Monday's chateau - Chateau de La Guerche in autumn.

 

 Chateau de La Guerche, taken yesterday with fog creeping along the river Creuse.

Church on Sunday - Eglise Saint-Etienne de Paulnay

 

Today we feature the surprising little church  of Saint-Etienne in the small village of Paulnay,6km east of Azay-le-Ferron in the department of Indre. The church dates from the 12th century and is built in the Poitevin Romanesque style, rare for small village churches around here.

 

Its facade is adorned with finely detailed sculptures - you can see some great images of these and the church here. 

It is not the only surprise of this little gem of a church, inside is adorned with brightly painted frescos.

One of the piers of the vault of the nave is decorated with paintings from the 13th century depicting the twelve months of the year depicting the work in the fields over the seasons. 

Well worth dropping in if you are in the area.

Where's Joan?

She is here in a familiar pose.

In these difficult times, have as good a weekend as you can.

 

Friday from a different angle - Chateau de Chambord

 

More on Chambord here

Thursday's taken in Touraine - dead centre

When out walking here in Touraine we often see some unusual landscapes which can vary from beautiful sunflower fields to poppy filled fields and then you get something interesting like the one above - no, not a desert somewhere,this dead tree is in a field just outside Ligueil.

Loches, illuminating

 

More on Loches here

Tuesday for towns - the roofs of Blois

 

More on Blois here

Monday's Loire Valley chateau - Chateau de Tours in autumn

The chateau at Tours is now primarily committed to contemporary exhibitions of paintings and photography in collaboration with the 'Jeu de Paume'.

Provence churches for Sunday ...

Here are some images of churches we came across during our village hopping here in Provence - sadly all were locked!