In Montrichard...

 Hotel de Ville in Montrichard.

Chateau de Beauregard...a study in symmetry.

With its graceful Renaissance lines and mirror-like symmetry, the façade of Château de Beauregard is more than architecture, it’s an expression of balance and intent.Every element is in harmony, the central pavilion flanked by matching wings, the rhythm of windows, the slate roof balanced like a crown. It’s the kind of design that quietly commands attention without shouting for it.  Best known for its portrait gallery inside, the château itself deserves equal admiration. In a region full of grand châteaux, Beauregard stands out not by scale but by precision.

Bench Sets, Foret de Preuilly...Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench.,

 

Nestled deep within the Foret de Preuilly, these quiet bench sets are slowly being reclaimed by nature. Moss drapes over their surfaces, softening the man-made lines and blending them back into the forest floor, testament to the quiet persistence of time and the natural world.

Le Grand-Pressigny in the pink...

 Dressed up for 'La ZARBI'Cyclette' and next Saturday's 'October Rose'.

A gloomy weekend ahead...

Dark clouds gather over Chinon’s ancient walls, the weekend promises little sun, much brooding beauty.

A view from a terrace...in Loches

From the terrace of Hôtel de la Cité Royale, the view opens over the car park to quiet rooftops and church steeples of Loches.

In the foreground, St. Anthony’s Church stands watchful, its stone glowing in the sun.

Beyond it, the twin towers of St. Ours pierce the skyline, timeless, austere, and full of stories.

At Chateau de La Guerche ...the warmth of window lights.

There’s a quiet kind of magic when an old place holds its shape in the dark.At night Château de La Guerche sometimes has the windows glowing softly, not all of them, just enough. Warm light behind ancient glass letting us know it is still very much awake andnot quite ready to go to sleep.

A stairway to...

A broad stone staircase winds its way up to the Château de Saint-Aignan, gradually revealing sweeping views over the Cher Valley with each step. The stairs climb gently but persistently, carved from local stone, their edges worn smooth by centuries of footsteps and rain. Each step rises just enough to feel like a promise, to carry you upward toward the château’s main gate, which looms above, framed by turrets and timeworn rooflines.

Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre — a hidden gem in the Loire Valley

 Far from the grandeur of Chambord or Chenonceau, this compact castle is a time capsule of medieval and Renaissance life. Built for defense in the 15th century, then softened with Renaissance flair, it’s part fortress, part fairytale.

Stroll the old moat, explore the stone kitchens, or wander the medieval garden. It’s quiet, authentic, and beautifully preserved, perfect for slow travel and history lovers and only 15 km from Blois.

More here:

At Chaumont-sur-Loire...Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench.

 Within the Garden Festival at Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire.

Rue Foulques Nerra: the Citadel’s narrow pathway through time.

Winding its way through the medieval citadel of Loches, Rue Foulques Nerra is a steep, narrow street that leads back toward the commanding Porte Royale. Named after the fearsome 11th-century Count of Anjou—Foulques Nerra, or "Fulk the Black", this stone-lined lane feels like a passage straight through history. As you glance up at the looming fortress walls, you can almost hear the echo of armored boots and whispered secrets from centuries past. Today it’s a quiet route rich in the atmosphere of feudal France.

 

Last sunshine for a while? Enjoy your Friday - bon week-end.

Resting gracefully over the Cher River, Château de Chenonceau looks even more enchanting when viewed from above on a sunny September day. The sprawling grounds, bordered by lush greenery, come to life under the soft golden light of autumn.

A view from a balcony in Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau.

 More on  Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau.

Inside out...at Chateau de l'Islette

 Looking out the window of the sumptuous salle de bain at Château de l’Islette, a quiet moment suspended in elegance.

Beautiful Montresor...

 

More on Montresor here.

Monday's chateau...Chateau de La Guerche

 Château de La Guerche sits quietly on the banks of the River Creuse, a striking example of medieval architecture in a tranquil, almost storybook setting.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench...in Chavignol.

On Place de l'Orme in Chavignol, tucked into the hills near Sancerre, this quiet French hamlet is home to Crottin de Chavignol, a goat cheese with serious attitude. You can see the entrance to the fromagerie just behind the fountain. Aged or fresh, it’s earthy, bold and unmistakably local, one bite and you're in the Loire.

Saturday on the streets of Touraine...Preuilly-sur-Claise

Looking down Grand rue in Preuilly-sur-Claise.

The imposing Chateau de Brissac.

 More on Chateau de Brissac.

 

Thursday's taken in Touraine...from a distance.

 Looking out from the Donjon in Loches, a commanding medieval fortress perched high above the town, you are offered a sweeping view of the southern Touraine countryside. Turning your gaze eastward, you see a patchwork of treetops stretching into the distance, beyond which lies Beaulieu-lès-Loches. This historically significant settlement once held a central role as the regional capital, boasting a prominent abbey, market privileges, and a more developed urban fabric.

In contrast, Loches, dominated by its imposing fortified keep, served primarily a military function. The keep itself was constructed by Foulques Nerra as a strategic stronghold against the Counts of Blois. It’s a view steeped in history and tranquility and although Loches has since become the principal town of the area, the landscape and the essence of this place have changed very little over the centuries.

 

Waiting tables...

In Le Grand-Pressigny in Southern Touraine.

Monday's chateau...today we feature one of the lesser-known castles of the Loire Valley: the Château de Luynes.

 

It closed its doors to the public back in 2016, as the owner, Duke Philippe d'Albert de Luynes, was unable to undertake the extensive adaptations needed to make the site accessible to visitors with disabilities. Given its hilltop location and medieval layout, it was already a challenge to navigate, even for the able-bodied.

Dating back to the 12th century, the château began life as a defensive fortress overlooking the Loire River. Over time, it evolved into a more refined residence, though it still retains its original towers, thick stone walls, and commanding views. Privately owned by the d’Albert de Luynes family since the 1600s, it stands as a striking reminder of the region’s feudal past, less polished than many of its neighbours but no less fascinating.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench...Apremont-sur-Allier.

More choices in the beautiful 'Parc Floral d'Apremont' in Apremont-sur-Allier, Cher (18) 

Saturday on the streets...in Chavignol

On Route du Graveron in Chavignol which lies just below Sancerre, This small village is renowned not only for its goat cheese but also for its wine producers 

Domaine Serge Laporte seems to have it on tap!

Bon week-end à tous, have a good weekend everyone...Saumur

 

More on Saumur.

Thursday's taken in Touraine...Chateau de La Guerche, commanding attention.

 As you drive into La Guerche, a quiet gem nestled in Southern Touraine, your approach is marked by the gentle rush of the river Creuse gliding beneath you, its surface catching scattered reflections of sky, trees, and old stone houses

Then, as you glance to your left, the scene opens into something almost cinematic: the Château de La Guerche, a powerful silhouette of turrets and ancient masonry, rises dramatically from the riverside. Perched with quiet authority on the elevated bank, its grey limestone walls seem to grow straight from the riverbank, casting a reflection in the water that flickers with the movement of the current.

The château’s round towers, topped with steep slate roofs, anchor it in the medieval past, while the trees rising behind softens the severity of its architecture. It’s a sight that commands attention, almost making you slow down, because the scene is so striking you can't help but take it in.

Wednesday for windows...Sancerre

Of a different time! 

Late summer in Sancerre.

The hilltop village of Sancerre rises quietly above rows of ripening vines, with the promise of harvest. In the Centre-Val de Loire, August doesn’t fade, it matures, gracefully, like the Sauvignon Blanc this region is known for.

Monday's Chateau...Château d’Apremont.

Located in the pretty village of Apremont-sur-Allier in France’s Centre-Val de Loire region, the Château d’Apremont is a stunning blend of medieval fortification and Neo-Gothic elegance. Originally a 12th-century fortress overlooking the Allier river, it was rebuilt in the late 1400s by Philibert de Boutillat and later transformed into a more comfortable residence around 1600.

Over the centuries, the château passed through several noble families, including the Béthune, Masseran, Schneider, and Brissac lines. The Schneider family, known for their industrial empire, restored much of the castle in the early 20th century, adding modern comforts and reviving its historic charm.

Though the interior is not open to the public, visitors can enjoy the terrace views from the ramparts, explore the historic stables, and stroll through the magnificent Parc Floral, a four-hectare botanical garden filled with water features, whimsical garden pavilions, and vibrant seasonal blooms.