Place Plumereau, Tours, in the Loire Valley

Bon week-end from the Loire Valley

Place Plumereau,Tours — where the Loire breathes more slowly on a Friday evening.

It's Friday, we slow down here in the Loire Valley, where weekends arrive not with noise, but with light and the promise of an easy pace.

In Tours, the cafés begin to fill, neighbours pause to talk, and the air takes on that unmistakable sense of exhale. It’s not about doing more but about noticing what’s already here, the sound of laughter, the first glass of wine at dusk.

Here, bon week-end isn’t just a phrase — it’s a gentle ritual the region has perfected.

“In the Loire, the weekend begins with light — and ends with gratitude.”

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Part of the “Bon week-end from the Loire” Series

Each Friday, we share a quiet moment from the Loire — a region that invites you to unwind, one beautiful weekend at a time.

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Thursday's 'taken in Touraine'...View of Loches, Touraine, in autumn.

This week’s view is of Loches, bathed in autumn warmth. The twin towers of the Collégiale Saint-Ours rise above the medieval rooftops, while the château keeps quiet watch over the valley. It’s a scene that has hardly changed in centuries — calm, steadfast, and full of quiet grace.

Here, history doesn’t feel distant; it lingers in the air, in the curve of the road, and in the sound of the river below. Loches reminds us that beauty often hides in stillness — waiting to be noticed.

“In Touraine, even the silence tells a story.”

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Part of the “Taken in Touraine” Series

Every Thursday, we pause somewhere in Touraine — a town, a vineyard, or a quiet bend in the river — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

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Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Wednesday for windows...in Loches

Windows on Pl. du Marché au Blé in Loches.

 

A fresh look at the bridge (Le Pont Henri IV ) over the Creuse in Descartes.

In Descartes, the stone bridge (Le Pont Henri IV) crossing the River Creuse has long been a beloved local landmark. After its recent facelift, it’s looking more beautiful than ever, a perfect blend of historic charm and refreshed elegance.

The soft limestone arches gleam in the autumn sunlight, perfectly reflected in the calm waters below. From the garden path, framed by lush greenery and the gentle rustle of autumn leaves, the bridge stands as a peaceful reminder of the area’s rich heritage and enduring beauty.

It’s a place where nature and history meet, where a simple walk can turn into a quiet moment of awe. Whether you’re a visitor discovering Descartes for the first time or a local who’s seen the bridge a thousand times, it’s impossible not to pause and appreciate its renewed splendor.

Monday's chateau...October at Chateau du Rivau.

More on Chateau du Rivau

 

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

Autumnal setting in the public gardens in Descartes.

On the streets of Tours.

Evening on Rue de Bordeaux in Tours.

Have a good weekend everyone bon week-end à tous...from the Loire Valley.

 

Chateau de Chambord.

Thursday's 'taken in Touraine'...Loches

 A bright spot on a dreary October market day in Loches.

Wednesday for windows...Blois.

 Windows on the gatehouse of the former national stud farm on Avenue Maunoury, in Blois.

 

Hotel de Ville in Tours.

Sunday evening in front of the Hôtel de Ville in Tours. More on Tours here: https://www.experienceloire.com/tours.htm

Monday's chateau...Chateau de Breze.

Château de Brézé in the Loire Valley looks like a classic Renaissance château on the outside but below the surface lies one of Europe’s most impressive underground networks of moats, tunnels, kitchens, even stables carved into rock.

Architecture, military history, wine and a little adventure underground. Add it to your Loire list!

Mon banc dominical/My Sunday Bench - Chedigny

 

In Chedigny.

Wednesday for windows...in Le Petit Pressigny.

 

The pretty round window above the entrance to the church of Saint-Pierre in Le Petit Pressigny.

More here.

Tuesday for towns and villages...autumn in Le Petit-Pressigny

The castle ruins...Chateau de Laverdin.

 

The 11th century ruins of Chateau de Laverdin in Loir-et-Cher.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench... Tours .

 

On  Pl. Anatole France in Tours.

October street view in Loches...

Rue Picois in Loches.

It's Friday...

 Chateau de Azay-le-Ferrron

Autumn art...

Snapped by the river Creuse in La Guerche.

 

Chateau view in Saumur

 View of the chateau from Rue Raspail in Saumur.

October in Langeais...

More on Langeais here.

Chateau de Chambord...never fails to impress.

 

In Le Blanc (36)...Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

Bench on the little chemin behind the 'Eglise Saint-Cyran du Blanc' with great views over the lower town of Le Blanc.

On the streets of Touraine...Rue Saint-Celerin in Monrichard.

A quiet, cobbled lane in the heart of Montrichard, Rue Saint‑Célerin offers a slice of old-world charm you won't find in the guidebooks. Once home to a 12th-century chapel and now the setting for cozy outdoor cafés, this narrow passage captures the soul of the Loire Valley, stone walls bathed in sunlight, ivy creeping up centuries-old facades, and the gentle clink of cutlery from lunching locals.

Whether you're stopping for a wood-fired pizza or simply soaking in the atmosphere, it's easy to feel like time slows down here. In a town steeped in medieval history, Rue Saint‑Célerin is a quiet reminder that the past is never far away. 

Have a good weekend everyone bon week-end à tous...

 Chateau de Blois.

Sunset over the river Creuse...

A quiet moment on the River Creuse as the sun slips below the horizon. The still water reflects the fading fire of the sky, framed by the silhouettes of autumn trees. It’s in these calm, unhurried corners of Southern Touraine that time seems to stand still,nature takes the lead and beauty unfolds effortlessly.

Variety of windows at chateau de Saint-Aignan