Mon Banc Dominical — My Sunday Bench, a thoughtful Sunday bench in Bléré

This simple wooden seat, in the corner of a carpark in Bléré, backed by a hedge and old stone wall, features a striking bronze sculpture of clasped hands (poignée de main) at its center, a powerful symbol of friendship, solidarity, and Franco-German reconciliation. Placed on Place Garrel (inaugurated around 2012) it is dedicated to the twinning of Bléré and Garrel in Germany, it invites passersby to sit, reflect, and connect, with a small plaque noting its message of unity ("Lien de solidarité" or similar theme).

In this quiet corner of Bléré—a charming Loire Valley town along the Cher River, the bench stands as a modern emblem amid historic surroundings, perfect for a moment of pause amid the town's half-timbered streets and nearby châteaux vibes.

Practical Loire tips:

• Located near the town center, easy to find after a stroll from the Cher riverbanks or market square.
• Pair it with a visit to nearby Chenonceau (15-min drive) or a coffee in Bléré's cafés.
• Ideal on Sundays: peaceful, with locals often out enjoying the calm.

A bench that speaks of coming together.

À bientôt et bon dimanche ! ☕🤝

“On Sundays, the Loire speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Mon banc dominical · Back to Home

On the streets of Touraine - another view along Rue de la Rôtisserie in Tours

Another view along Rue de la Rôtisserie in Tours reveals the timeless charm of medieval Touraine: striking half-timbered houses with exposed oak beams, yellowed plaster, overhanging upper stories, and intricate wooden carvings leaning gently over the narrow cobblestone lane.

Practical Loire tips:

• Turn the corner to Place Plumereau for outdoor cafés and people-watching under more timbered gems.
• Nearby: Saint-Gatien Cathedral (10-min walk) or the Musée des Beaux-Arts for a full historic morning.
• Best on Saturdays: markets nearby and lively terraces—perfect for a glass of local Vouvray wine.

Even in winter light, these streets capture the Loire's enduring magic.

À bientôt et bon samedi ! ☕🚶‍♂️

 

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of Touraine” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end à tous - have a good weekend everyone - from Château de Villandry,

From the stunning formal gardens of Château de Villandry, where perfect geometry, sparkling water features, and timeless stone create the ultimate calm escape in the Loire Valley.

As winter lingers, these Renaissance masterpieces remind us that spring is just around the corner, perfect timing to start planning your Loire getaway.

Each Friday, we share a peaceful moment from the region that invites you to slow down and savor the beauty.

Discover more about Château de Villandry | Explore the Loire Valley

À bientôt et bon week-end !

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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.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Thursday's 'taken in Touraine' - Jardin des Prébendes d'Oé.

In the gentle heart of Tours, this Bühler-crafted haven (1874) unfolds like a secret: trees veil the curving pond, ducks trace lazy paths on mirrored water. A more formal urban city glimpses through the leaves, pure, unhurried Touraine magic.

A 'Jardin Remarquable' born from old marshlands, it still feels like a private escape amid the city's hum. Busy benches yet endless calm.

Your favorite quiet corner in the Loire? 🌿🦆

You can view a spring walk in the gardens here.

“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 village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

 Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Windows and balconies - the Grand Hotel in Tours

The Grand Hôtel de Tours occupies one of the most visible corners in the city, facing place de la Gare and welcoming arrivals with a façade designed to impress. Built to signal comfort and status to travellers, it combines classical proportions with subtle Art Deco features most notably the gilded details crowning the corner bay.

The stacked balconies create a vertical procession of windows, each offering a slightly different view over the station square, while the curved rooftop pavilion gives the whole building a sense of theatre, as if the architecture itself were part of the journey.

It is a reminder of a time when hotels were not just places to sleep, but symbols of movement, modernity and social life, anchoring the railway in the everyday fabric of the city rather than standing apart from it. 

Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home

Towns and Villages of the Loire Valley - Richelieu

From beneath Richelieu's covered market, the town opens like a stage set. The stone arch frames the long perspective of the planned city, drawing the eye straight to the church that anchors the far end of the square. Stalls, tables, and passing figures bring a gentle sense of life to the scene, while the symmetry of the architecture keeps everything quietly ordered. It's a moment that captures Richelieu's character, formal by design, human by use, a town still shaped by the vision of its 17th-century founder but lived in day by day.

“Every town and village in the Loire Valley tells its story gently — in rooftops, stonework and narrow streets.”

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Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Each Tuesday, we visit one of the Loire Valley's towns or villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home 

Monday's chateau - Château de Chambord.

Château de Chambord stands like a Renaissance dream set loose on the plains of  Centre - Val de Loire.
Its forest of towers, chimneys, and lanterns rises in perfect symmetry, at once regal and fantastical, a palace built to impress both the eye and the imagination.

Conceived under François I, Chambord was never meant to be a simple residence. It was a statement of power, ambition, and artistic daring, blending medieval fortress forms with the new ideas of the Renaissance. Even today, it feels less like a building and more like a vision made of stone.

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”

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Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley’s legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region’s story.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

 © Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · Back to Home

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Tours.

Set on Place Jean Jaurès in Tours, this simple bench sits in front of a small, carefully kept square framed by clipped shrubs, seasonal flowers, and young evergreens. Behind it rises a grand 19th-century façade with arched arcades and tall windows, giving the scene a calm, civic elegance rather than a park-like feel.

It is a place made for pausing, where the formal lines of the architecture meet the softer order of the gardens, inviting a quiet moment in the centre of the city.

 

“On Sundays, the Loire speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

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Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Mon banc dominical · Back to Home

Saturday on the streets of Sancerre. Rue des Juifs...

 In the heart of hilltop Sancerre, Rue des Juifs is a narrow, sloping street that quietly reveals the town’s layered past. Its name recalls the Jewish community that once lived here in medieval times, long gone, but still present in stone and street sign.

As you walk downhill, the gentle slope gives way to views of rooftops, vineyards, and the Loire Valley beyond. The street bends and shifts with the land, lined with artisan shops, wine cellars restaurants and timeworn buildings that seem to lean into the curve.

Unlike the grand plazas or touristy routes, Rue des Juifs is subtle, lived-in, and full of charm. It’s the kind of place where every building has a story.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

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Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end à tous. Have a good weekend everyone!

Soft evening light settles over the towers of Château de Sully-sur-Loire, reflected in the still water of its broad moat. The stone bridge links the quiet town to the fortress beyond, while the warm glow on the walls hints at centuries of watchfulness.

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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.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Taken in Touraine - Creuse valley

From the hills above the Creuse valley near Barrou in Southern Touraine, the land opens out in long, gentle folds of fields and hedgerows, with the village settled quietly in the middle. Light drifts across the patchwork of farmland, softening the contours of the land and giving the scene a calm, almost timeless presence.

“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 village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Wednesday for windows and balconies...at Chateau de Chenonceau.

The majestic entrance facade of Château de Chenonceau welcomes visitors with timeless elegance, even under a wintry sky.

During the festive season, the entrance was transformed, delicate frost-kissed evergreens, snowy garlands draping the balconies, and twinkling lights nestled among the branches create a fairytale glow against the pale stone.

A visit to Chenonceau at Christmas here. 

Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home

Towns and villages - Boussay, Southern Touraine.

Slate roofs, thick walls, houses and a church that could belong to another century. In Boussay, Southern Touraine, the village gathers quietly around its heart, unchanged enough that time feels optional rather than fixed. 

The Château de Boussay, built in 1024, has stayed in the same family line since 1338 (via the Menou, then Becdelièvre by marriage). A thousand years of the same keys passed down, no sales, no seizures. Rare in France.

Who knew?

Apparently, Adam Fumée, linked to the Menou lineage, served as Louis XI's official poisoner ("empoisonneur patenté"). A dark twist in an otherwise quiet village history.

“Every town and village in the Loire Valley tells its story softly — in rooftops, stonework and narrow streets.”

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Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Each Tuesday, we visit one of the Loire Valley’s towns or villags of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home

Monday's chateau - Château de Châteaudun.

Rising dramatically above the Loir (no 'e') valley, the Château de Châteaudun combines medieval fortress walls with early Renaissance architecture. Its massive vertical stonework gives the impression of a stronghold carved directly from the rock.

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”

---

Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley’s legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region’s story.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · Back to Home

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Chateau de Chenonceau

A wooden bench set against the stone garden wall in the Russell Page Garden at Château de Chenonceau. Winter planting, clipped evergreens give the space a quiet, enclosed calm within the château grounds.

“On Sundays, the Loire speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

---

Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Mon banc dominical · Back to Home

On the Streets of Saumur - sometimes streets give you space.

A quiet stretch of Saumur, pale stone walls, soft light and the rare luxury of walking without hurry or noise. These moments remind you how gentle a town can feel when it briefly belongs only to those passing through.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

---

Part of the “On the Streets of the Loire” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end à tous - have a good weekend everyone - from Valencay.

The Château de Valençay rises with calm authority, its domed tower and long classical façade overlooking carefully kept gardens. Once home to statesmen and diplomats, it feels especially serene as the week draws to a close, a place where history pauses and the landscape takes a breath. 

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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.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Taken in Touraine - Southern Touraine sunrise.

A weathered stone cross stands quietly in open countryside behind Le Grand-Pressigny, its surface marked by time, lichen and moss. At sunrise, the sky lifts into soft layers of colour and the surrounding fields slowly emerge in the early light.

“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 village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home

Wednesday for windows - rue du Château in Loches.

Each Wednesday, we look a little closer at the windows of the Loire Valley. the simple, beautiful details that tell the region’s story in glass, stone and light. This facade of 'La Chancellerie' at 8 rue du Château in Loches rewards a closer look. Carved stonework frames the windows with layers of classical detail, pilasters, cornices, and ornamental panels that speak of care, status, and craft. Even without colour or excess, the balance and precision of the design give these windows a quiet authority on the street.

“Through every window, the Loire breathes — calm, patient, and quietly luminous.”

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Part of the “Windows of the Loire” Series

Each Wednesday, we share a glimpse of the Loire Valley through its windows — small frames of everyday beauty and quiet reflection.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — Windows of the Loire · Back to Home

Tuesday for towns and villages -Montrichard.

Looking out over the River Cher toward Montrichard, the town appears gently layered along the slope above the water. The river moves calmly below, reflecting the sky and tthe stone houses and tiled roofs with their pale façades catching the light.

Above them, the medieval château dominates the scene, its towers and ramparts standing solid against the horizon. It gives the view a sense of age and permanence, as if the river has been passing beneath it for centuries without interruption. The bridge spans the Cher with quiet confidence, linking the riverbanks and drawing the eye toward the heart of the town.

 

“Every town and village in the Loire Valley tells its story softly — in rooftops, stonework and narrow streets.”

---

Part of the “Towns & Villages of the Loire” Series

Each Tuesday, we visit one of the Loire Valley’s towns or villags of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Towns & Villages of the Loire · Back to Home

Monday's chateau - Forteresse de Loches.

The fortress at Loches rises with quiet authority, its pale stone walls shaped by centuries of power, defence, and daily life. More than a château, it feels like a complete medieval town set high above the river Indre, where history is layered, practical and enduring rather than ornamental.Not a fairy-tale château, it’s gritty history: ambition, romance, captivity, and quiet power make it worth the detour in Touraine.

View of  Donjon (keep) 

“Each château tells a story — of kings, of artists, and of the dream of France itself.”

---

Part of the “Châteaux of the Loire” Series

Every Monday, we explore one of the Loire Valley’s legendary châteaux — from royal residences to riverside retreats — each revealing a different chapter of the region’s story.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Châteaux of the Loire · Back to Home

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - Cold comfort in Amboise.

Stone bench on Place Michel Debré in the normally lively historic heart of Amboise, nestled right at the foot of the majestic Royal Château d'Amboise in the Loire Valley.The bench itself is simple, almost austere: solid, unadorned, built more for endurance than comfort. No backrest curves invitingly; no cushions soften the seat. It's the sort of perch that provides rest only because there's nothing else, cold comfort indeed, numbing the thighs after just a few minutes, reminding the sitter of their own vulnerability.

“On Sundays, the Loire speaks softly — and you have time to listen.”

---

Part of the “Mon banc dominical” Series

Each Sunday, we share a quiet bench somewhere in the Loire — a small reminder that peace is often found where you simply stop to notice it.

Explore more moments from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Mon banc dominical · Back to Home

On the Streets of Touraine - Rue de la Rôtisserie in Tours.

Tucked in the heart of Vieux Tours, Rue de la Rôtisserie is a charming street in a quiet stretch of Tours where the medieval street plan still guides your steps, the city’s past feels close enough to touch and still whispers its delicious past.

Its name apparently comes straight from the medieval rotisseries that once lined it as part of a bustling poultry market, you imagine the irresistible aroma of spit-roasted poultry wafting through the air!

Even today, the street feels like a living slice of history with its cozy restaurants and preserved facades.

Close by Place Plumereau invites you to linger with a coffee or a glass of wine amid the half-timbered surrounding houses.

“The streets here don’t hurry. They simply invite you to walk, to notice, to belong.”

---

Part of the “On the Streets of Touraine” Series

Each Saturday, we stroll through the lanes and cobbles of Loire towns and villages — places where every step feels like a story.

See more from Experience Loire

© Experience Loire — On the Streets of the Loire · Back to Home

Bon week-end from Amboise in the Loire Valley.

This could be your last weekend to checkout how the town was dressed for the festive period.

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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.

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Bon week-end from the Loire · Back to Home

Taken in Touraine - Tour Charlemagne in Tours.

Rising above the old town, the Tour Charlemagne in Tours is a striking remnant of the former medieval collegiate church dedicated to Saint Martin. Its massive stone structure and Romanesque arches dominate the skyline, a powerful reminder of the city’s medieval past and the enduring presence of history in the heart of Touraine.

“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 village, a vineyard, or a quiet riverside — to capture the spirit of this timeless Loire region.

Discover more about the Loire Valley
Browse the full series

© Experience Loire — Taken in Touraine · Back to Home