Have a good weekend...try and stay cool.

Loches

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

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

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© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

And so it continues...baking in Touraine.

Under a deep blue sky, this vast field of sunflowers stretches towards the horizon, each bloom turned towards the sunshine that has brought another spell of temperatures above 30°C.

These golden fields are one of the defining sights of the Touraine countryside during July and August. Grown primarily for their seeds and oil, they also provide an important source of food for bees and other pollinators before the harvest begins.

With the warm air shimmering above the fields and hardly a cloud in the sky, it's easy to see why locals have been saying that Touraine is baking this week.

Although sunflowers are now closely associated with the French countryside, they are not native to France. They originated in North America and were brought to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. It wasn't until the 18th and 19th centuries that they became widely cultivated across France, and today the Centre-Val de Loire region is one of the country's major sunflower-growing areas.

“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 Tou raine · Back to Home 

Wednesday for Windows – Chapelle Saint-Louis, Champigny-sur-Veude

Some of the Loire Valley's most remarkable windows are found where you least expect them.

Hidden away in the quiet village of Champigny-sur-Veude , the Chapelle Saint-Louis is a true architectural treasure. Its soaring Gothic vaults and magnificent stained-glass windows fill the chapel with color, creating an atmosphere that rivals some of France's most celebrated churches.

Built in the early 16th century by the powerful Bourbon-Montpensier family, the chapel is often overlooked by visitors rushing between the Loire Valley's famous châteaux. Those who make the detour are rewarded with one of the region's finest collections of Renaissance stained glass.

The greatest surprise about Chapelle Saint-Louis is its location. You might expect such an impressive royal chapel to stand in a major city, yet it is tucked away in a village of fewer than a thousand residents. Historians sometimes compare it to Sainte-Chapelle in Paris because of its remarkable stained-glass windows, making it one of the Loire Valley's best-kept secrets and one of its most unexpected artistic treasures.

See more on the chapel here.

“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

Amboise a favourite stop for cyclists exploring the Loire Valley.

Few towns capture the spirit of the Loire Valley as completely as Amboise. Dominated by its magnificent royal château and nestled beside the River Loire, it combines centuries of royal history with a relaxed riverside atmosphere that invites visitors to slow down and explore.

This view, taken from the bridge over the Loire, is a familiar sight for many cyclists following the famous La Loire à Vélo route. With bicycles resting against the bridge wall and the Château Royal d'Amboise rising above the town, it perfectly captures the freedom of discovering the Loire Valley on two wheels.

La Loire à Vélo is one of Europe's most celebrated cycling routes, stretching for over 900 kilometres (560 miles) from Cuffy, near Nevers, to the Atlantic coast at Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. The route passes through some of the Loire Valley's finest towns and châteaux, with Amboise being one of its most popular overnight stops. Cyclists can explore the royal château, visit Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life, before continuing their journey through the UNESCO-listed Loire landscape.

 More on Amboise here.

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

Exploring the towns and villages of the Loire Valley — their streets, stories, and quiet beauty.

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Monday's Château – Château de Beauregard

Standing gracefully in the heart of the Loire Valley, Château de Beauregard may not be the largest or most famous château in the region, but it possesses a charm all its own. Surrounded by peaceful parkland and formal gardens, its elegant Renaissance façade reflects the refinement that characterised the French court during the 16th century.

Located between Blois and Cheverny, Beauregard rewards visitors with a quieter experience than many of the Loire's better-known castles. Beyond its impressive exterior lies one of France's most remarkable historic interiors, making it a hidden treasure for anyone exploring the Loire Valley.

Château de Beauregard is renowned for its extraordinary Portrait Gallery (Galerie des Illustres), which contains 327 portraits of kings, queens, statesmen and influential figures from European history. Created during the 17th century, it stretches almost 26 metres and is one of the finest portrait galleries in France. Beneath the paintings, the beautiful floor is decorated with over 5,500 Delft tiles, adding another unique feature that visitors rarely expect to find.

Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!

“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 · ,

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At Villandry - Mon Banc Dominical — My Sunday Bench

There are benches that offer a place to rest, and there are benches that invite you to linger.

Nestled within the magnificent gardens of Château de Villandry, this wooden bench looks out over a landscape carefully shaped by centuries of horticultural artistry. Bathed in the soft glow of the evening sun, it offers a peaceful spot to pause and appreciate the beauty of one of the Loire Valley's most celebrated gardens.

Sometimes the finest way to experience Villandry is simply to sit quietly and let the garden reveal itself.

Every season brings a different display, ensuring no two visits are ever quite the same.

“On Sundays, the Loire Valley 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 the Touraine - Rue Rabelais, Chinon.

Tucked into the heart of medieval Chinon, Rue Rabelais is one of those inviting streets that encourages you to slow your pace. Lined with small boutiques and cafés, it offers a glimpse of the town's relaxed atmosphere and centuries of history.

Named after the great Renaissance writer François Rabelais, who was born nearby in La Devinière, the street reflects the spirit of a region where literature, history and fine food have long gone hand in hand. Whether you're browsing local shops, enjoying lunch on a terrace or simply wandering through the old town, Rue Rabelais is a reminder that Chinon's greatest pleasures are often found away from its famous fortress.

Although François Rabelais was born just outside Chinon around 1494, he affectionately celebrated the town and the surrounding countryside in his writings. His larger-than-life characters, Gargantua and Pantagruel, are filled with references to the Loire Valley's vineyards, food and humour, making Chinon forever linked with one of France's greatest literary figures.

“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

Part of the “Bon weekend from the Loire” Series

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

Discover more from the Loire

© Experience Loire — Have a good weekend from the Loire · Back to Home

A view from above -taken in Touraine

From the top of the Porte Royale, the rooftops of the medieval town of Loches unfold below, with the distinctive Tower of Saint-Antoine rising above them. Narrow streets weave between centuries-old stone houses, following routes that have remained remarkably unchanged for generations.

This elevated viewpoint offers one of the finest panoramas in Touraine, revealing the close-knit fabric of a town where medieval streets, historic buildings and everyday life continue to exist side by side.

The Tower of Saint-Antoine is all that remains of the former Church of Saint-Antoine, which was largely destroyed during the French Revolution. Rising above the rooftops, the tower has become one of Loches' best-known landmarks. From the top of the Porte Royale, you can appreciate not only this surviving bell tower but also the medieval street pattern below—little changed over the centuries.

“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 of the Loire – Chedigny

Chedigny  in Southern Touraine, is one of the most beautiful flowering villages in the Centre-Val de Loire, with almost every house seemingly competing in a friendly display of roses, climbing plants and greenery. The village is the only one in France to have been awarded the prestigious "Jardin Remarquable" (Remarkable Garden) label in its entirety, a recognition usually reserved for individual gardens rather than an entire village. It is a wonderful example of the French art of living beautifully extending even to the smallest communities

“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

Bonne Fête Nationale 2026...

 

Chateau du Rivau -Monday's chateau.

Rising above its colorful gardens, Château du Rivau is one of the Loire Valley's most enchanting castles. Its white tufa stone walls and slate-roofed towers reflect both its medieval origins and its elegant Renaissance transformation, while the remarkable gardens add a touch of fantasy to every visit.

Unlike many Loire châteaux, Le Rivau combines history with creativity. The formal gardens are filled with themed displays, contemporary sculptures and thousands of flowers, making each season a little different from the last. It's a castle where history and imagination sit comfortably side by side.

According to local tradition, Joan of Arc stopped at Château du Rivau in 1429 to collect fresh horses on her journey to Chinon, where she would meet the future King Charles VII before the campaign that led to the lifting of the siege of Orléans. Today, the château's celebrated fairy-tale gardens include more than a dozen themed spaces inspired by legends, literature and medieval stories.

Happy Monday in the Loire Valley!

“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 -some shade in Loches.

Tucked away in the public gardens of Loches, this simple stone bench rests beneath a rose-covered pergola, where cool shade offers a welcome retreat on a warm summer's day. Surrounded by climbing roses and mature trees, it's a peaceful place to pause and enjoy one of Touraine's quieter corners.

Unlike a wooden bench warmed by the sun, the cool stone seat remains inviting even in the heat of the afternoon. Here, the fragrance of roses, birdsong and the gentle rustle of leaves create a moment of calm just a short stroll from the historic Royal City of Loches.

The public gardens of Loches were laid out on land that once formed part of the town's defensive surroundings. Today they provide a peaceful contrast to the medieval fortress above. The rose pergola has become one of the garden's most photographed features, offering both colour in late spring and early summer and welcome shade for visitors exploring the town.

More Loire benches here.

“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

Saturday on the streets...

Rue Jeanne d'Arc is Orléans' grand ceremonial street, created in the 19th century to provide a magnificent approach to the cathedral. Running in a straight line from the Loire towards the Cathédrale Sainte-Croix, it offers one of the finest urban vistas in France, with the cathedral dominating the skyline at its northern end.

Bon samedi dans Centre-Val de Loire!

“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