Stand out chateaux - all-year round...

 Even in October it's hard to disguise the beauty of the Chateaux at Azay le Rideau and Villandry here in the Loire Valley.

New tramway system in Tours

We took the opportunity to ride the new tramway system in Tours recently - just to check it out for you - good fun - simple things eh!

The system was only inaugurated on September 1st (you can see video and pics. here) with much pomp and ceremony, so it's all brand-spanking new. We boarded at Place Jean Jaurés an area which is not new to trams...

Source wikmedia

The new trams at €433M will certainly have cost more than the ones above but the city hopes it will regenerate some of the outlying districts of the city as well as take cars off the road by providing an inexpensive option. The fairs are attractive - we bought an all-day ticket for €3.70 and although the ticket machine is fairly straightforward, with an option in English, there was a young man on hand in case there were any teething problems.

The trams run around every 8 mins so you don't have long to wait...

...and once they do arrive, are very comfortable.

We rode in both directions getting views over the river Cher to the south and the Loire to the north...really handy and fun way to view some of the city's main tourist attractions.

(originally posted on our loirevalleyexperience blog)

Chateau de l'Islette

We have added a page for the lovely chateau de l'Islette to our list of chateaux on the site. You can view it here. 

Tour de France' (2013) through Touraine in the Loire Valley

This year (the 100th) the Tour de France returns to the region with the 218km, Stage 12 on July 11 bringing the riders from Fougères down to Tours. Then they head out of the city on the 12th towards Saint-Amand-Montrond for the 173km 13th stage. 

Map and logo are from the official site

You can view the towns and villages it passes through here.

Loire river at Tours

Visitors to the city of Tours might be surprised as to how small a part the river Loire plays in embracing them as tourists. 'Tours sur Loire' is one of the few chances they will have to get a flavour of the river. At the south side of the 'Pont Wilson' from the 17th May until the 22nd September the bank of the river offers a wide range of diverse and varied activities including a bar, restaurant, concerts, sport, entertainment and games for children , outdoor cinema and dance floor.

Chaumont Garden Festival

Every year since 1992, the gardens of Chaumont-sur-Loire play host to the annual ‘Festival des Jardins’, a garden festival with up to 30 themed gardens. These gardens are created by different landscape architects, designers and artists around a theme, which changes every year. This brings the chateau surroundings to life with the colour and fragrances of the many plants and flowers on display. It also promotes nursery projects and lets both the public and trade see new ideas on the use of colour and materials in flower and garden displays. Due to its continued quality and success the garden festival has gained an international reputation with visitors coming from every corner of the globe.

he 2013 Festival will run from 24th April until the 20th October

Theme "Gardens of sensations"

You can preview the gardens here.

You can see a slide show of the 2012 gardens here...