Surprising Tours...in the Loire Valley

Many visitors to Tours here in the Loire Valley will probably never catch a glimpse of 'Parc du Lac de la Bergeonnerie' unless perhaps they head down Ave de Grammont and over the river Cher to the Aquatic centre. If you are basing yourself in the city and have a fitness regime then this may well be the place to exercise it!

A touch of art-deco in Tours

If you visit the indoor market (Les Halles) in Tours you should make your way to rue Jules Charpentier and seek out numbers 42 to 50.

Completed around 1910,the 'Duthoo buildings' were commissioned by the owner of the 'Grand Bazaar' store on Rue Nationale (Arthur Duthoo) as affordable rented accommodation for his workers, how lucky were they?They were built by the architect Jean-Frédéric Wielhorski who has left us his legacy in the form of these delightful houses.

You can see some more (better) photographs here.

Monday's Loire Valley chateau...Chateau de Villandry

Chateau de Villandry is is famous for its beautiful gardens and it's what draws us back for a visit year after year. We try and visit the gardens at different times of the year as they change with seasonal planing, with springtime probably our favourite. Gardens aside, over time we have also come to appreciate the delights of the chateau itself something we have in the past tended to promote less than the gardens,which can be visited alone.

The interior should be part of you visit as it is beautifully furnished...

and contains some unique features like the ceiling of the oriental drawing room.

One of the major benefits of a visit inside is the climb to the top of the tower where the best views over the gardens are to be had.

It is worth noting that during their winter season (6/11/17 to 31/03/18) they offer reduced rates of : chateau and gardens : 8.5 euros and gardens only : 4.5 euros

Loire Valley church on Sunday Saint Julien Tours

The church of Saint Julien in Tours is the former abbey church of an old Benedictine abbey on the site, Its origin dates back to the 6th century with the church you see today mainly from the 13th century. It is a church that we have never found open over the many years of visiting Tours. 

It had been closed for many years due to its dangerous condition but even though we think that has been resolved we still always seemed to find it locked. I think at one time it would open on patrimoine day with a limited number of people allowed in. Anyway, on our last visit we found workmen leaving the building and asked for a quick look inside and they obliged!  

Inside,the church is cathedral-like with its beautiful stained glass windows, imposing pillars and ceiling.

Bridges of Tours

The city of Tours here in the Loire Valley is split by both the river Cher and the mighty Loire river. The Loire is crossed no fewer than six times at the north of the city. Its most famous bridge is of course the 18th century 'Pont-Wilson' (above).

This is the 18th century 'Pont Suspendu de Saint-Symphorien', suspension bridge which connects the banks of the river to the island 'Aucard' on the river. The bridge nowadays is used only for pedestrians and cyclists.

This is the 'Pont Mirabeau' which used to be the main arterial entry point for vehicle access before the construction of the auto-route bridge.

In the distance above is the 'modern' (1960) bridge 'Pont Napoléon' which links south to north over the 'Ile Simon'

Chateau de Tours...in the shadow of its illustrations neighbours