Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas...

Click below to see Jim & Pauline ...

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree 

sendables.jibjab.com

Rockin' around the Christmas tree is even more fun when you rock with a friend! You know what they say, the more the merrier!

Check out the Scottish Production of 'The Snowman'

Villages of the Loire Valley - Montresor

The Loire Valley is blessed with many beautiful villages . One of the favourites of many vixitors the village of Montresor which has the added attraction of a 'lived in' chateau to visit. 

You can view a pictorial 'walk round' the village here

It is indeed beautiful.http://www.experienceloire.com/montresor%20vill.htm

Which chateau with the kids?

The Loire Valley isn't only for adults, the region tries hard to 'sell' its cultural treasures as family attractions and to a great extent succeeds. Where chateaux might, from a child's prospective, be considered boring and stuffy they have endeavoured, in many examples, to include them in their itineraries. If your budget permits because its not cheap, you could visit the Mini Chateaux Parc just outside Amboise. Here you will find models of the most beautiful castles of the Loire valley. On two acres of landscaped grounds, over 40 reproductions in miniature of the most prestigious chateaux of the Loire .

 A walk in around the park will help you discover in a few hours, all of the architectural treasures of the region: Chambord, Chenonceau, Amboise, Villandry and many more ... in a matter of hours! It will allow you to confirm your potential favourites plus, with 1.5 km of paths to explore, keep the kids amused for a short time. They are also given the option of dressing up in medieval costume to add to their excitement.

If you do go and are interested in in also visiting the aquarium - buy a joint ticket and save money.

Will give you more ideas later!

If you love gardens...

If you are green fingered or just love looking at gardens, then the Loire Valley  might just be your paradise! Blessed with not only the gardens of its famous Chateaux, here we also have its beautiful city gardens, formal public gardens and natural parks. Of the chateaux gardens Villandry towers over its rivals and is a joy to behold.

More info.here...Villandry

Something different can be viewed annually at the garden festival in the grounds of  Chateau Chaumont-sur- Loire.From over 300 proposals 20 to 30 gardens are selected for inclusion in the festival. Including contributions from the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

More info. here...garden festival

In all the major towns and cities you will find parks and gardens that will delight you. Visit our website for more details and ideas.

If you could only visit one chateau?

Probably the most popular chateau within the Loire Valley is Chateau de Chenonceau  which straddles the river Cher - its Renaissance style makes it easy on the eye and a must for photographers. Its situation 32 km east of Tours makes it very accessible by car or by organized tour coach. It is also on the train line so you have plenty of options for getting there. You should try and get there early, especially in high season as it can get very busy. More details on this and the other chateaux of the Loire Valley can be found on our website...here     

Why Priory and not Abbey?

A visit, for our site research, on a wet July day to the Priory Saint-Cosme just outside of Tours, could have proved disappointing but even the weather couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the place. Not overly publicised, this little treasure, the one-time home of French writer and poet Pierre de Ronsard, is a delight and we could imagine the tables and chairs, set among the  tidy rose gardens, playing host to picnickers sheltering form the currently absent, summer sun. History, architecture and poetry - all there for your appreciation.

Another page for the website…here

One question that was raised was what the difference between an abbey and a priory might be – trust the web to have a site (here) dedicated to ‘the difference between’.