A treat in lovely Loches.

Lovely, if chilly, afternoon in Loches yesterday with Eileen treating us to a 50th anniversary present of a delicious lunch in 'Le George' .  

After lunch we braved the low temperature and went for a walk around the town.

Back to work...

After a week of fun with Ada we have to get back to work as we have guests from New Zealand  arriving on Wednesday at the Old Walnut Mill. It is good to still have a fair bit of colour around the courtyard to greet them!

Something for the weekend - Journees du Patrimoine 2019 - Free chateaux visits

This weekend, you have free visits to some of the main chateaux plus so much more - heritage sites throughout the Loire Valley open their doors and share their history with you, some free to enter,others at a reduced rate. More info. here

Wednesday is Loches day... under a blue sky today

  

Today you can wander the pretty streets of Loches under a blue sky after a visit to the morning market.

  

  

Rewarded for our efforts...

Last nights sunset here in Southern Touraine

Greeted two new sets of guests yesterday from UK and Australia, getting both the 'Old Walnut Mill' and 'Les Balcons' ready was hard work but when we get comments (albeit we think, too generous) like the one below it reassures us that we are doing a good job!

7th September 2018

Dear Pauline & Jim what can I say that hasn't been said already? The Old Walnut Mill is fabulous! Barrou is quaint with all the facilities we have needed. The local people are friendly but most of all the friendship and help of you two has been wonderful! The emails that Jim sends with suggested highlights were most helpful and directed us to some of the highs-spots of our holiday.

All in all a splendid gite run by two splendid people . Many thanks again!

Jean  & Ian Thompson,

Kath & Barry Ashurst,

Sutton Coldfield,

UK

Blue sky and bright sun for first guests of the season...

We welcomed our first guests (Australians) of the season under a blue sky and bright sunshine yesterday to the 'Old Walnut Mill'. This is the second last leg of a seven week stay in France - just hope we add another positive Loire Valley experience for them.

May, a good month for visiting the Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire

We enjoy visiting the Garden Festival at Chaumont-sur-Loire at any time of the year but especially remember some glorious May days - like the weekend we are about to have...we would encourage you to go...but be sure and take a hat!

More on the promise of what spring will bring

With the weather slipping back to slightly chillier times it is worth remembering that spring flowers are just around the corner like the tulips at Chateau de Cheverny which are so popular with early guests at our vacation rentals here in the Loire Valley.

Beautiful summer days in October!

Chateau de La Guerche on Wednesday

The last two days have been glorious here in our part of France...and its the end of October! We are enjoying double benefits as we currently have guests in Les Balcons and this fine spell of weather can only add to their Loire Valley Experience. Nothing compares to a beautiful chateau set against the back drop of a blue sky.

Maire on Wednesday

Angles-sur-l'Anglin yesterday

Descartes yesterday

Autumn comes to Le Grand-Pressigny dressed as Summer

Wild flowers and vines taken under a blue sky  and bright sunshine yesterday just outside Le Grand-Pressigny plus pic. of the 'view' from the bridge. Autumn has arrived here in Centre-Val de Loire but with temperatures set to climb to 27°C over the weekend it clearly thinks it's summer.

'La guinguette de Tours'

Visited Tours yesterday and thankfully it was nice enough to have a refreshment at 'La guinguette de Tours' on the banks of the Loire.

A walk around beautiful Montsoreau in the Loire Valley

Last week we went over to Montsoreau on the river Loire. It is listed as 'one of the most beautiful villages in France' and while it isn't immediately obvious why it should be, once you stroll through its narrow streets, around its quayside chateau and take in the views over the Loire it becomes clear.

There is a marked walk that takes you along the quayside past what was once a thriving harbour up the narrow streets behind the chateau.

This photo looks as if the chateau has some fine gardens but it is actually the garden of a house that looks over it.The chateau doesn't actually have a large footprint as its position, originally directly on the riverbank before they built the road,acted as a 'toll booth' controlling the river traffic. 

The floating restaurant.

This is the view looking back upriver toward the confluence of the river Loire and Vienne. 

Hollyhocks line many of the lanes.





The route is popular with both walkers and cyclists 



Though parts of it are a little challenging,

If you haven't taken this route then we would encourage you to do so, it is a lovely walk...

and you can reward yourself, as we did with lunch on the square before our afternoon adventure!