Ups and downs of walking around La Guerche.

Yesterday morning we took Eileen up the hill behind La Petite Guerche, it's quite the climb! Once you get on to the path winding through the woods you still have a bit to do with teasing corners trying to convince you that each has you arriving at the top.

That doesn't actually happen until you catch sight of the mast.  

Then it's pretty much all downhill from there onto the road up to Le Rond du Chêne and back to La Petite Guerche.

 

Back on the road again...

We did our first real walk (7km) yesterday since the current heatwave started and although it was a bit misty but with the temperature at 20 deg. it was ideal.

The sun started to break through as we returned to La Guerche and as we passed a rather sparse field of sunflowers we noticed they seemed to have survived the drought rather better than some we have seen.  

There was also some unexpected flourishes of colour.

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench...La Guerche.

We love this little boldly coloured bench at one of our neighbours here in La Guerche.

 

Setting the scene...

This was the scene dining with friends on their lovely terrace in Barrou last night and although their house is on Grande rue which runs through the centre of the village we had this clear view onto the surrounding countryside.

A study in window views...

 

This is the view from the study window of our house for sale in La Guerche in Southern Touraine.

We currently use it as a music room but with its great natural light it would be ideal as an artist's studio.

You can check out the rest of the house here.

A love of Loches...

 Captured this scene last week when we had a day out celebrating Pauline's birthday in one of our favourite places here in Southern Touraine - the lovely Loches.

Spoiled for choice - musical Touraine.

Last night we had the option of going over to Le Grand-Pressigny to listen to our friends 'Celtiqua' at Brody’s plus check out 'Jérôme & Sylvain' an act we had not seen at Parce Que in Ciran. We decided to have the best of both worlds by going over to Ciran and taking in the first half of their act and then heading back to Le Grand-Pressigny to catch the second half there. As it happened there was no break at Ciran so we missed 'Celtiqua' but there will be more chances later in the year. We are so lucky here in Southern Touraine to be surrounded by so much musical talent.

Love spring and all it brings!

 A neighbour's wisteria here in La Guerche.

Local attractions...Le Grand Pressigny

 

Here in La Guerche we enjoy a setting defined by heritage and quiet authenticity.Nearby (7,5km) Le Grand-Pressigny is one of southern Touraine’s most characterful villages, dominated by its Renaissance château and known for its remarkable prehistory museum, the village offers cultural depth rarely found in such an unspoilt rural landscape.

Daily life here is both simple and refined, a weekly market Thursday am), traditional cafés, artisan producers and a strong sense of local community. The surrounding countryside,rolling fields, woodland walks and wide skies. 

Spring brings terrace lunches and market mornings; summer lingers gently over long evenings; autumn colours the valley in gold. Throughout the seasons, Le Grand-Pressigny remains quietly elegant — a place that offers the essentials of the French art de vivre without excess or pretence.

A location of genuine distinction, where history, landscape and lifestyle come together naturally.

Back to blue...

Great to see the blue sky yesterday and feel the temperature getting up to a good 18 deg.. Enough to get me out of the house to join Pauline on her 7km walk to Barrou and back. With our current 'lurgy' we could cough and sneeze without affecting anyone and enjoy a hot sun on our backs.

It was also good to see spring isn't so far away.

Having to stop...

I had to stop on the way home from Le Grand-Pressigny tonight and capture the sunset.

 

The Creuse Valley in Southern Touraine

Captured on our walk yesterday where Southern Touraine, home to us for the last 18 years, folds into the valley of the Creuse, the land softens into quiet curves and long horizons.

Here the light lingers across open fields, down wooded slopes, into the meadows by the river.

Calm, timeless and beautifully understated, this is the southern edge of Touraine, where the countryside still keeps its secrets.

If you enjoy walking, you are spoilt for choice here and you could have it on your doorstep.

Welcome to spring in Southern Touraine

 

On 'Brexit' day...

Here is the link  https://bit.ly/3aSEffj to the article by Lisa Darrault from the Nouvelle République foollwing our interviews yesterday.

Surrounded by talent...

Spent last night in good company at a friend's annual curry night which is always an exiting time for us and our taste buds. Here in Southern Touraine we are surrounded by so much talent in a variety of forms that are shared generously that make our life here so enjoyable...bless them all! 

Early November sunsets in Southern Touraine

First two pics were taken on the way back from our Charnizay walk on Thursday an the third on Toussaint from the bridge at Lesigny.

Beautiful spring day in Barrou...

Sunday...this is a new view we have in the village, of Grande Rue, it is from 'Route du Moulin A Vent' as they have cleared some trees from the river bank in a project to stop erosion.

This is the view back towards the river bend and the 'Moulin'.

It was a beautiful day here in Barrou yesterday.

More choices this weekend in Southern Touraine here in the Loire Valley.