Hit the beach...swimming in the Loire Valley

With the temperature about to rise again why not hit the beach...yes here in Southern touraine we have our own 'beach' on the banks of the river Creuse at 'Le bout du pont' which is very popular right now.

with the water level low the kids here in Barrou don't even go that far!

 Many riverside town are creating 'man-made beaches with Montrichard (above) having a well established one with many facilities.

From Southern Touraine you can slip over the Creuse into our neighbour the Vienne where La Roche Posay has its own little beach...

or head down to 'LeLac' in Chatellerault and enjoy free canoeing. 

http://www.ville-chatellerault.fr/animations/evenements/l-ete-au-lac

If you head a little further south to St Cyr to their lake you can enjoy a number of  water activities.

Doing our bit for Barrou...

We are busy (thankfully) just now with regular changeovers (guests out - guests in) and after a fairly hectic week last week realised that we were in fact responsible for 18 guests in Barrou alone at the various houses we manage/rent.This didn't include the 4 guests at 'Les Balcons' though they were also enjoying the great spell of weather we have been having here in Southern Touraine. It is pleasing to know that in our small way we are contributing to tourism here in the Loire Valley.

Because of the weather many of the guests,especially the ones with teenage kids, have been enjoying the safe river swimming at nearby Lesigny, a popular place for locals and tourists alike.

Riving swimming in the Loire...

Many visitors to our part of France enquire about river swimming. The idea of swimming in the Loire river itself must hold an attraction to many 'wild river' swimmers but sadly its not encouraged or even permitted in some sections because of its dangerous currents and shifting sandbanks. It's tributaries however offer many opportunities for river swimming with many towns offering artificial beaches.

We are very lucky here in our little part of France and the Loire Valley to be blessed with a number of options for river and lake swimming, with the Creuse river virtually on our doorstep offering safe and guarded swimming as well as its beach between Barrou and Lesigny.

This year because of the low rainfall the local kids had a great time in the river at Barrou itself and indeed some guests at Le Bourg couldn't resist its temptation either with daily swims from the bottom of the garden.