Loire Valley church on Sunday - Church of Saint Aubin, Turquant

Today we visit the church of Saint Aubin in the village of Turquant on the South bank of the river Loire near Montsoreau.

Origins date from 12th xentury but as ever much altered over the centuries.

Internally the white tufa stone makes for a surprisingly bright interior.

Where's Joan?...no place for her here sadly!

That was the week that was - in the Loire Valley

At this time of year we  board the /runaway train/ (Pauline's analogy) as we are, fortunately, kept busy with our vacation rentals but also caught up with local events and socialising with our friends who are over for the summer. The last seven days is a fairly typical (?) week:

Last Friday night was  'Soiree Irlandaise' in Le Grand-Pressigny  and we returned there on Saturday to prepare for our latest guests, They were arriving on Sunday so we concentrated on the interior of Les Balcons as it was sooo hot, with a view to doing the garden in the cool of the morning on the Sunday.

In the evening we joined friends for pizza at the restaurant here in Barrou then we all went to the bridge at Lesigny for the joint village firework display.

Afterwards we accepted an invitation for a 'night-cap' which meant a late night...

and a late start at Les Balcons on Sunday.

On Sunday evening we had an invitation to join our neighbour for an apero which lead to him asking us to stay for a BBQ which we were happy to accept.

Tuesday I had to go and cut the grass at a clients garden in the morning then back to La Guerche in the afternoon.

On Wednesday we joined friends on a mini road-trip into the La Vienne, where we had the advantage of their 'local knowledge' to do a bit of treasure hunting at  various brocante places plus did a bit of sightseeing and lunch.

On Thursday we joined other friends for a trip up to the Loire river at  where we did the walk around the village.

Followed by lunch, then on to the troglodytes at nearby Souzay-Champigny then back for a walk around the village of Turquant.

This is a very interesting strch of the river Loire which also includes the very pretty Candes-St-Martin

In the evening we  joined friends for a musical soiree over in Lesigny

Yesterday we started to prepare Le Bourg for guests arriving on Sunday and in the evening we did nothing!

Something for the holiday weekend...brocantes

 

Brocantes / vide greniers Friday 14th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

DRUYE  Vide-greniers ****

LA MEMBROLLE SUR CHOISILLE  Fête Nationale du 14 Juillet ***

LIGUEIL  Brocante Vide-greniers **

LUSSAULT SUR LOIRE  Vide-greniers ***

RICHELIEU  Antiquités Brocante **

TOURS  Vide-grenier du 14 Juillet léo Lagrange Tours *

VERNEUIL SUR INDRE  Fête du Cochon Grillé - Brocante Vide-greniers **

VILLEBOURG  Vide-greniers *

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 16th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

ANTOGNY LE TILLAC  Fête de l'été Brocante **

AVON LES ROCHES  Brocante du Comité de Jumelage ***

CHINON  Brocante Mensuelle**

LE LOUROUX  Foire à L’ail Brocante, Vide-greniers **

SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL  Vide-greniers **

  

SONZAY   Brocante, Vide-greniers ***

Heading south in search of treasure...

Down at Chauvigny  yesterday in search of 'treasure'

No need to run...

Yesterday in the village I witnessed a rare thing, one of my neighbours running down the street, He did not appear to be in any form of panic but was simply running! Now admittedly we have a 'plus ages' population (which we are hurtling towards qualification) in the village but it got me thinking that even in larger towns I have rarely seen many people having to run. Now this could be down to their 'joie de vivre' in that, why run when you can walk as your destination won't go away, or there is always tomorrow! I don't know...or is it just me?

Fireworks...'Fete Nationale' 2017 when and where...

We already have had our 'Fete Nationale' fireworks which we now share with neighbouring Lesigny but there are still plenty of opportunities to catch some other celebrations...

ABILLY – Over the river from ‘Ile de la Claise’ – 13^th July

AMBOISE – Over the Loire from ‘l’Île d’Or’ – 14^th July

ATHEE-SUR-CHER – Parc de la Chesnaye – 14^th July

AZAY-SUR-CHER – Salle Jacques Revaux – 13^th July

CHAMBON – Place de la Mairie – 13^th July

CHAMBRAY-LES-TOURS – Lac René Messon – 13^th July

CHARNIZAY – 13^th July

CHINON – Rive Sud de la Vienne – 14^th July

CUSSAY  – 13^th July
DESCARTES - 14^th July

LANGEAIS – Espace Alingavia – 13^th July

LA GUERCHE – 13^th July

LA TOUR-SAINT-GELIN – 13^th July
lA ROCHE-POSAY  – 14^th July

LE GRAND PRESSIGNY – Pre du Grand Moulin, Ave Andre Theuriet – 14^th July
LE PETIT-PRESSIGNY – 14^th July

LIGUEIL – Prairie des Dauphins – 14^th July

LOCHES – Stade Leclerc – 14^th July

MANTHELAN – 13^th July

PAULMY – Village – 14^th July

PREUILLY-SUR-CLAISE – Plan d’eau – 14^th July

ROCHECORBON – 13^th July

SAINT-CYR-SUR-LOIRE – Parc de la Perraudière – 13^th July

SAINT-MARTIN-LE-BEAU – 13^th July

SEPMES – Cour du Château – 14^th July

TOURS – Over the Loire from  ‘l’Île Simon’ – 14^th July

YZEURES-SUR-CREUSE  – 15^th July

It is the one thing we cannot control

New guests arrived at 'Les Balcons' yesterday to some very heavy rain which, after a very dry spell, might well have been appreciated by local gardeners but after travelling all the way down from Aberdeen in Scotland it was somewhat disappointing. It is the one aspect of the holiday that we cannot really influence and when  our guests have bad weather we take it to heart.

The departing guests had had to put up with 30+ degree temperatures...quite a change. They had stayed with us at Le Bourg last year and returned to Southern Touraine again this year.

Here is their comment on our guestbook:

 "Thanks Pauline & Jim for another (stayed at 'Le Bourg' last year) wonderful stay in this part of France. We loved 'Les Balcons' and Le Grand-Pressigny"

Roger & Pat

West Yorkshire

UK

Early celebration...

Last night was pizza at the restaurant here in Barrou then on to the bridge at Lesigny for the joint village Bastille day(?) firework display.

With the potential threat of some much needed rain Willi offered us some protection...we did not take him up on his offer!

Another 'bon soiree' - to be sure!

Last night's 'Soiree Irlandaise' in Le Grand-Pressigny was, like previous years, very well attended (over 400 portions of fish & chips served) and much appreciated by locals and visitors alike.

Music was provided by our local stalwarts as 'Celtiqua' and the returning 'Siansa' -great stuff!

As before the dancing proved popular with the 'callers' doing their usual sterling job of keeping them in tow -  even if there were some reluctant participants.

As we left we knew it would continue into the wee small hours.

Big 'shout-out' to the folks at 'Fete'art Pressignois' for all their efforts providing another great evening.

Something for the weekend...brocantes/vide-greniers 8th/9th July

Brocantes / vide greniers Saturday 8th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

BRIDORE  Fête du Plan d'eau *

CHEMILLE SUR INDROIS  Fête du lac Vide-greniers ?

LOCHES  Brocante ?

  

VILLAINES LES ROCHERS  Vide-greniers Semi Nocturne?

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 9th July

* Up to 50 stalls ** 50 to 100 stalls *** 100 to 200 stalls ****More than 200 stalls    ? Unknown

CHANNAY SUR LATHAN  Vide-greniers ***

CHATEAU RENAULT  Brocante de L’arche ***

CHATELLERAULT Brocsnte Vide-greniers lac de la Forêt ?

DANGE SAINT ROMAIN  Vide-greniers ****

LUZE  Luzé en Fête ***

VILLANDRY  Vide-greniers ***

Sunflowers at Barrou,Centre-Val de Loire

Sunflowers (tournesols) are synonymous  with the Loire Valley and bring joy to both residents and visitors alike. Took these pics on Tuesday here in Barrou

Loches evening markets

This summer's night markets in Loches are tomorrow 6th July and Thursday 17th August.

A hundred exhibitors (jewelery, leather goods, decorative objects, games, books, restaurants, wines ...) welcome you during these summer night markets, during which you can also enjoy musical entertainment. With Am Ketenes (jazz manouche), Tempo Oïo (Brazilian percussions), Yann Beaujouan (French chanson).

From 6 pm to midnight

Sunday's brocante down by the riverside

On Sunday we went over to the brocante at Vicq-sur-Gartempe. We like its riverside location and it is just about the perfect size with regards to stall holders who tend to be a mix of professional and non-professional.

I often feature the abandoned / unloved cuddly toy on my brocante posts, now I know who buys them! They had these plus another van full...packed so tight that some of the poor things were struggling for air!

This was something I hadn't seen before...a snailsman...fattens them up for resale,though did say trade was a little slow!

This lonely wheel of misfortune was looking for a barrow. 

This 'collections' stall had this rather enticing selection of empty beer cans but I wasn't tempted! 

Noticed this little fellow(?) on the way out who appeared to have been abandoned,perhaps an impulsive buy?

A weekend of double 'changeovers' but still time for a little fun.

We had departing  and arriving guests at both 'Les Balcons' and at 'Le Bourg' on Saturday which made for a pretty exhausting day but we got them done,thanks in part to the condition they were left in by the departing guests. Thankfully we had dinner with friends and our local music festival to look forward to at the end of a long day.

Here are the departing guests comments

Le Bourg

"In all years holidaying in France we have never encountered such a well equipped house. 'Le Bourg' has so much character that is appealing. Our grateful thanks to Pauline and Jim who have been wonderful hosts. The advice we have received from them has greatly enhanced our holiday..."

Ann & Derek Jones,
Ross-on-Wye,
UK

 Les Balcons

"The first week was very hot, 97 F ! so plenty of liquid intake...purely medicinal ye ken! This is an excellent, well equipped gite from which to explore the Loire Valley...good fun
Many thanks."

Andrew & Pauline Lyle,
Bathealton Somerset
UK

Mother nature...and the best laid plans.

As ever the hard work of the  local volunteers brought us  another festival that the village can be proud of...such a shame that the only element they can't control decided to show its hand in the form of a downpour in the early evening which probably put many potential visitors off, which was a pity. Enjoyed a singalong with some fellow fans to the Beatles tribute act...who's lead singer donned a pair of shades and became Elvis later in the evening! Well done Barrou!