May...'jaune'...July

Looking down on Barrou

Whatever your opinion on rapeseed, here in our part of France it adds some colour to our landscape during May, its yellow almost acts as a precursor to the summer sunflowers.

Brocante bizzare, just the thing...

to get that barbecue going! From Sunday's brocante at Saint Rémy sur Creuse.

Ahhhh...bootiful

Yesterdays brocante at Saint-Rémy-sur-Creuse had a lady selling knitted booties...

with something for everyone! See square toes are back in fashion! 

Church on Sunday...St Anthony's in Loches

The church of St. Anthony (Saint-Antoine) in Loches has been in the tourism spotlight since 2006 when two paintings were discovered discarded in its organ loft. They were identified on an inventory as original 'Caravaggio's' and reputed to be worth up to £50 million each.

See more detail here...

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Public and convenient...

While working in the rear garden of Le Bourg yesterday we had an 'over the wall chat' with the French neighbour. This was only possible as he was down at the low part of his garden as normally a high wall separates us. The house is the old priory of the church that slid into the river many years ago and is his family home. It is used as a holiday home now and he has had a great deal of work done - including a fabulous pool  with a slide-away decking cover that looks as if it would double as a dance floor!

In the top right of the picture you can see his pump house which as luck would have it used to be...

the village public toilet, so came with ready made drains and water supply,very convenient.

When one door closes another door opens.

Window shopping Tours..

 After dropping off our guests in Tours last week we did a bit of window shopping. Ladies, you may be excited (or not) to see that one of this seasons colours is grey!

Abilly and a Billy...

When my brother Billy was with me last week passing through  the nearby village of Abilly we had to stop for a photo..

2013 calendar...May

May

Taken between Lesigny and La Roche Posay.

April

Taken up behind the nearby village of Chambon.


March

Taken in Colin & Elizabeth's garden Braye -Sous-Faye

February

Taken from the chateau in Le grand Pressigny

January

Taken just as you leave Barrou on the road to le grand Pressigny

Sign of the time...

When walking around Le Grand Pressigy on Sunday we noticed this sign outside the Hotel  Savoie Villars...

good news is it is re-opening in June. This after a period of closure and uncertainty is great news for the village and our future guests. 

We use to enjoy dining here, though on one of our early experiences there I asked for a glass of port as a digestive and madame asked me if if wished to start my meal again. It's an aperitif here in France!

On a mission...

Yesterday was the brocante at Le Grand Pressigny, we were going anyway as it is always a good place to meet up with friends but we were also on a mission. Friends had asked us to keep our eyes peeled for a child's pram for their grandchild for when she comes over to visit here in France.Luckily we had a few stalls where young entrepreneurs were attempting to turn unwanted toys into cash...

we hope this will suffice. Can't think what anyone who knows us thought we were buying this for. 

Church on Sunday...Saint-Gatien cathedral

Our visit to Tours this week reminded me that I had not actually featured this Loire Valley and Touraine treasure as our 'church on Sunday', so here it is!

Cathédrale Saint-Gatien de Tours, is dedicated to its first bishop. Its construction began in 1170 replacing another cathedral which had been burnt down in 1166 during the conflict between Louis VII of France and Henry II of England (who also ruled over the neighbouring French region of Anjou at the time).

Construction of the cathedral took a while; it was not completed until 1547 so what we have is a building made up styles spanning a number of centuries.

 The predominate style is 'Gothic' with the façade alone grabbing your attention immediately...the detail is amazing

Once inside you cannot fail to be impressed...how did they build these buildings...could we do it now?

The nave.

The choir.

The stained glass windows,many from the 13th century, are are breathtaking...

with contributions from the 'Lobin' factory of Tours.

As you  walk around the cathedral you view various tombs including that of the children of Charles VIII and Anne de Bretagne.

The north transept contains the St.Martin altar...

and a fabulous rose window.

The south transept  hosts the cathedral organ.

Where's Joan?

Well, here she has her own altar, yet strangely in the guide to the cathedral she doesn't warrant a mention.

The outside of the cathedral is almost as impressive as the interior, with its Gothic windows...                  

and flying buttresses.

Loches & Montresor...

Wednesday's visits took us to Loches, it was market day and then on to beautiful Montresor

We nipped in to have a quick look at the Caravaggio paintings on display within the annex of Saint Antoine Church as we walked around the market.

After the market we headed over to the town's lovely gardens...

always a pleasure.

We ended our visit with a good lunch at 'Le Gerbe d'Or'

After lunch we headed over to Montresor another favourite village of my camera.

Le marché et marche

On Tuesday we took our guests to La Roche Posay market...

 before doing our walk by the river...

and on to the old railway bridge. 

Then a hearty lunch at Les Doves...

before heading down to our camera's favourite place the beautiful Angles sur l'Anglin.