Something for the weekend...Loches en Voix

The 5th edition of 'Loches en Voix' festival takes place this weekend Saturday 25th and Sunday 26tb July. Free concerts at venues in the public gardens and town centre

Last year's was very good...visit if you can.

We will struggle to get there on the Saturday as we have two changeovers to do at 'Les Balcons' and 'Le Bourg'! 

 Full programme here

Love the idea of the singing jukebox...

           

Angles-sur-l'Anglin...picture perfect!

Photo credit Emma Coleman 

As one of the genuine 'most beautiful villages of France' (Plus beaux villages de France) Angles-sur-l'Anglin must surely also be one of the most photographed,I know I've taken hundreds, here's a favourite of mine...

Sunday's brocante at Buxeuil...a few euros lighter

Walked over the bridge from Descartes,after a quick visit to market, to Buxeuil's brocante.

Where you had a variety of seating options on offer.

Or you could buy a Michael Jackson lookalike/soundalike (?) album from Alfonzo Jones.

Why wasn't he wanted?

Didn't buy this...

but did buy this lamp for a bargain € 5.00

Church on Sunday...Oratory of Germigny-des-Pres in the Loire Valley.

The Corolngian Oratory of Germigny-des-Pres is one of the oldest churches in France (806). 

The origins of the oratory date back to when a Gallo-roman villa, which had been built on the site, was acquired by the then the then bishop of Orleans and abbot of Fleury, Theodulf, to be his country home. He had his private chapel (oratory) added to the villa and used his position and wealth as one of Charlemagne’s most trusted advisors, to have it ornately decorated with colourful mosaics.

Sadly the oratory was burned down and looted in the 9th century by the invading Normans. It was reinstated in the 11th century as the local parish church.For some reason or other the ornate dome of the oratory was plastered over in the second half of the 18th century, perhaps to save it from the revolutionists. They were rediscovered around 1820 when some of the plaster began to fall and restoration work on this listed historic monument began in 1867. This unique mosaic is the only remaining example fromv the Carolingian period still remaining in France. Its features the ‘Ark of the Covenant’

. The original nave was replaced by a larger one during the 15th century. 

Inside the church is quite simple...

although there is a rather decorative altar with an early 16th century wooden statue of St-Anne teaching the young Virgin Mary how to read.

Where's Joan? 

To appreciate the history of the building it is best viewed from the outside. The apses are obviously from a different era to that of the ‘modern’ nave.

A day at the races...

If you are looking for a different day out you could do a lot worse that heading over to the racing at La Roche Posay tomorrow.

La Roche Posay rocks...

Good fun last night listening to a bunch of middle aged rockers doing their stuff...

their drummer lead them through Free,Jimi Hendrix, Cream,The Beatles,The Stones,The Doors to name but a few.

They even gave us a fun version of the Quo's 'Sweet Caroline' - oh and did I tell you it was free!

Friday night is music night...

Free music tonight in La Roche Posay starts at 9.00pm in the place de la Républic

Something for the weekend...brocantes Sunday 19th July

Brocantes / vide greniers Sunday 19th July

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

ANTOGNY LE TILLAC  - Brocante, fête de l'été ***

AVON LES ROCHES - Vide grenier / brocante ***

BUXEUIL - Brocante / Vide-greniers ***

CHINON - Brocante Rabelaisienne **

CHINON  Quai Danton - Vide-greniers**

LE LOUROUX  Foire à l’ail, brocante **

RICHELIEU - Vide-greniers *

ROUZIERS DE TOURAINE -  Brocante / vide-greniers ****

SAINT NICOLAS DE BOURGUEIL - Vide-greniers **

SOUVIGNE - Brocante  / Vide-greniers **

TOURS  Vide-greniers Avenue Camille Chautemps **

TOURS  Brocante pro et vide greniers Parc de la Gloriette ****

We will be going to Buxeuil...always a good atmosphere plus plenty of interesting 'stuff'

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.

Bastille celebrations off with a bang...

Hope your firework display was spectacular wherever you were...here's some pics from Barrou/Lesigny's

You give them a home for the summer...

Hirondelles had been living in our barn long before we had it and the previous owners had in fact made them a nesting shelf under the rafters

This was ok until I started to fill the barn with 'stuff' we sadly had to restrict access to them by making sure the barn door was firmly closed. This year however they were allowed in via a bit of luck, or at least that's the only thing I can think of, as a piece of roof tile had worked its way behind the door planks and its support timber giving them just enough room to get in. Now I'm sure this couldn't have been from when the roof was redone as I'd have noticed it before now but there it is, lodged firmly enogh to push the plans away from the timber.

One thought I'd had was maybe it had been sitting there since the roof was done and with the opening and closing of the door had worked its way down but no, as if you look closely enough you will see it is tapered bottom to top so looks as if it has been hammered up the way!

Anyway bottom line is I decided this meant that they were supposed to be allowed back in this year and happy to report that Ma & Pa are the proud parents of a brood of five healthy young...and my reward for this...poo eveywhere, even lucky enough to have direct hit on my napper!

That piece of tile may not be there next year.

Sunday's (12th July) brocante...

A lovely day brought the crowds out to yesterday's brocante Dange-Saint-Romain,

where you could have brought this to help get the barbie going.

At one stage thought we were in 'Toys are Us'

Hope Mike and Liz made it down as one of these would have been perfect for little William.

Seen a lot of the real version of this fellow about recently.

Didn't buy this...

or this

 but this little fellows touch of tartan was tempting but resisted

This couple were too busy on their smartphones to try and sell anything.

assume there must have been a parade we missed.

Picked up this Italian 12 piece 'Royal Tognana' coffee set for € 5.00.