Wednesday for windows...Loches

Shop windows dressed for Christmas at Loches.

Monday's chateau...Chateau de La Guerche

 Chateau de La Guerche under a clear December blue sky

Visiting Brussels...

Lucky enough to be invited over to Brussels for a few days, just back, this is the 'Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert' apparently the oldest shopping arcade in Europe and still among the most impressive.

Mon banc dominical/My Sunday Bench in Loches.

In the public gardens in Loches. 

On the streets of Touraine...in Loches.

 A cold December morning on Rue Picois in Loches.

Have a good weekend everyone. Bon week-end à tous.

 

Tours

Taken in Touraine...

 

December in Loches.

From our Brussels wish list...Horta Museum

 

We were lucky enough to visit home and workshop of architect Victor Horta yesterday, something we missed out on our last trip to Brussels. We loved the house,unfortunately we were not allowed to photograph the interior so you will have to do with the widows (it is Wednesday) and doors for today.

We love the Art Nouveau period and the works of Horta here in Brussels, Mackintosh in Scotland and Guimard in Paris

You can see the stunning interior of Horta's home here on the official website.

A visit to Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau dressed for Christmas

Visited on Sunday to check out this year's Charismas decorations. - starting in the attic and winding our way down through the rooms.

More from our road trip south - that monastery and a church for Sunday

This is the 'monastery' that is one of the main draws for visitors to the mountain top village of Saorge. It was established in 1633 by a small French branch of the Franciscans known as 'Récollects', as small convent on the edge of the village. The tourist board list it as a monastery but his type of 'convent' was different in that the Franciscans did not isolate themselves but were very much a part of the local community. The current convent buildings and the  church,dedicated to Notre-Dame-des-Miracles, were finished sometime around 1662 with the help of donations from the villagers.

 

The convent has had a fairly turbulent history (which you can read about here) but today has returned to its tranquil past with the upper level serving as a retreat for writers,composers and more.

It is the lower level of the monastery that is currently open to the public. 

It would have been interesting to check out the accommodation currently offered compared to what the previous residents were used to.

Loved the view behind the altar - almost like a stage set!

The refectory, used as the monks dining room, is decorated with five 17th century frescoes which represent the three Franciscan virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience. Much of what they ate here would have come from their own gardens.

You can understand why when searching for peace (or so they thought) and tranquility, they chose this location.

 

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench

Autumnal bench in Southern Touraine.

On the streets of Touraine...Azay-sur-Indre

Rte du Chateau in Azay-sur-Indre 

Had another very good lunch in 'Le Relais d'Azay' yesterday - highly recommend it though you have to reserve, even in winter.  

Taken in Touraine...Abilly Palm

Blue sky and palm tree on the last Monday walk,yes it's November!
 

More from our road trip south - Saorge and a short stay in Italy!

Another hilltop village we visited by bus during our sojourn in Menton eas the village of Saorge classified as one of France’s ‘Plus Beaux Villages’ (most beautiful villages). The village clings to the mountainside above the 'Haute-Roya Valley'.

The bus drops you off just outside the village and you make your way on foot to access its maze of narrow streets and vaulted passages. Before entering the streets you are met by the village's church 'Saint-Sauveur' which is ridiculously ornate for such a small village.

The tall houses narrow lanes and steps let you know you are perched on a spot that makes you wonder why anyone would choose to build here at all, never mind create this enchanting place. 

We pretty much had the village to ourselves.

 As we walked through the village heading for a look at its monastery, one of the reason we had gone there, I noticed an interesting door with a poster attached about the church organ,out of nosiness I tried the door and to our surprise we discovered a 17th century rococo chapel, 'Chapelle Saint-Claude des Pénitents', decorated with baroque stuccoes which currently acts as the villages library!

The monastery is set at the top of a long walk up at the top of the village. 

Once you arrive its position offers great views of the surrounding landscape and the village itself. I will do a separate post on the monastery itself. 

The reference to a stay in Italy is because the route our bus took actually crossed the Italian border and carried on for just over 20km before reentering France...that's also another post!