Tuesday 12 May 2015

Meet the Locals and Hear Their Stories in the Loire Valley

Because we know the area intimately we can take you to all sorts of places that you might not otherwise see. Along the way we will often talk to locals who know the story of what we have come to see.

For example, not many people outside the Touraine Loire Valley realise that the great American sculptor Alexander Calder lived for many years just outside a small village here. His house is now run by a foundation that provides a residency for young artists, and in the market square there is one of his standing mobiles.

Clients talking to a local in Saché.
If we are going in that direction we usually stop to admire the mobile, and our clients are amazed that, like many works of art in France, you can get right up close to it, with no barrier. Calder was a well known figure in the village and well within living memory. Sometimes a friendly local will approach us to tell us about the statue, which they are very proud of, and if we are lucky they will be someone who knew Calder personally. Then there are tales of drinking with the great man in the bar across the street.

If you like the idea of not just visiting the famous chateaux, but are open to serendipidous encounters, email us and book a tour. If nothing else, the iconic cars we use will ensure a conversation starts up somewhere we stop.