Watch Out for Wildlife in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is a mosaic of habitats, with lots of rivers and forests as well as large chateaux estates managed with wildlife in mind. The forests are home to quite a variety of wild animals and if they are lucky, visitors will see some of them. A good reason for using us is that we are also wildlife enthusiasts (and in fact, Susan has a qualification in biodiversity surveying and works with ecologists involved in the national program of wildlife monitoring). If anyone is going to spot animals in the undergrowth or out in the fields it is her.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Distant Glimpses in Chateaux Country

Everywhere you go in the Loire Valley there are chateaux. Some are well known and much visited. Others are still private homes or perhaps ruins visible on the skyline as you pass. They are all part of the Loire landscape and if there is a good place to stop and photograph the view we will do so. Because we are travelling in a classic car we can simply pull over -- something you can't do on a bus tour.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Traditional Crafts in the Loire Valley

Because the Loire Valley has a lot of low lying flood prone fields, in many places it has historically been a struggle to make a living from the land. One solution which was encouraged by the medieval kings was growing hemp, used for sails and rope to equip the navy. Later, in the 19th century, willow was grown to produce withies for wicker work. Whilst the hemp industry has faded away, basket making continues in a few places. Using a local guide like us means that you will not miss out on the more obscure history like this.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Rare Textiles in the Loire Valley

If you are someone with an interest in textiles you might think that Lyon is the city to visit for the history of the French silk industry. But the silk industry in France actually began in Tours, and in medieval and renaissance times the city was the 'Silk Capital of France'. Merchants came to buy silk thread, cloth and there were even a few tapestry workshops in the city. The merchants didn't only buy silk, but also wine, making Vouvray wine famous throughout northern Europe -- but that's another story for another day...

Nowadays there is almost nothing left of the silk industry in the Loire Valley. That's why when you visit it pays to have a local guide who shares your interest in textiles and knows where there are still examples of the once reknowned work of the weavers of Tours.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Hidden Histories in the Loire Valley

There are dozens of graves scattered throughout the forests and woods of the Loire Valley. Some of them are marked with simple white wooden crosses or a single plain stone slab, others are more elaborate with large carved crosses and detailed inscriptions. Many are the last resting place of World War Two Resistance fighters, buried where they fell. Some are the chatelaines of grand chateaux, who wanted to be buried near the place they loved. Others are poets and artists, buried in secluded spots that gave them inspiration. All of them require local knowledge to find and reveal their history, and that's were we come in.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Book Early for May

May has the most public holidays of any month in France and this year they fall in a way that means the period from Easter to mid-June is likely to be the busiest in the whole year. Good Friday is not a public holiday in France, but Easter Monday 22 April will be. Wednesday 1 May is Labour day, the following Wednesday, 8 May is Victory in Europe Day. It is followed by Ascension Day on Thursday 30 May. Ascension is usually considered the real opening of the main tourist season in the Loire, because by then the weather is likely to be good, the days long and everyone will look forward to making a long weekend of it by taking Friday off (faire le pont, literally 'making the bridge') and taking a mini break in the country from Wednesday to Sunday. Sunday-Monday 9 - 10 June is the Pentecost holiday.

A village ceremony for 8 mai in the Touraine.

These holidays can prove problematic for visitors, and catch them unawares in various ways. For instance, in our experience, the Friday after Ascension is the busiest day of the year in the popular chateaux. Likewise, many of the family run wineries won't be open for visitors in the afternoon, as they don't see themselves as tourist attractions and choose to spend time with their family rather than take the commercial opportunity. Trains will run on a reduced service, and accommodation books up fast.

If you are planning a trip to France in May and are worried about how the public holidays might affect your trip, email us and let us design a tour for you with the benefit of our local knowledge.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

Celebrate the Renaissance in the Loire Valley

Some of the most creative spirits in the history of the arts and sciences, intellectuals and enlightened humanists, lived in the Loire Valley 500 years ago. We are the lucky beneficiaries of this exceptionally rich heritage.

The year 1519 saw the start of construction of the Chateau of Chambord, the death of Leonardo da Vinci at Clos Lucé, and the birth of Catherine de Medici in Florence. The year saw the introduction of lasting changes to our heritage, the arts and literature, music, gardens, science and technology, architecture, trades and crafts, gastronomy and way of life. There was hardly a person untouched by these changes and barely an aspect of life unchanged.

We will guide you through the maze of historical events and convey the enormity of the changes the Renaissance brought to the Loire Valley. Many of the sites we visit regularly will be having special events or exhibitions to interpret life 500 years ago.

To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.