A Gardener's Delight in the Loire Valley

This photo was taken in May in a small village between the town of Loches and the most famous of the Loire chateau, Chenonceau. Chédigny is most famous for its roses and has a very popular rose festival, but the wisterias and lilacs peak before the roses have really got underway. We visit the village so often with our cars that we are treated almost as residents, which means we can drive along the road shown in the photo, something most visitors do not get the chance to do.

Chédigny can be visited as part of our Loches-Chenonceau tour (the first tour on this page). Email us or contact us using our contact form to book a tour that takes you places many other people never get to see.

Have you Tried Rillettes de Tours?

Ask anyone who grew up in the Touraine what their favourite local dish is and they will say rillettes de Tours (pulled pork terrine). Everyone was delighted that this regional delicacy was awarded Indication Geographique Protegee certification a few years ago. This means the authentic dish can only be made within a certain geographic area around Tours.

It is made from pork cooked slowly for many hours which is then pulled into strands by hand, mixed with simple seasonings and local Vouvray white wine then pressed into a terrine, all according to an age old recipe. Sometimes it is served scooped from a large terrine, sometimes it comes in little round pots. Real gourmands, like Balzac, who affectionately dubbed it 'brown jam', eat it with a spoon straight from the pot, although in restaurants it will be served with toast.  An average of 300 tonnes are made annually by the 20 local certified artisanal producers. With the certification guaranteeing quality and authenticity, the producers are confidently expecting sales to increase in the future.

If you think this sounds delicious (it's a great alternative if you don't like liver patés) and would like to sample some yourself, please email us and we will design a day that includes gourmet treats.

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.

See the Sunflowers in the Loire Valley

Lots of clients tell us that one of their hopes for their day in the Loire Valley is to see fields of golden sunflowers. They've usually been told that July is the season for the glorious sunflower fields stretching to the horizon. This is true, but not for the first week of July, and occasionally we get someone who has booked just that little bit early, only to be disappointed. It's sad.

Célestine by a field of sunflowers.

But anyone who books for the last 3 weeks of July or the first week of August is guaranteed a treat. The sunflowers will be out and proud!

If you want to see the sunflowers in all their glory, let us design a tour that meanders from chateau to chateau through sunlit yellow fields.

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.

A Magical Christmas Tour in the Loire Valley

Thinking of coming to the Loire Valley for Christmas but worried that everything will be closed? Do not fear. Several Loire Valley chateaux are open on Christmas Day itself, and most are open throughout winter. The six chateaux that participate in the Noël au Pays des Chateaux (Christmas in Chateaux Country) programme put on an even more splendid display than usual. They are simply stunning!

In the past we haven't offered tours in our classic cars in the winter, but if you would like a Christmas tour of Chenonceau combined with a visit to a winemaker to buy your Christmas bubbly view our Special Christmas Tour. In addition, Susan is very happy to meet you at one of the chateaux and spend a couple of hours making sure you see the highlights. You can email us or use our contact form to book your date and time. For other tour ideas please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website.

What is the best Season to Come to the Loire Valley?

If you are reading this blog then you are likely planning a holiday to France and will want to choose the best time of year to visit.

Not many people choose the winter months, because they think the weather will be cold and damp and the days are short. However, at Christmas time we offer a magical tour to see the decorations at Chenonceau, and February is often one of the most spectacular months, with clear days and bright blue skies that are a photographer's heaven. Spring is a favourite time for many, with gardens bursting into colour again, and orchids and cowslips flowering on the roadsides. Remember that this is the wettest time of year here though and be prepared with a lightweight raincoat for the sudden showers.

In February the light is perfect for capturing architectural details

Summer is when we get the most reliable weather, usually with dry warm days for weeks on end, but rarely getting unpleasantly hot so air conditioning is not required. Of course, July and August are when most people visit the Loire, so you might like to avoid the crowds and come in the autumn. The countryside is mellow and golden and September rivals May as the most beautiful month to visit.

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.

Going Underground in the Loire Valley

Many travellers have heard of the troglodyte caves in the Loire Valley, but they don't quite know how to access them. We include going underground into such a cave in almost all our tours, so if you want to know more about their history and are curious as to how they are used now, let us know and we can take you to some really interesting examples. Especially on a hot summers day, going underground in the Loire Valley is a very nice way to spend an afternoon!

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.

Viewing Villandry

What could be nicer than a warm autumn afternoon spent at the famous gardens of Villandry? They are at their peak at that time so photographers, gardeners and designers can be inspired by their magnificence.

If you would like to add this wonderful garden to your itinerary, email us or use our contact form. and we will gladly create a day out in the Loire Valley customised for you.

Take the Fast Train and a Slow Car

If you come to the Loire Valley as a day trip from Paris it makes sense to catch the efficient and reliable fast train (TGV) from Paris Montparnasse to Tours Saint Pierre des Corps. It takes about an hour and no road vehicle can match that. Once you are here you can relax and enjoy touring in style in our classic Citroen Traction Avants. They are not really that slow, by the way, and easily do the speed limit on the provincial roads we will be travelling. But you will feel that we are transported back in time, to the days of elegant and comfortable touring.

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.