What's So Special About This Staircase in the Loire Valley?

This is clearly a ruined staircase. Why would it be of interest to anyone except nerdy archaeologists? Well, maybe it isn't, but if you have an inner nerdy archaeologist or architectural historian, you might still like to see it and learn why it is special. It's in a nearly unknown medieval chateau, and is overlooked when other later chateaux stake a claim to what is special about it. Let us know if you like to see what archaeolists see in a pile of stones.

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.

Villandry and Azay le Rideau Tour

We should have been working today, but we are stuck at home in the Covid19 lockdown, as are our American clients who had to cancel their visit to France. We hope that they will rebook when all this is over, in which case we would be delighted to show them the world famous gardens of Villandry, the remarkable painted medieval church at Lignieres de Touraine and the glorious newly restored chateau of Azay le Rideau. Lunch would have been at the Cote Cour, formerly owned by our friends Fred and Sandrine, and recently taken over by their young sous-chef Celine Calmes. What a way to start a new business venture! We will be doing all we can to support her as soon as we can. And Domaine de la Tortiniere, our favourite chateau-hotel, which is where our clients would have been staying.

The potager garden and chateau of Villandry.

Medieval wall paintings in the church at Lignieres de Touraine.

Early spring view from a window in the Chateau of Azay le Rideau.

House made smoked dry cured fat duck breast at Cote Cour restaurant.

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.

Loches Food Country Tour

Today we should have been touring with an American couple who had booked us for three days and wanted to focus on food, drink and off the beaten track. So today's tour would have visited the market at Loches followed by the Royal Citadel for a bit of history. Lunch was planned for Le Prosper, a tiny restaurant in a 16th century stone building and run by a creative husband and wife team. Then we were going to wend our way across country, via the rather extraordinary hamlet of Chanceaux pres Loches, then Dolus le Sec and finally stopping at Esvres sur Indre to visit our friend Charles, who owns and runs L'Art a Table, a specialist grocery store stocked with gourmet food and local artisanal produce. At the end of the day they would have the pleasure of staying at the lovely Domaine de la Tortiniere chateau-hotel.

Loches market.

Saint Ours, Loches.

Le Prosper restaurant shares a wall with the Tour Saint Antoine.

The literary hunting lodge in Chanceaux pres Loches.

Charles cuts us some brie.

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.

Chenonceau and Amboise Tour

Amboise

Today we should have been out with an American couple who booked us for three consecutive days of touring. They would have been staying at our favourite Chateau Hotel, Domaine de la Tortiniere, then we were off to the Chateau of Chenonceau, lunch at the Bistrot le Terminus in Nazelles Négron followed by a visit to the mighty Royal Chateau of Amboise. We would have rounded off the day with a wine tasting and tour of the caves at Chateau Gaudrelle in Vouvray AOC. All this has had to be cancelled because of Covid19. We very much hope the travellers are at home and planning their next trip to France and will be booking with us again. We will be delighted to see them.

Chateau of Chenonceau.

The dessert and salad starters buffet at the end of service at the Bistrot le Terminus.

Tasting a new sparkling wine at Chateau Gaudrelle with Emile, the son of the owner.

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.