The Loire Valley Weather

The Loire River is big enough to create its own weather. It sucks in moist air from the Atlantic so the sky is often grey. But the grey skies are what gives the vineyards just the right conditions for growing chenin blanc grapes. The Loire sparkling wines made from this special variety can rival champagne, for a quarter of the price. So don't bemoan the weather if your stay in the Loire Valley is not brilliant sunshine and blue skies. Remember that a bit of grey is good for the vines, and for the goats producing the famous local cheese that you can pair with the wine (the goats produce more milk in cooler weather, so that's more cheese for you...). Likewise, the soft creamy limestone buildings with their slate roofs seem to sit better in a landscape under cloud cover. Book a tour with us and come and see for yourself how cool clouds over the Loire Valley UNESCO World Heritage area can be.

Overlooking the Loire River from the Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Dead as a Door Nail in Amboise

Amboise is very much the tourist hub of the Touraine Loire Valley, but off peak you would struggle to believe it. This photo was taken at 10 o'clock in the morning on 7 March 2023. In summer this scene would be transformed by a heaving mass of people. So maybe think about visiting from October to April and avoid the crowds. Email us if you have questions about what you can see at this time of year. And if you book a tour with us we'll explain where the phrase 'dead as a door nail' comes from...

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Re-enactor Rushing to Work at Amboise

We quite often encounter re-enactors at the Chateau of Amboise. This one was obviously in a rush to get to work in the morning. Ask us to include Amboise in your tour if you would like to chat to these talented characters dedicated to bringing history alive.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Wine Cellars in the Loire Valley

Wine cellars in the Loire Valley are often underground, in troglodyte caves. We finish most of our chauffeured tours with a visit to a wine cellar. So what are you waiting for? Book a tour!!

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Fossils in the Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is the remnant of an ancient tropical sea, hence all the limestone, which is formed by all the remains of sea creatures over millenia. It also means there are fossils everywhere -- in the rock used for the famous chateaux, but also loose in the soil in vineyards and vegetable gardens. Most vineyards have an impressive collection of fossils, picked up over the years from under the vines. If you are a fossil fancier why not join us for a tour that includes a winery? Don't forget to check the earth at the edge of the vineyards and fields. You never know what you will find.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

What is the Cuisine of the Loire Valley?

Recently a client asked me what French cuisine was. We'd just observed that there are Italian restaurants everywhere in the Western World. Despite the reputation of French cuisine as being the height of perfection (that's how the UNESCO World Intangible Heritage listing describes it), French cuisine is not so universally available or loved at a grassroots level.

There seems to be a lot of misconceptions about French cuisine, so why not book a tour with us and learn what the Loire Valley contributes to this famous aspect of French life. It won't be nearly so full of butter as you might think... 

Leeks are the favourite vegetable of many French people, and it seems French babies start early...

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Winter Conservation Cleaning in the Loire Valley Chateaux

Winter is a great time to visit the Loire Valley chateaux, especially if you are interested in the behind the scenes work of maintaining and presenting a heritage building to the public. Winter time is when the tapestries get cleaned, for example, and the conservators doing the work are very happy to talk to visitors about their job. If you book a tour with us we will always make sure you get to see this type of work being done. 

Conservators vacuuming a 17th century tapestry in the Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

A Review From Regi

Regi and Michelle from Hawaii booked a tour of Amboise at the very last minute and turned out to be utterly delightful clients. They were kind enough to take the time to write a review of their experience with me.

Historical reenactors at the Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

"I don't think we could have found a more knowledgeable guide than Susan. The local tour was quick but beyond informative. Buy Susan lunch afterwards and get even more informed... LOL. Great time and great conversation. Aloha Susan !"

 Thank you so much, Regi and Michelle, for this great review and I definitely appreciated the lunch! 

 

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Impromptu Organ Recitals in the Loire Valley

Quite often when we visit a church the organist will be practicing. This is always atmospheric and beautiful. The churches we visit all have something unique and special, but an organ solo always makes your time inside something memorable.

You can just see the organist. The church is Saint Denis in Amboise.

 

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

The Chateau of Chambord as Wildlife Sanctuary

The Chateau of Chambord is the most important hibernation roost for protected pipistrelle bats in Centre Val de Loire. The bats are surveyed twice a year, to check which species are using the Chateau and when. The curators then develop policy to protect both the bats and the collection of fine objects in the Chateau. You won't see the bats when you visit with us, but we are able to tell you how these little creatures live in harmony with a historic site. It's one of the unexpected aspects of managing a chateau open to the public.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Where Do All Those Baguettes Come From?

If you are in the Loire Valley then the chances are the wheat that was grown to make your baguette was grown somewhere close by. Centre Val de Loire Region is the largest cereal producer in Western Europe, and a hectare sown to wheat here will yield 6 tonnes of grain, which once milled into flour will make 25 000 baguettes. 

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Unicorn Sighting in the Loire Valley

Unicorns have been extinct in the Loire Valley for centuries, but it seems they may be returning. Probably like wolves, they are making their way over the Alps and dispersing far and wide throughout France.

We were lucky enough to get good views of one in the Loire Valley just recently. A charming creature, but much bigger than you expect.

Or possibly it was an elderly Percheron mare...

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. 

Visiting a Winery in the Loire Valley

When you book a tour with us we usually include a visit to a small family run winery. You'll be shown where the wine is made and have the process explained to you. The winemakers are proud of their 'terroir', the link between their wine and where it is made, that influences the way the wine tastes and its keeping qualities. On the visit shown in the photo, winery owner Delphine explains that Loire wines are not traditionally oaky, but when they do use wine it is important to use barrels made from oak grown in the forests of the Loire Valley.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

See Restoration up Close in the Loire Valley

Visitors who come in the winter are quite likely to encounter restoration projects underway in the chateaux of the Loire Valley. Sometimes rooms will be closed or there will be scaffolding up. Don't think of this as spoiling your visit, but an opportunity to have a unique experience. In winter there are very few visitors and the staff have time to talk to anyone who is interested in the behind the scenes challenges of managing a heritage property. 

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

A Review from Royce

Royce and Linda, from Texas, did a chauffeured tour of Amboise and Chenonceau with us in November 2022, and were kind enough to leave this terrific review.

Claudette, one of our classic Citroen cars, with Royce and Linda on the right, and a random French tourist on the left, taking a video of us.

 

We really enjoyed our tour to the Loire Valley! What made it exceptional was the vehicle that was used. It was a 1956 Citroen that was absolutely beautiful and in like new condition. It turned heads everywhere we went! People were taking pictures of it and waiving all along the way. Simon, the driver and husband of the guide, Susan, was a great driver and very proud of his vehicle. Susan was an excellent guide and very enjoyable in every way. Exceptionally knowledgeable! Highly recommended.

Wrapping Up Christmas in the Loire Valley

If you visit the Loire Valley chateaux in January you may well come across scenes like the one below. Little by little the fabulous Christmas decorations get taken down, packed up, and put away in January. Don't worry that it will spoil your visit. You will be able to enjoy whatever decorations are still in place, and there will be so few visitors the staff are relaxed and happy to see us. We'll get to see things we might otherwise not have access to.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

A Very Fine Vintage in the Loire Valley

Many of our clients are much the same age as we are and are delighted to hear that 1959 was an exceptional vintage in the Loire Valley. For real wine lovers such as the client in this photo we try to make sure we visit a winery that can offer you some of this special vintage. You won't get to taste it, as the winemaker cannot afford to open a bottle for that, but you can still buy it, for a surprisingly reasonable price. The wine in this photo is about €300 a bottle, and for anyone who wants to celebrate a special anniversary, it makes a great gift (to yourself, or a loved one!).

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

A New Expert Mechanic on the Loire Valley Time Travel Team

We are fortunate to have a new expert mechanic on our classic car maintenance team, and Célestine and Claudette are very happy. Dominique worked for more than forty years for the marvellous Dufresne, home to the most amazing collection of mostly mechanical and historical objects in the Loire Valley. Now he's retired he takes on clients or projects that he likes. He's a friend of Bernard, one of our relief drivers, and so we were lucky enough to engage him when Claudette needed her brake drums skimmed. He also discovered she needed new drive shaft bolts and dealt with that. So we are very happy too.

Dominique working on Claudette's brake drums.

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For details of our private guided tours of chateaux, gardens, wineries, markets and more please visit the Loire Valley Time Travel website. We would be delighted to design a tour for you.

We are also on Instagram, so check us out to see a regularly updated selection of our very best photos. You may also like to check out our YouTube channel. 

Photo Session in the Loire Valley

In the Chateau Royal d'Amboise the king's room is on the second floor of the royal apartments. In addition to the famous painting by François-Guillaume Ménageot "The death of Leonardo da Vinci" (1781), there is also a four-poster bed. 

Mark Playle, from Photograph France [link], doing a photoshoot with one of our clients in the King's Chamber in the Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

If you come in the low season (2 January to Easter) we can arrange to have a special photo session in the Chateau Royal d'Amboise, with a professional local photographer and access to the heart of the historic displays, behind the barriers in the rooms open to the public. This is a unique opportunity only offered to our clients. Email us to book this experience.

Canopied beds appeared at the end of the 15th century. Whilst obviously being a way of displaying gorgeous textiles and carved wood, they also have a utilitarian dimension. The curtains allow occupants to keep the heat inside the bed, despite the chill of the castle interiors. The curtains also ensured a relative intimacy and privacy to the bed's occupants. At the time, everyone, even the King, shared their room with several other people.

A Review From Taylor

Taylor and family did a half day walking tour of the Chateau of Chenonceau in July 2022, which was extended to include lunch at a nearby restaurant that is very popular with the locals, and somewhere that tourists might not find. We are always very grateful to get positive reviews like this and appreciate that clients take the time to write them.

"Our tour with Susan was lovely. She is so knowledgeable and experienced. She was able to relate to adults and kids alike so we all learned a great deal. To end the tour she took us to a fantastic local restaurant for more conversation and unbelievable local food."

A Chateau With a Difference in the Loire Valley

The Chateau de Candé may at first glance look much like any other small fairytale Renaissance style chateau. But its real treasure is 20th century. At the heart of chateau, in the library, and extending all the way up to the attic, is a most remarkable Skinner organ from America, installed in 1929. It is so special that it is listed in its own right as a Historic Monument (which, surprisingly, the chateau building itself is not!). The organ is regularly played, in order to blow the dust out of its pipes and connections and is the only one of its kind in working order in Europe. It is so powerful it can be heard 3 kilometres away! 

If you want to learn the remarkable history of this organ's installation and restoration, as well as hear it play, ask us to include the Domaine de Candé in your itinerary with us. The organ is not the only treat the chateau has in store for you.

A Gourmet Treat in the Loire Valley

Both truffles and cheeses are produced in the Loire Valley. The combination of the two makes something even more special. We highly recommend you try a truffled cheese if you come across one. Truffle is a pungent intensely savoury aroma, but it often does not translate into an outstanding taste sensation. That's where the cheese comes in. Cheese has just the right texture and level of fat to make the truffle perform at its best. Don't hesitate to try it!

Brie that has been split and spread with truffle, at a truffle market in the Loire Valley.

Come to the Loire Valley in January

If you visit the Loire Valley chateaux in January you have a great opportunity to take some stunning photos without the crowds. You'll be able to pose wherever you like without risk of photobombers. Your photos will be wonderful souvenirs of almost empty chateaux.

 

Want to See Something Unusual in the Loire Valley?

Don't hesitate to ask us. We often take people to rather odd locations when they are researching a book for example. Most recently an author asked if she could see inside an ambulance. Thanks to our contacts, this was possible and we had a lovely visit to the accident and emergency unit of a local hospital, with guided tour by one of the doctors!

Thanks to Dr Deilgat, who took us around, explained how it worked and answered all our questions.

Truffles are a Winter Treat in the Loire Valley

Black Truffle Tuber melanosporum (Fr. Truffe noire) is native to the Loire Valley, but has long since disappeared from the wild. According to the experts and old timers the best place to find truffles was under isolated oak trees in the middle of wheat fields, but fifty years of modern farming practices and fungicides sprayed on wheat crops have destroyed the habitat for truffles. The truffles benefitted from the disturbance of the soil with the plough and the minor damage done to the tree roots, allowing the truffle mycelium to latch on, providing the conduit for a symbiotic exchange of nutrients. It may explain why isolated mature oak trees in the middle of fields continue to be a not uncommon sight in the Touraine. 

Truffle market in the Touraine Val de Loire.

If you want to experience a truffle market or visit a truffle farmer let us know.

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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

A Review from Jonathan

Jonathan and his lively family, from the USA and the UK, did a three hour tour of Chenonceau with me, followed by a visit to a winery in October 2022.

Our family had a fantastic afternoon with Susan, touring the beautiful grounds and chateau at Chenonceau. Susan's command of the local history and narratives is exceptional, and she did a wonderful job weaving in facts and context that we otherwise would never have appreciated. She managed to keep everyone, including our young daughters, engaged and did a good job of pacing the visit to accomodate the varied attention spans. To top it off, she had great recommendations for local attractions and food!

The Holly and the Ivy in the Loire Valley Forests

The Loire Valley is about 50% forest and some of it has been there for over a thousand years. It provides extensive areas for hiking and riding, and high grade hardwood timber for , and wine barrels and projects such as the reconstruction of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. Many of the trees are deciduous, including oak, chestnut and beech, but a few are evergreen. Holly and ivy are both abundant and are important contributors to the microclimate, with their ability to protect small creatures from bad weather in the winter.

If you love nature, ask us to include a walk in the forest as part of your itinerary. In the autumn we can forage for fungi and at any time of year we can pay our respects to the World War II Resistance fighters whose graves we might encounter deep in the forest.

Autumn is Wild Fungi Season in the Loire Valley

If you visit a market with us in the autumn one of the seasonal treats you will see is several species of wild harvested mushrooms for sale, usually around €25 a kilo. They will include the world famous ceps (aka porcini), girolles and chanterelles as well as some you may not be familiar with, such as trompettes de la mort. The most prized species of all for many French people is the chanterelle grise. None of these mushrooms can be cultivated, so they are wild seasonal treats. All the local chefs will be at the markets making sure they have a supply for seasonal dishes like risottos, soups and sauces.

Wild harvested Trumpet Chanterelles from Saumur at Loches market.

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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

The Key to a Great Visit in the Loire Valley

If you visit the Donjon of Loches with us late in the day, you may experience the fun of helping the docent lock up, with these fabulous keys from the 17th and 19th centuries. Be prepared to climb lots of stairs though! 

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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

Be the Centre of Attention in the Loire Valley

Our chauffeured tours are conducted in classic Citroen cars. French people all know these cars and have fond memories of them. They attract a lot of attention. You will find yourself being waved at, smiled at, given the thumbs up and photographed, everywhere we go.

The couple on the right are our clients, from Texas. The man on the left is a French tourist and he circumnavigated the car, excitedly filming. Goodness only knows how many FB and Insta accounts we feature on. Claudette, one of our classic Citroen Traction Avants, is parked just outside the exit to the Chateau Royal d'Amboise.

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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

A Review From John and Deborah

John and Deborah, from the USA, and their friends did a three hour walking tour of Amboise with me in October 2022 and left a lovely review of their time with me.

The chateau and town of Amboise, seen from an island in the Loire.

A wonderful day with Susan in Amboise. She was extremely informative, and a perfect way to start our time in Lorie Valley. Our trip was wonderful, thanks to a great guide. We would recommend her to anyone that will be coming to visit the Château's. 

Learn About Heritage Building Conservation in the Loire Valley

Recently a client asked me if the limestone of the famous Loire Valley had discoloured over time as he had visited many years ago and remembered the Chateau of Chenonceau being pure white, not cream. I was able to tell him that his memory may not be so wrong. Over the years the stone has discoloured and deteriorated, and nowadays, when stone has to be replaced it is not the same. All the beautiful white stone has been quarried out, and now the stone comes from quarries further away, and has a slightly different colour cast. It's a problem that buildings conservators are aware of, but have been unable to find a solution for. The soft limestone of the Loire Valley was extensively damaged in the 19th century, by acid rain produced when everyone burnt coal as their main source of heating, so a lot of stone is having to be replaced now.

At least three different coloured stones are visible near the front door of the Chateau of Chenonceau.

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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

A Review From Mary Jane

Mary Jane, from the USA, spent two days in the Loire Valley touring with us in September 2022. Here is her very kind review of her time with us.

The cheese truck at Loches market, which we visited with Mary Jane.

 

Susan and driver, Simon, were a delightful couple and great tour guides. Susan is especially knowledgeable about French history - we learned a lot! We also enjoyed the market visits and wineries. Susan was able to shift itineraries to accommodate our schedule, market days and winery hours. This tour was a highlight of our 4 weeks in France.

An Unexpected Sight From Chenonceau

Sometimes we come out of the Chateau of Chenonceau and see something surprising. One day in early November it was three hot air balloons sailing over. I wonder what you will see when you 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. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.

Tickets for the Chateau of Chenonceau

Most of the chauffeured tours we offer include your chateaux admission tickets, but our walking tours and a few of the chauffeured tours do not. We will always make it clear when you need to buy your tickets.

In the case of Chenonceau, you need to buy them at least a few days before your tour, as they operate a timed entry system. The time on your ticket refers to the time you enter the interior of the chateau, not when you enter the grounds. We recommend getting a ticket for half an hour after you arrive.

Make sure you buy your ticket from Chenonceau's official site, not an agency selling tickets. The official source of tickets is https://chateaudechenonceau.tickeasy.com/fr-FR/accueil. If you buy from anywhere else, including the Tourist Office, what you have is a voucher, not a real ticket. It means you will still have to call in to the ticket office at Chenonceau and exchange your vouchers for tickets with an entry time. This wastes time and means on busy days you might miss out on your preferred time slot, thus disrupting the tour you've booked with us.

The Neapolitan Nativity Scene at the Chateau Royal d'Amboise

The Chateau Royal d'Amboise has an impressive Neapolitan nativity scene which it puts on display every December. 

Neapolitan nativity figurines are still made and collected today, but their peak was in the second half of the 18th century. Each figure, piece of scenery or accessory may be made of several different materials, including glazed terracotta, wood, wire armatures wrapped in fibres, metal, wax and embroidered textiles. They are famous for their level of exquisite detail and are held upright by spikes on their feet pushed into a cork display base. The Amboise collection reflects the tradition of showing highly detailed scenes of working life around the actual nativity scene. Curiously, it is these foreground trades, merchants and working figures which are really the stars of the show, with the Holy Family receding into insignificance right at the back.

Supporting Displaced Ukrainians in the Loire Valley

Ever since displaced Ukrainians have been fleeing their country due to the Russian invasion we have been helping to support a number of Ukrainian families in both practical ways like finding them accommodation and employment, but also offering a bit of respite in the form of group outings and gatherings. We organised a couple of shared picnics in the summer, and just before Christmas we arranged with the Chateau of Chenonceau to bring a group of 45 Ukrainians to see the magnificent decorations inside. The Director, Mme Laure Menier very generously offered the group free entry and they had a wonderful time. 

Slava Ukraini!

We are very pleased to be doing our small bit to help people in difficult circumstances. We are particularly grateful to the Chateau of Chenonceau for their kind gesture and warm welcome.

Happy New Year From the Loire Valley

 

 

Happy New Year!

We wish you good health, good food and good company throughout, with at least one trip to France, of course!