Wine and Cheese Pairing in the Loire Valley

Earlier this year we offered our expert guide services to a group of Americans who were travelling with Bavaria and Beyond [https://bavariaandbeyond.com/]. We are a good fit for their style of travel and designed an itinerary that the group really enjoyed. One of the activities we brokered was a wine and cheese pairing at the Chateau du Petit Thouars [https://www.chateaudptwines.com/]. We've known Sébastien and D'Arcy at Chateau PT for years and it was nice to come up with something that we all enjoyed delivering. As far as the clients were concerned it was a real highlight of their tour. Sébastien had fun 'researching'  a selection of 6 cheeses that he could match with the estate's wine. Everyone thought he did a terrific job, and he explained why it was not actually very easy. Wine and cheese pairings are often requested by Anglophone visitors, but very few wineries offer it as an option. It requires a lot of preparation and knowledge on the part of the presenter, who needs to be an experienced gastronome and very familiar with both the wine and the cheese. We were absolutely delighted with the welcome and experience our clients received, and will be very happy to organise such tastings in the future. Contact us for prices and availability.

 

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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. 

Learn About Medieval Churches in the Loire Valley

You may think medieval churches are just about saints with somewhat dubious back stories and that you have to be terribly pious to appreciate them. Not at all! We like to point out all the deliberate humour displayed in these old churches and with us you will learn how they were used, what makes them special and who made them. For example, in some old churches they have seats called misericords. We show you how they work and point out all the best carvings (there are lots of funny little scenes carved on the undersides that you don't see if you don't know to look). In the photo you can see our lovely client Dorothy demonstrating how a misericord really works. With the seat down, they are just that, a seat. But medieval church services were interminable, with lots of sections where you had to stand for long periods. With a misericord tipped up you can appear to be standing, but really your weary tush is resting on a little ledge. Sneaky genius or what!? If you would like to engage with fun facts like that, then book a tour with us.

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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. 

Roses in the Loire Valley

Roses do very well in the Loire Valley and in May and June we are awash with them. All the famous chateaux feature them in their gardens, and several villages draw visitors from near and far to see the roses planted along the old streets and in dedicated gardens, both public and private. If you are a rose lover then come and smell them with us. We know where all the best ones are.

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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 Story Behind This Tapestry in the Loire Valley?

This striking tapestry hangs in the Chateau of Chenonceau, and like many decorative objects of its time, it has a hidden history. If you are intrigued and would like to find out what the significance of the plants and animals depicted in the tapestry are then book a tour with us and we will make sure to include it in your itinerary.

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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.