Fine Dining in the Loire Valley

In the past few years, according to local food broadcaster Patrick Prieur, 'a pile of young chefs have come' to the Loire area. They've brought with them a style that is modern, intelligent and light, he says.

They wisely offer a limited choice menu, so they are making the best use of local, seasonal fresh produce. Good restaurants here will use about 80% fresh ingredients, and have a choice of three main courses at the most, changing daily. At the moment, there isn't a Michelin 3 starred restaurant in the area, but Monsieur Prieur is convinced it will happen soon.

He also advocates taking a tour off the beaten track if you want to discover the best food the region has to offer, and particularly recommends the area around Loches, to the south of Tours. We agree entirely with this advice, and often encourage our clients to visit the beautiful medieval town of Loches with us, where we lunch at an outstanding restaurant offering an exceptionally high quality experience for no more than you would pay in an ordinary working man's restaurant.

If you are interested in fine dining and want to be ahead of the crowd, email us and we will design a tour that will delight your tastebuds.

The Amazing Aigronne

At Loire Valley Time Travel we are always looking for new and interesting places which are off the beaten track - and we think this half-day tour is the perfect example.

The Aigronne River is only about 29km (18 miles) long, yet in that short distance it manages to pass sites ranging from the neolithic (a prehistoric burial mound) to modern history (the site of a World War 2 battle), taking in medieval grottos and a the point where the demarcation line cut France in two in 1940 along the way.

Medieval grotto, cut into the cliff edge of the Aigronne

The half day (3 hour) trip along the Aigronne in a classic car is ideal for anyone staing in the le Grand Pressigny or Preuilly sur Claise area and is offered at the bargain price of €120 for up to three people. If you would like to explore this fascinating river, email us.

Gorgeous Gardens

In the Loire Valley, often referred to as the Garden of France, we are fortunate to have many lovely gardens open to visitors.

One of the most famous is Villandry, a recreation of a medieval parterre garden. These gardens, designed to be both strolled through and looked down upon from the terrace, are filled in with a different arrangement of vegetables every year. The range of colours and intricate patterns that can be achieved with vegetable plantings have to be seen to be believed! This garden truly deserves its international reputation.

Nearby is la Chatonniere, a new garden made with traditional values. It is less restrained by a sense of wanting to recreate what was once there, and more able to create gardens which reflect the personal taste of the owner. The garden has roses in every possible setting and in the summer is a feast for the eye and the nose.

If you love gardens as much as we do, email us to book your day at Villandry and la Chatonniere.