The garden of France... this is how people call this area, Touraine, with its mild climate and generous soils whee everything grows, and where kings so often came to rest and sometimes live...If you like gardens and plants, you are in for a treat!

First of all, the french style gardens of Villandry, reknowned in the whole world and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its "Nuits de mille feux" where more than 2000 candles light up the paths... unforgettable (august 1-2 2025, reservations beginning in june on the castle of Villandry website).

But also the Prieuré St Cosme at La Riche and its serene atmosphere, a place of nature and poetry accessible to all... The gardens of the castle of Rivau, magical, where fairytales take a life of their own, and where bold colors somehow work together...The gardens of La Bourdaisière, dedicated to permaculture and national conservatory of ancient tomato varieties, but also host of an extensive dahlia collection. Le village-garden of Chédigny, charming year round, where men and roses fall in love (rose festival may 24-25th 2025). And so much more...

Then, the castles, Villandry (see above), but also Langeais, the castle and medieval town of Chinon, the castle of Rigny Ussé and its towers where the sleeping beauty still resides to this day, the royal castles of Amboise and Chenonceaux, the quaint castle of Azay-le-Rideau, and much more. Each has its own personnality,  we will be happy to share with you! With a special thught for the castle of Gizeux, where the visit has a soul, undeniably...

And then, the original, the quirky, the places we remember because there is no other exactly like them... The museum Maurice Dufresne, a collector that fell in love with objects that have a story, so touching and full of a variety of things inside and outside... The troglodytic village of Les Goupillères, the basket weaver village of Villaines-les-Rochers, and the museum of Poire Tapée (bashed pear) à Rivarennes that showcases this ancient technique for preserving pears. The petrifying grottos at Savonnières for those rainy days where you want to encounter some dinosaurs...

And, of course, the natural environment. The Loire Valley is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Loire is the last wild river of this size in Europe (right next door). The Regional Natural Park "Loire Anjou Touraine" proposes a variety of visits and activities for all ages, you can also hike or bike around (there are major trails nearby). The river Cher joins the Loire near the house, and the junction is magical in itself, specially in the evenings. You can also do some kayaking nearby, or book a tour in a traditional boat.