It's not all about the château in Montrésor. I have hardly mentioned the Renaissance-era church yet. And there are a lot of beautiful houses all around the village.
The old stone staircases are a feature you see all around Touraine. Hollyhocks (roses trémières, they're called) and rose bushes are numerous in little towns and villages like Montrésor — not to mention all the geraniums in window boxes. The flowers are splashes of color against the old stone buildings.
Seventeen years ago, Walt and I came to Touraine with an old friend from California who had never visited this part of France before. It was October, and we enjoyed nice sunny weather. On our first full day, we decided to leave the car parked in the driveway and jus walk all around the area where we were staying (Vouvray). Our friend was taking photos with a film camera.
The second day we drove down to Chenonceaux to see the château there, and then continued on to Montrichard. At mid-day, our friend said: "Why didn't you tell me yesterday that everywhere you go here is so picturesque? I've already used up almost all my film, so now I need to go buy some more!"
That first picture is a corker... it'd grace any calendar!!
ReplyDelete""Why didn't you tell me yesterday that everywhere you go here is so picturesque?".... yup, very much of the region is... and a lot more of La Belle France!!
Pic. No 1 's upper window is so attractive especially the curved corners. Are these places lived in? Would the inside be to 21st Centuary comforts? Impossible to say I know but I do wonder.
ReplyDeleteI think the deep colored flowers against that warm stone is such an attractive combination. I'm afraid if I ever visited a place like that I wouldn't be able to leave.
ReplyDeleteOh, those days long ago when we had to be so careful not to waste film. Now, we can snap away and sort out the bad shots, later. You and Walt are good photographers who frame and think about what you are shooting -- you both remember the good old days.
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying this :)
ReplyDeleteIt is funny to think of the film days. My goodness!
I wonder what those vibrant blue flowers are in the second photo?
ReplyDeleteAh...the days of rolls of film. Seems like ages ago.
To me, those blue flowers look like ccampanules, Campanula aka Bellflowers.
DeleteI think they are campanules. We have bellflowers around our house, and I see them all over the place here. They are perennials, so once you get them growing the flowers come back year after year.
DeleteI'm so glad we have digital cameras now. Your photos make me wish I were in France.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken and chm for identifying the flowers. ;-)
ReplyDelete