The Gazette "Plus de Touraine"

Conception : CDT Touraine sept. 2008 Photography : cdt touraine - mANOIR DE LA gIRAUDIère - STEVENS Frémont - david darrault - Château de Villandry A Majestic offerA Majestic offer! la g azette november / december 2008 Former fiefdom of King Charles VII in the 15th century, the royal city of Loches offers a beautiful architectural continuity from the year 1000 symbolised by its high keep (44 metres!) to the end of the Middles Ages that saw the construction of its royal residences. Following the footsteps of the kings of France, as well as those of Agnès Sorel and Joan of Arc, lovers of the great history of France will be well served! Encircled by ramparts on its promontory, it also looks out over a superb panorama of Southern Touraine. www. chateau-loches. fr. [D4] Until 6 January 2009, the Clos Lucé will present the exhibition “Leonardo and Mother Nature” the subject of which is to show us the close link that the Italian genius made between his scientific research and the observation of his daily environment. “Look, all is there” readily said his disciples: the flight of birds, the sun that determines the growth of plants, the rock carved by water. . . Through his painted works or drawings, the themes of geology, hydrology and botany are presented. www. vinci-closluce. com. [D2] It is another Villandry that we suggest you discover during these last weekends of the year. At a time when the gardens of the property are at rest, the château opens the doors to its interior. The property of the Carvallo family for a century, it gives off a feeling of serenity and a true atmosphere of sharing. www. chateauvillandry. com. [B3] 2008 is the year that the journeyman museum celebrates is 40 years of existence. From this vantage point of maturity, it remains faithful to its objective: to introduce you to the tradition of journeymen, and reveal its codes and customs. In the great hall, you can admire the impressive masterpieces made by journeymen from every sector: carpenters, cabinet makers, tanners, bakers, and blacksmiths. www. musee-ducompagnonnage. info. [C2] For the end of 2008, the Fine Arts Museum of Tours proposes that you discover the exhibition “La volupté du gout” (The Voluptuousness of Taste). Organised within the framework of the Franco-American exchange FRAME, and presented in Tours (before being presented in Portland), this exhibition assembles about 60 paintings by major artists who were famous in the 18th century such as Frangonard, Bocher, Chardin and van Loo. Through these works, the exhibition looks at the evolution of “good taste”, at that time largely defined by the French Court. In this way, it is also a glimpse of the personality of the Marquise de Pompadour, favourite of King Louis XV and a figure from the arts that should not be missed. [C2] Located halfway between Chenonoceaux and Loches, the château de Montpoupon immerses us in the world of hunting. In its museum “Musée du Veneur (Huntsman’s Museum)”, you can discover all the codes, traditions and accoutrements of hunting. Everyday objects from the equestrian world are also presented. www. chateauvillandry. com. [D3] The “poire tapées”, traditional dried pears, are mad about the end of the year holidays. Thisyearyou’vemadeupyourmind, youwantabitoforiginalityinthedishes thataccompanyyourfestivemaincourse. Forgetaboutfreshpasta,mashedpotatoes orchestnutsforChristmas…longlivethe “poirestapées”! Madeusingapreserving techniquethatgoesbacktothedaysofthe splendourofmaritimeandrivernavigation(thefruitwasslowlydehydrated,then flattenedwithamallet),theyarenowmakingaremarkablecomebacktoourchef’s tables. Rehydratedinwine,theybecome atrulysavoury,uniqueandlightcomplementtoyourredmeat(pearsinChinon wine),foiegrasandpoultry(pearsin Vouvraywine),aswellasdesserts(pearsin sparklingwine). www. poirestapees. com Loire Valley wines are broadminded! What if the Loire Valley wines were a “group of young people” determined to include us in their celebration of life? Of all the vineyard regions of France, the Loire Valley is without a doubt the one that today allows the greatest possibility for inspiration and fantasy; in short, for the expression of talent! Of the AOC wines of Chinon, Bourgueil, SaintNicolas-de-Bourgueil, Vouvray, Montlouis-sur-Loire, the range of possibilities is wide: red, white, dry, sweet and sparkling. As the end of the year feasts approach, we invite you to come and discover and try them out in our troglodytic wine cellars for tourists. www. vinsdeloire. fr Truffles and foie gras: do your shopping in Touraine! Touraine continues to offer us great surprises. As for savours, we invite you to discover two exceptional products, made in Touraine! First of all there is the black truffle, with its longstanding tradition of harvesting near Richelieu and the “Ferme de la Pataudière”. As a perfect complement, one can also find traditional foie gras producers in the region. From whole livers to elaborate preparations and fattened ducks, you will find products from local farms that have preserved their savour. Among the producers, we can suggest the Château de Vau (Ballan-Miré C2) or the farm of Mr and Mrs Boussion (Louestault C1, active members of the association “Saveurs de Touraine” Flavours of Touraine) A Majestic offer! Discover or rediscover the finery of Touraine from 7 Nov to 14 Dec 2008. From 7 November to 14 December, for a weekend, come and discover the charm of a stay filled with the art of living, gastronomy and discovery. The programme “Plus de Touraine, 1,000 chambres à moins de 50%” (More of Touraine, 1,000 rooms for 50% less), offers you the Loire Valley at preferential rates. With its wine cellars and their post grape harvest ambiance, its great châteaux and their regained serenity, and its hospitality, our Touraine is beautiful in every season! This gazette is an invitation to discover it as a dilettante and we also invite you to join us at www. plusdetourine. com after 16 October to make an advance reservation of your weekend where “Ici, vivre est art” (Here, life is an art)! Come and prepare Christmas in Touraine! Each reservation made on www. plusdetouraine. com will include a coupon* containing a special offer: one entrance free with one paid entrance at partner sites (see below). Leonardo and Mother Nature Loches, the Royal City Artisan journeymen Delightful marquise! On horseback for Montpoupon! PRACTICAL GUIDE Where to stay? More than 30 hotels of Touraine have joined together to offer you weekends at reduced prices. Take advantage of their offers after 16 October at: www. plusdetouraine. com hOW TO get there? By car: > from Paris: Autoroute A10 - 2h30 > from Nantes: Autoroute A85 - 2h20 > from Rouen: Autoroute A28 - 3h00 By train: Booking on www. voyages-sncf. com TGV Atlantique: Paris/Tours > 0h55 TGV Est: Strasbourg /Tours > 4h05 TGV: Lille/Tours > 2h52 & Lyon/Tours > 3h03 iNFORMATIONS Tourist Offices >of Tours****-Tel:0247703737-info@ligeris. com > of Lochois*** - Tel : 02 47 91 82 82 loches. en. touraine@wanadoo. fr >ofVald’Amboise***-Tel:0247570928 contact@amboise-valdeloire. com >ofPaysd’Azay-le-Rideau***-Tel:0247454440 tourisme@ot-paysazaylerideau. fr >ofLangeais-Castelvalérie***-Tel:0247965822 tourisme-langeais@wanadoo. fr > of Pays de Chinon*** - Tel : 02 47 93 17 85 tourisme@chinon. com weather www. tourism-touraine. com/meteo BROCHURES Downloaded on www. tourism-touraine. com or on demand to CDT Touraine Tel : 0033 (0)2 47 31 47 48 info@tourism-touraine. com *Coupons will be given to you directly by the hotel upon arrival. For additional information: info@tourism-touraine. com.