GARDENS IN THE LOIRE

For garden-lovers - experts or otherwise - the Loire Valley Tourist Board has recently published a new brochure entitled "Destination jardins en région Centre". Historic, contemporary, medieval, vegetable, botanical - this brochure has selected 24 wonderful gardens for you to discover in the Loire Valley, Berry and Eure et Loir regions. There is a page for each garden, and features on special moments in the year and organised events, all of them bound to make you want to spend some time with friends or family in these gardens, unique, exceptional places to be discovered and rediscovered each season. The brochure can be downloaded at www.loirevalleytourism.com

NEW GARDEN AT CHATEAU VILLANDRY

Whilst on the subject of Loire gardens; to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the recreation of Villandry's formal gardens, this year the estate has officially opened a new garden. Created from original plans dating from the early 20th century drawn up by the very hand of Joachim Carvallo, the 'Sun Garden' will grace the highest terrace on the estate. Forming a star shape (the lines of which have been faithfully reproduced by the architect Louis Benech), it is evidently designed to have an oriental feel. In keeping with the Villandry tradition, it takes the form of a cloister of greenery made up of three parts: the children's chamber (containing play equipment for children), the chamber of collections (an ornamental pool, an eight-pronged star and perennial plants) and the chamber of triangles (grass avenues, rose bushes and shrubs). The garden was created entirely by the team of gardeners at Villandry.

NEW AIRE NEAR CHERBOURG

The village of Rauville-la-Bigot, 24kms south of Cherbourg on the D900, has recently opened a new aire with 8 spaces on tarmac, next to a grass area with picnic tables, having little shade but it has lighting at night. The aire is convenient for ferry travellers & is on the south side of this small village (pop.823) where there are a few shops & there is a small toilets with a mini-Euro Relais service point & a separate platform drain. See our Aire directory for full details.

EVENING  WALKS AT CHATEAU D'AMBOISE

Château d'Amboise in the Loire, residence of the royal court in the Renaissance, was also the birthplace of royal children: Charles VIII, François I and the children of Henri II and Catherine de Medici all lived here, protected from epidemics and political upheavals. At night, the terraces are specially lit up, and with audiovisual devices, they still echo to the cries and games of the young princes and princesses. The gardens are animated by the children's favourite dogs and horses. In the evening, the day's many activities finally give way to the dreams and meditations of the young princes on their destiny as future kings. An original artistic creation with screenings and audiovisuals combining voices, light, music and video. This special event costs 7€  per person and runs from 1/07 to 22/08.

…….AND DURING THE DAY!

The Château Royal d'Amboise has decided to reveal all its secrets! For the first time, the underground passageways and towers of the medieval fortress underneath the Renaissance royal residence will be opened to visitors. You can go through doorways and along galleries to reach the foot of the ramparts and enter the Tour Garçonnet, continuing to the "Salle des Lys", once the guards' dining hall. From there, a parapet walk takes visitors into the wide moat around the old keep and into the gemstone rooms. Here, an impressive maze of underground passageways leads to the Tour des Minimes. During the tour you come across various architectural features that prompt often amazing explanations and historical anecdotes from the guide. In the Tour des Minimes for example there is graffiti left by Wehrmacht soldiers who were imprisoned there, revealing how the castle served as a temporary prison.

BOURGES ATTRACTIONS

The city of Bourges is presenting various attractions from 1/07 to 30/09 when you can make the most of a few days to discover the town of Jacques Cœur, its medieval quarter, its UNESCO-listed cathedral - to list a few of its highlights. During the summer season, events follow on from each other. Each evening you can dance with free concerts and shows in the streets, or follow the blue lanterns in the "Nuits lumiere", a trail composed of remarkable illuminations revealing the architectural riches of the old town.

NEW AIRE IN CHARENTE

A new aire has been opened in Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde in the Charente department, on the east side of town, about 350m from the centre; it is in a large tarmac parking area within a short walk of the towns InterMarche supermarket. There is plenty of space here with a practical artisanal service point and drainage platform -- parking & services (including electric) are free.

Meanwhile in Louhans, Burgundy the new town council has decided to charge for overnight parking at their aire in the town - the charge for 24 hour parking is now 4€.

OISE AIRE

An aire in the Oise department of Picardy in northern France is quite a rarity, but fortunately Monsieur & Madame Lalande have recently opened a new aire in Serifontaine that offers 14 individual pitches with hook up. Set in a secure, quiet wooded location with hook ups, toilets/ shower (handicapped access) & barbeque it is only a short walk from the village centre & pitches can be reserved in advance at only 6€ / night (10€ in July & August). See the Aires Directory for full details.

COMMUNE DE L'ANNEE 2008

St Pourcain-sur-Sioule in the Allier department of the Auvergne has been named as the Aire of Year by the premier French motorhoming magazine "Camping-Car". The aire is on the banks of the River Sioule & next to the Municipal campsite in St Pourcain, where the thirty pitches are located on grass underneath willow trees. The aire is well maintained/ managed by the adjacent campsite managers & is in a quiet location with the town centre within ½ km, where there are a good range of services. Runners-up in this years poll were the aires at Bouchemaine in Pays de la Loire, Bernos-Beaulac in Aquitaine & St Brice en Cogles in Brittany.