Festivities in the Loire

The 'Loire Valley' and the Centre Val de Loire region of France are popular Spring and Summer holiday destinations but they also provide pretty much an all year round set of attractions and activities.

Who wouldn't fall in love with France's Loire Valley if given the chance? There is so much sensory splendor to make your pulse happily quicken. Behold the gorgeous scenery, outstanding castles, charming towns, delectable cuisine plus a je ne sais quoi tranquility that is indeed, hard to put into words. In this lushly rural region a few hours drive south of Paris—where natural landscapes are deemed UNESCO World Heritage Sites—each season of the year unfolds a distinct travel experience. Autumn, around the corner, bestows grape harvests, picturesque foliage, festivals and concerts galore.

No matter what time of year you decide to visit you will find something here to allow you to experience some of the unique qualities of this welcoming part of France. Check out the area and what it has to offer month by month with tourist info on the net. Village markets are happening year round so come and enjoy and celebrate what the Loire has to offer.

There are numerous celebrations and festivals throughout the year that bring together the traditions, culture, history, cuisine and colours of the region for all to see.

January

January may be on average the month here with the most number of rainy days but it can also vary greatly in temperature with average highs of around 7°C throughout the month but sometimes exceeding 12°C. It can also however sometimes drop below 0°C. Snow can fall but it is rarely a problem for getting around - although if it is unusually heavy (perhaps one year in ten) the main roads are cleared very quickly. You will find that the major chateaux such as Chenonceau and Chambord remain open and until the end of the first week you can experience 'Christmas at Chenonceau'

February

February can be a chilly time with a lows of 5° to 8°C and yes there can be the occasional snow flurry - but they tend not to be heavy or last very long. There can also be some lovely sunny days - like the one above on Avenue Andre Theuriet in Le Grand Pressigny when it hit a pleasant 14° (17/02/14). Sunrise is normally around 8.00am and sunset around 6.00pm.

March

March can be chilly but bright with sunshine with an average high of 11°C.It can also be wet, grey & cold at times but rarely bad enough to keep you indoors. You should get to experience a drink at a pavement bar in the spring sunshine and the weather can be good for walking and sightseeing with the advantage of no crowds. Sunrise around 7.30am, sunset around 6.30pm.

The association "Running Walking in the South - Touraine" organizes its trail and its hike in semi-nocturnal on Saturday, March 7th, 2020 from 16h.

Relive the arrival of Joan of Arc in Chinon there is just ... 590 years! Departure from Cravant Les Coteaux 14h00 on horseback or on foot. Arrival at Chinon place Jeanne d'Arc for the delivery of the standard around 16h00 followed by the costume parade,led by Patrick Proust in the streets of Chinon with the arrival at the Fortress to 17:00. Glass of friendship at the Collegiate Church of Saint-Mexme.

On Saturday the 23rd of March fifty winemakers from Bourgueil will be decanting themselves to Tours for the day and setting out their stalls along Boulevard Heurteloup. After buying your tasting glass (€ 2) you are invited to taste their 2022 vintage from 10.00am until 7.00pm More information vinbourgueil.com.

The popular Fete des Plantes (Festival of Plants), organised by the Rotary Club of Blois Sologne, takes place over the weekend of 23rd/ 24th March within the grounds of Chateau de Cheverny. Novice and experienced gardeners are welcome and you will find plenty of advice about growing plants as well as a variety of stalls offering many varieties of plants, fruits, vegetables and shrub, As well as the plants on offer, there are other stalls selling and displaying gardening equipment including tools, clothing, crafts and furniture.

April

During April the days begin to get longer and the temperature rise steadily up to around 20°C. You can have misty starts to the morning clearing away quickly to give very pleasant days and nights. There will be the odd days of rain but rarely for long periods. It is a good time to visit as there are fewer tourists around! Sunrise around 7.30am, sunset around 6.30pm.

During the Easter weekend (20th 21st & 22nd April) many of the major chateaux of the Loire Valley offer egg treasure hunts for children, of all ages! Rivau with its magical setting may just get our vote as the place to be.

The 29th International Garden Festival on the theme of "Les jardins de la terre, retour à la terre mère" "The gardens of the earth, return to mother earth"

Fêtes de Jeanne d’Arc, Ile Charlemagne and sites within the city : commemoration of the liberation of Orleans by Joan of Arc, with festival and medieval market, concerts, sounds and lights, parties, fashion shows.

Blois : Nocturne show: a special sound effects and huge projection festival in the Blois Château Royal court. Simultaneous translation in 9 languages with audio-language device Every evening from the 6th of April to the 29th of September (except on the 21st of June and on the 13th of July). In April, May and September at 10:00 p.m. In June, July and August at 10:30 p.m.

May

May is a lovely time to visit the Loire Valley as you can be blessed with long periods of sunshine but it doesn't get uncomfortable hot. While the evenings can be a little chillier there is the opportunity to snuggle up by the wood burner. One thing to remember is that May is one of the big holiday months here in France and filled with bank holidays but if you plan carefully and consult with your hosts these should not prove a problem. Indeed the benefits are that because of the holidays you will find a lot happening with regards to fetes and festivals.

In spring, don’t miss the Sancerre Wine Fair: all the wines of Sancerre are brought together in one place for tastings. A unique occasion to discover the latest vintages and taste wines from different vineyards within the same official wine district. More than 400 wines are available to taste in the wine cellars of Caves de la Mignonne during the Sancerre Wine Fair. Take your time to enjoy the fine food and arts and crafts stalls. Revel in these two days, and taste and understand the mysterious alchemy of these wine districts.

On the 18th and 19th of May 2019, The Roses Association of Chédigny celebrate the 'Festival of Roses'.

On the Rosiers-sur-Loire, at Pentecost the strawberry festival celebrates everything strawberry.

Chateau de Rivau is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Renaissance, the castle Rivau offers a ball on the theme of the Renaissance ...

Vitiloire, Tours celebrates wines of the Loire Valley May 25th and 26th 2019 - place de la Gare - Boulevard Heurteloup - Garden Prefecture. On the occasion of Vitiloire , Tours, in the heart of one of the great wine regions, welcomes nearly 150 winemakers for the weekend. It's right in the city centre, on the Boulevard Heurteloup , Station Square and in the garden of the Prefecture, the public is invited to discover the diversity and richness of the Loire wines represented by 70 AOC. There is also a market and gourmet village dedicated to the gastronomy of Touraine where you can taste the famous goat’s cheese of Sainte-Maure, rillettes, Foie gras and even local beers. Whether you are experts or amateurs, come and relax, share, discuss, enjoy our wines.

Le Mans bike race is held every year in May, please check the internet for dates.

June

During the summer, the towns and vineyards of the Loire Valley pay tribute to their wines in a thousand different ways! Celebrations include Translayon, which immerses you in the Vallée du Layon, Festivini during which a dinner is held in the Abbey of Fontevraud, and Vitiloire which invites you to the centre of Tours to meet 150 winegrowers. While the Château of Chenonceau offers a tasting session beneath the stars, Vignes Vins Randos provides an opportunity to go on a hike in the middle of the vineyards! There are plenty of other events besides to be discovered here...

The 29th International Garden Festival on the theme of "Les jardins de la terre, retour à la terre mère" "The gardens of the earth, return to mother earth". Running until September.

In Saint-Martin-de-la-Place the Bike Festival is held every year on the 3rd Sunday of June.

Until the 29th September ‘Tours-sur-Loire’ returns to the banks of the river Loire. The main open air bar will be open every day from 11:30 to 00:30. Tours ‘Beach’ is open until August 31st, Tuesday from 16:30 to dusk and Wednesday to Sunday from 12h to dusk.

Le Mans 24 hour car race is held every year in June, please check the internet for dates.

July

Free 3 day vintage festival - concerts and exhibitions.

"The 2022 American Tours Festival promises you an exceptional event, from July 5 to 7 at the Parc des Expositions de Tours (37). This 100% U.S. cultural festival is unique in Europe."

The annual 'Festival des Barroudeurs' in Barrou on the banks of the Creuse. This year is free and includes firework display.

26th/27th July - In Loches, Two days of free live music throughout the town.

This summer's night markets in Loches are Thursday 25th July and Thursday 8th August. From 6.00pm until midnight.

Vendome guitar festival. The festival which takes place every year in Vendôme early July (1st to 6th July for 2019 ) presents a wide variety of styles ranging from Latino or gypsy style guitar to classical and rock music .

Lumières Célestes Marcoville - Église Saint-Julien, 20, rue Nationale, Tours. The glass artist Marcoville installs her latest creations in the Saint Julien Church. Her creations take you to a celestial world, populated with glass angels, fishes, trees, fruits and flowers. A wonderful glass representation with more than 800 angels and 30,000 fish.

13-16th July the Rose Festival in Doué la Fontaine - Let yourself be seduced by this unmissable event around the emblematic flower of Doué-la-Fontaine, the rose. Take part in four days of celebrating this beautiful flower.

In this exceptional troglodyte village, more than 100,000 roses are on display, an extravaganza of colour and fragrance. Fairytale lighting enhances the charming and unique setting. This exhibition has been held since 1959 in this rose-growers’ town, which has become a major international floral design competition.

Chateau de Cnenonceau - Night walks...castle and gardens, under the music of Arcangelo Corelli. At night, on certain summer weekends, the poetic Nocturnal Promenades allow you to discover the illuminated gardens to the music of Arcangelo Corelli, master of Italian classicism.

August

Until the 29th September ‘Tours-sur-Loire’ returns to the banks of the river Loire. The main open air bar will be open every day from 11:30 to 00:30. Tours ‘Beach’ is open until August 31st, Tuesday from 16:30 to dusk and Wednesday to Sunday from 12h to dusk.

Chateau de Villandry - Friday 2nd & Saturday 3rd august 2019 : Nights of a Thousand Lights (Nuits des Mille Feux).

Jousting tournament at Château du Rivau, on August 10th and 11th.

CHENONCEAU - Night walks...castle and gardens, under the music of Arcangelo Corelli. At night, on certain summer weekends, the poetic Nocturnal Promenades allow you to discover the illuminated gardens to the music of Arcangelo Corelli, master of Italian classicism.

September

Mid-September onwards: Wine harvest festivals are beginning all across France. Check the local tourist offices for celebrations where you are as the wine harvests are always one of the major events in September in France.

The first Sunday of September is the place to be if you want to find good deals at the braderie de Tours. The shopkeepers of the city center and more than 750 exhibitors welcome you all day long.

American Festival Chartres rassemble les thèmes forts de l'Amérique Autos, motos, danse Country et RockaBilly, le vintage.

Chaumont-sur-Loire garden festival. Every year this chateau hosts the ‘Festival des Jardins’ where the chateau surroundings are brought to life with the colour and fragrances of the many plants and flowers on display.

A not-to-be-missed event in Orleans, the Festival de Loire takes you away for five days of festivities and celebration of both the greatness of the river navy and the exceptional heritage of the Loire. Held every two years in September in the old port of Orleans, the Loire Festival brings together hundreds of thousands of visitors, more than 200 boats, 700 sailors and 500 artists to guarantee unforgettable festive moments!

An astonishing jewel of the Renaissance, Château Villandry (above) is famous for its sumptuous gardens, magnificent moat and gloriously groomed rooms. Owner Henri Carvallo is dedicated to Villandry's legacy. Cheer the area's artisans and craftspeople—cabinetmakers, decorative painters, interior decorators, stone masons—at European Heritage Days (September 21 and 22). And taste the estate's bounty at its community-reveling Vegetable Garden Days (September 28 and 29), replete with fanfare, food and crafts.

Heritage Days - Every September for one weekend, the chateaux, abbeys and gardens open their doors free of charge for visitors to discover the beautiful and fascinating heritage of our historical region.

October

An astonishing jewel of the Renaissance, Château Villandry (above) is famous for its sumptuous gardens, magnificent moat and gloriously groomed rooms. Owner Henri Carvallo is dedicated to Villandry's legacy. Cheer the area's artisans and craftspeople—cabinetmakers, decorative painters, interior decorators, stone masons—at European Heritage Days.

To celebrate autumn for the last 10 years, the Chateau of Chaumont-sur-Loire has opened the doors of its garden for a dedicated event called ‘The Splendours of Autumn’. Nature lovers shouldn’t miss out on this beautiful occasion at the heart of the Loire Valley.

At the end of October, you will be able to admire a large collection of floral creations based on Chrysanthemums all around the Château du Rivau. Thanks to the presence of quality nurserymen, you will certainly be tempted to bring back flowers in pots that will decorate terraces and balconies until Christmas, or bulbs or a beautiful perennial plant for spring.

Lion d’Angers National Stud Event at Isle Briand

Almost 40,000 spectators are expected to attend this four-day international horse show, which is one of the most prestigious equestrian events of its kind. With three main sections, dressage, cross-country, and show-jumping, this competition organised by the National Stud at Lion d’Angers is not to be missed.

November

Imagining that November here is a flattish month would be misguided. The chill of winter may be approaching, but that doesn’t stop France from buzzing with activities. It begins with perhaps the most significant celebration of them all.

La Toussaint is the Christian festival, All Saints Day. It takes place on the first of the month. The tradition dates back to the fourth century, when the Syrian Church dedicated a day to celebrate martyred saints. Over the centuries, the meaning has evolved. Today, families throughout France gather to honour the memories of past kith and kin.

November events in France in 2022 cover a whole range of activities. They start with chocolate, include photographic exhibitions, a great antiques fair, food and wine and then there’s Halloween. But of all the events in France in November, the most poignant and faithfully observed is Armistice Day. It commemorates the peace treaty that ended World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

To Nov 1, 2022: Down in the southern Vaucluse you’ll find Antiques Art and You or the famous L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Antiques Fair. From 1920 this antiques orientated town is transformed into one big antique seekers’ delight. After antiques and bric-a-brac, furniture, old books, contemporary art, design and decoration? 200 exhibitors from France and Europe plus the town’s 250 shops set out their wares in Gautier Park, on the quays of the Sorgue, in antiquarian villages and in the streets.

Finishing on Nov 6, 2022: This is a must for garden lovers. The International Garden Festival at the beautiful Chaumont-sur-Loire château in the Loire Valley is like the Chelsea Flower Show of France, and better still it has gone on for just over 7 months.

December

Christmas magic in the land of châteaux:

Which French castle to visit in winter? Answer: Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, Chinon, Langeais, Loches, Villandry! From Saturday, December 3, 2022 to Monday, January 2, 2023, seven of the Loire Valley’s greatest castles will be celebrating the spirit of the holiday season with exceptional tours and activities: it’s “Christmas in the land of châteaux” in Touraine. Christmas in the land of châteaux is built as an itinerary linking seven of the most famous Loire Valley castles around the great themes emblematic of Christmas.

Visiting each of the Loires chateaus in December will be a christmas highlight as each one is presenting a different christmas theme but all have the same objective: to put stars in the eyes of children and adults alike!

Château de Valençay will open its doors and host the International Festival of Culinary Photography chaired by Jean-Pierre Stéphan, eminent gastronome and former diplomat, today serving the art of food photography.

For the listings of events in villages, towns and cities near you, please visit the regional tourist websites for a comprehensive guide.

 

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