Hundreds of years ago, knights or merchands on their horses would travel from castles to castles along the same routes as us, under the shade of the same trees. On the way they would have stopped along the Loire for a lunch of fruits, bread and cheeses, just like us.
You can feel, smell and taste the passage of time here.The steps leading up gothic churches are worn out, the houses in medieval towns are caving in above narrow paved streets. The recipes served in restaurants come with legends attached. The landscape is rounded out, used by centuries of wars and rains, harsh winters and golden harvests.
The castles tell their own stories, from one make over to the next, going from a dark past of conflicts and protection, to a century of showing off and reception, from decay to a renaissance under the eyes of tourists from the north.

The rain finally chased us out of the kids heaven of Landudec all the way to the sweet sea side town of Lamor Plage, with its welcoming aire de service. On Sunday, we walked along the beach to the village, just in time for the market. Imagine choosing your picnic by the nose, going from stalls to stalls, laden with cheeses, breads, local ciders and saucissons, your stomac rumbling from the smell of chicken, ribs and leg of lamb roasting in front of you...Yes, another one for the memory box.
That afternoon, we drove North, to visit our friends met in Tahiti. They had just come back from their year around the world with their three boys, including most of Asia, Australia, the Islands of French Polynesia and a big part of South America. They live in a beautifull modern house near the mediaval city of Vannes in which we went for a long stroll in thegolden evening. As the boys disappeared in their plays, we swapped notes, dreams and ideas in long meals of local delicatessen. The day just flew by on Monday, between breakfast and diner, with the visit of a beautiful medieval castle overlooking the pretty town of Jocelyne. Thank you so very muchfor a fabulous stay...We were sad to leave them on Tuesday (we will meet again somewhere in the world) but other castles were waiting down the road.
The next night, we stayed right on the river Loire, in a little municipal camping overlooking talkative local fishermen, with a cute little villagea a short walk away...perfect to pick up a fresh baguette and some of the local gossip.
We drove past hills dressed in corduroy of vines and dresses of sunflowers, overlooked by benevolent fairytales castles, we picniqued on the Loire, following tracks marked by centuries of feet and ended up in the Camping de la Breche, which looked perfect on paper. It is also looking perfect on paper for a large amount of British citizens who came hunting for sun, wine and baguettes while their children are taken care of by the kids club. If we had wanted for Maxim and Callum to improve their english, it would have been ideal...Amazing site, lovely people, lovely kids, wrong language.The next day, after a more precise internet search we left for Loches, a perfect combinaison of small camping/medieval village/renaissance castle, and lovely french children for our boys to play with.
Tomorrow, we will sneak in one more castle on the way to Bourgogne, to visit another friend met in Tahiti and discover yet another beautiful part of France...One big question remains, will we find the best place to eat escargots (that means snail in French) and will the boys have a taste...
To be followed.