La Bussière’s fishing collection receives renewed attention in a heritage programme concerned with its presentation and protection. Alongside that work, guided visits reveal less familiar parts of the château, including servants’ rooms, attics and the dovecote. The combination sets collected objects beside the working spaces of a country house, widening the view beyond its principal rooms.
Region: centre-val-de-loire
La Chopinière du Roy: Cellar Tour and Loire Wines
Old vintages rest in the rock-cut cellar of Domaine de la Chopinière du Roy, part of Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil’s wine landscape. A tour leads into this setting before a tasting compares older wines with the estate’s current cuvées. Cabernet franc from Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Bourgueil sits alongside Chenin Blanc, rosé and Crémant de Loire in the estate’s range.
Tigy: Beekeeping and a Bootmaker’s Craft
Bees and leatherwork share the programme at Tigy’s Musée de l’Artisanat Rural Ancien. Annick Thais explains beekeeping techniques and the life of bees, while shoemaker and bootmaker Johnny Piot demonstrates shoe assembly and leather sewing. His Compagnon du Devoir et du Tour de France background gives a precise craft context to the handwork shown during this rural heritage gathering.
Valençay: Behind the Doors of Talleyrand’s Palace
Doors usually closed to the public open onto less familiar parts of Talleyrand’s princely palace at Valençay. Unusual guided visits explore spaces already restored and others still awaiting restoration. Secret rooms and a garden extend the encounter beyond the regular visitor route, making the care and changing condition of this historic estate part of the experience.
Costumons-nous: Period Dress at Montrésor
Period dress changes the perspective on a visit to Montrésor’s château during Costumons-nous. Families and friends can try on costumes and pose for photographs before continuing through the castle. The activity evokes a medieval atmosphere, while voluntary contributions help maintain the existing wardrobe and support the making of new costumes.
Claire Linard: Porcelain in Mehun-sur-Yèvre
Fine, luminous porcelain meets rougher stoneware in Claire Linard’s exhibition in Mehun-sur-Yèvre. Descended from generations of potters, she carries inherited skills into functional and decorative pieces with markedly different textures and forms. Wood firing leaves room for unexpected transformations, giving the finished ceramics a tension between technical control and the action of flame.
Sancerre: The Church Fathers and Protestant Thought
Are the Church Fathers also the fathers of Protestant thought? Jean-Paul LESIMPLE takes up that question in a heritage talk in Sancerre, tracing the long historical and theological passage between early Christianity and Luther. The lecture challenges the habit of skipping those intervening centuries, opening a discussion within the town’s Protestant religious heritage.
Châtillon-sur-Loire: From Fossils to Local History
Fossils and ancient objects begin a journey through Châtillon-sur-Loire’s past, followed through the municipal history and prehistory collections. Philippe Jarret guides the visit, relating the exhibits to life in the town across successive periods. The heritage programme brings archaeological material and local stories together, with opportunities to ask questions about the objects and the people behind them.
Le Grand Couvert: Food and Crafts of Berry
Berry’s art of living takes a practical turn at Le Grand Couvert, where gastronomy meets arts and crafts. Hospitality professionals and students work together on a programme of workshops, talks and a feast. A concert adds music to the gathering, which connects the region’s food culture with the skills of those who cook, make and welcome guests.
Ciné Sand Conference in Sainte-Sévère: George Sand’s Legacy
Ciné Sand examines George Sand’s relationship with cinema at Sainte-Sévère-sur-Indre. Claire Le Guillou, author of George Sand Superstar, contributes to the discussion. The conference accompanies CinéSand, an exhibition considering adaptations of Sand’s novels, films about her life and the actresses who have portrayed her on screen.