Around France

Hanging Out In The Loire Valley

Loire Valley Tour

Ten hours on the French highways, the Barefoot Blogger is on a Loire Valley tour.

Join me on an adventure into France’s heartland- a Loire Valley tour. Along with my “partner in crime,” Nancy McGee, from Absolutely Southern France” destination management company (travel advisor.) Our challenge is to visit as many chateaus and vineyards as possible in three days in the Loire Valley, plus two travel days.

Day One: Sete to Amboise, via Clermont Ferrand 

Starting from Sete, we drove non-stop to Clermont Ferrand, crossing the Millau Viaduct.

Loire Valley tour Millau Viaduct

The home of Michelin Tires, Clermont Ferrand, shows its rich heritage with impressive buildings and magnificent St. Pierre Cathedral.

Loire Valley tour Clermont Ferranc
Loire Valley tour Clermont Ferrand

 

Loire Valley Tour: Cityscapes

Wish we’d had more time to see the city, especially the Cathedral. Here are some picture-perfect scenes that are “oh, so French.”

Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour

Loire Valley tour Apparently, the town’s favorite boulangerie

Loire Valley tour
and here’s why …

Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
and especially this…

Loire Valley tour
One very special stop in Clermont Ferrand was the artisan Fromagerie Nivesse.  Nancy visited there recently with a tour group and raved about the cheeses’ selection and quality. She was so right! In fact, since tasting their 36-month-old cheeses, I’m hooked!

Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour
Loire Valley tour

Loire Valley tour Look at the aged goat cheese! Yes, the dark brown logs of cheese

Follow the tour!

3 Days in the Loire Valley: Amboise

3 Days in the Loire Valley: Wine Caves and Parties

3 Days in the Loire Valley: Château Clos Lucé and Leonardo Da Vinci

Loire Valley: Château Villandry and Living Large

 

 

Categories: Around France, Blog, Clermont Ferrand

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8 replies »

    • Thank you, Joan. It was a beautiful place to visit and photograph. A “must” visit in France — among so many other places! How to choose?!

  1. Oh, you were traveling from Sete to the Loire Valley. I wondered why Clermont-Ferrand (a typical industrial town in the Auvergne) was mentioned under the headline “Hanging out in the Loire Valley”.

    Wonderingly,

    David Terry

    • Yes, exactly, David. I was traveling with my friend, Nancy McGee of Absolutely Southern France Tours out of Sete and she had recently visited the cheese shop in Clermint-Ferrand. She thought it would be a good stopping place for us. It definitely was!

  2. Fantastic pictures as usual and it is only morning here and now I am so hungry after viewing your food shots!!!

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