Loire – a few fotos from end of March 2013

 A rowing boat on the Loire near Langeais

A small selection of photos from late March 2013 (a coldish grey day) on our way from Touraine to Angers for a tasting of Savennières, held on the following day at the Domaine du Closel. 

Lorry with logs heading over bridge@Langeais

... and a white van

A couple of small boats upstream from Langeais 

Steady flow on Loire – a river that must always be treated with respect

Near Langeais - towards La Chapelle-aux-Naux?

La Chapelle-sur-Loire 

Gratien & Meyer: from northside of Loire  

Château de Saumur

 

Northside of the Layon looking towards Saint-Lambert-du-Lattay

 Anjou- Layon 2013: some signs of movement but still tight at the end of March 

Château de Saumur: its different tones

On the last night (Sunday) of our #loirevelo trip we stayed in the excellent Hotel Anne d'Anjou in Saumur. The front façade of the hotel faces the Loire, while the back is overlooked by the château. I took a number of photos of the château from the time of our arrival around 7.30pm through to about 6.30am Monday morning. 

     

About 8.30pm from near L'Orangerie where we ate (above and below)

Around 11.30pm with a full moon 

 Details of the illuminated château

 Château from hotel around midnight

Monday morning light on the château (above and below)

Orange vines@Saumur: a curious way to celebrate biodiversity

Use of weedkiller@Château de Saumur

The Syndicat of Saumur-Champigny producers is proud to be championing biodiversity:

'Le vignoble de Saumur Champigny est la première Appellation Contrôlée à s’être engagée dans un programme de biodiversité sur l’ensemble de son territoire. Les viticulteurs se sont unis pour implanter un réseau de Zones écologiques Réservoirs, à travers les neuf communes de l’appellation. Les Zones Ecologiques Réservoirs ou ZER sont des espaces « non cultivés », sans apports de pesticides et de fertilisants (haies, abords enherbées, murets…).' See here.

Unfortunately they appear not to have told La Ville de Saumur, who I gather look after the vines right of the Château beside the parking where many thousands of visitors stop during a year. Here on strips close to the vines weedkiller has been used as the grass has that tell-tale agent orange colour. I hope the Syndicat will point out to La Ville that while they may think that using weedkiller makes the vines look neat and tidy, it is counter to the message of biodiversity that the local producers are trying to promote.

Château de Saumur

More photos from Tuesday's wandering visit across to Saumur.

The château, the town and La Loire

Hotel Anne d'Anjou and la Loire

Looking down at Le Pot de Lapin

Upstream towards Avoine and the nuclear power station