We’ve all heard of the Loire Valley with its famous Chateaux and fabulous vineyards but the Vallée du Loir, its neighbour, is not quite so well known. Literally translated it means the Valley of the Dormouse. Venture off the beaten track to discover an area of France that is a haven of tranquillity, an authentic and historic place that surprises and dazzles at every turn…
Chestnut and oak trees, forests, chateaux and grand houses, the river Loir, medieval towns, boulangeries and brasseries... welcome to the Vallée du Loir…
Start off at La Flèche
Situated half way between Angers and Le Mans in the Sarthe department, La Flèche is a colourful and buzzing little town, hung with bunting in the summer months which gives it a festive air. La Flèche means arrow (hence fletcher, in English, an arrow maker) though no one knows why the town is called that.
If you happen to be there on a Sunday morning, don’t miss the market. It’s small but perfectly formed, there’s everything you need here to make a fresh and utterly delectable Sunday lunch. Oysters from Mont St Michel, locally produced chicken and sensational fresh vegetables. I hear a
lady tell one of the vegetable sellers that
the ceps were regale, my French friend Veronique says it means delicious....
In the town there are at least half a dozen beautiful boulangeries doing a roaring trade. Pop into Guillemards run by a famous chef, an artist of a baker who makes enticing chocolate delicacies and amazing cakes...
As I sit and sip hot chocolate and nibble at a cake, a queue of customers line up into the street, a woman comes in with two children. They take ten minutes to choose as the little boy who is about 4 years old can’t make up his mind, nobody seems bothered at the wait.