It was an honour and privilege to gaze upon you. A mini-miracle in fact. Considering this is the only painting by Leonardo the Vatican owns (the Louvre has five) it’s a wonder it was let out of sight.

Hitler’s invasion of Europe gave him, Goering, Goebbels, Ribbentrop et al Carte Blanche to plunder priceless works of art.

On 25 August 1939 the Louvre in Paris closed its doors for three days to crate up its collection. It was so secret, the government was not told.

Until 1911, when the portrait of Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre in Paris, very few knew anything about it.

After more than five hundred years surely everything there is to be known about the most famous painting in the world is known? Isn’t it? No.

Its official name is the Grand Aquarium of Touraine but as it’s only ten minutes’ drive from Amboise it’s a wonder it doesn't lay claim to it.

We could not let World Cat Day, 8 August 2022, pass by without a post for Maisie.

A visit to an art exhibition at Château Fontenay near Bléré ended with a wine tasting. Zut Alors! One we agreed on!

The end of an era. It’s hard to pass 4 rue Verdun without a pang. M. Fougeron, the last cobbler in Amboise, after fifty years he has retired and gone fishing. Born in Amboise, he knows the Loire well.