Contrary to the rather grey weather forecast, today was one of those brilliantly clear, sunny winter days. We headed off to Saumur via Mantelan, Sainte-Maure-de-Touraine and to Nohant-en-Touraine, where we turned off the direct route via Ile Bouchard to Saumur and made our way through Saint-Epain and down the very pretty manse Valley to Crissay-sur-Manse. – one of the 'Plus Beaux Villages de France'. France has 151 villages in this category.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxffMXrD7tZwM-h5a_6YEXR4N3sy90NTgLxC3YjasnWHXTPulC951cqcdkJdpoBmEABW7Pyj-3sxBzQEAlSIVTyRYYLYcJWwEAorUYf7aOXViz2ethWT8X6phH1Qi2SLuPMOtCRdBECbc/s400/CrissayChurchas.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vGPbc4tsqgtC5MTdYJXgUmhgukVCBm4WhM-R_zGnIUA2qdpL4pjA7kgIgE5Vid7mTcXhBst096owduh8TdD9A4E05r2U8PyqCGnPItVM4eGyjsQLqBmZl6YrjC-yAXnj5mM0-NXlQkFe/s400/CrissayChs.jpg)
Then on through Panzoult, Cravant-les-Coteaux to Chinon, where I took some pictures of the old town and the château above along with the reflections in the Vienne. All the photos have almost improbably deep blue sky.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z177eEOroGbiVNc5uUjI13WyTPo7MNsvAvvSVeYTkPuxSV9mBf9fbrrIh8_46sTixZkOrTBTEwIz1QMojAx4fbK2Q1-l7uJggEojF79s5Jnz0eWIbxRzEVXggx3lotpqFw08Qgp0dq9-/s400/Chinonhorizs.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaac6mBgX9zMFqH3QRVxZU7O3eQJl7sIVDiB-fka7V3QDhhhzJMRtE2AR5bJqlTjdp2xWCLwkG4QtVaBM-9DSKTW-xBk5no2NVxBWj1cZvzbqDu4dF415O3UznT_VObrocopwR_CR1H_D/s400/ChinonVerts.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyhTaNBq-AEMMW_lgAOKJRGmax2NleFEaS1XcAKCwCuzYtMBua4wVU7UpLawSZXABIeRAjKV9F3Hr65VcVbw_eSTy0XogC5XR9EXG-_sP1PMgMvWLAP6o9FICDpohZ-yTc4MuCqI47W7Q/s400/Chinons.jpg)
now been removed from the central part of the château
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6PSrVGHKfVuF5RGCqJ5Ogjd7Uy8WUaZ3LfT53CeZTTwVpv5cfOKF1RwXIkSUZvWveYjOjlZHj-MvVtfrt_SnzqBJZC_lzDtRyXtjxymhQRaiMU9FTXLRMqGkej9iQTPA692yAF6DQrczP/s400/Chinonouestbs.jpg)
Then onto Saumur where we arrived at Le Pot de Lapin around 1pm just perfect timing for lunch. (See tomorrow’s posting)