The guinguette spirit
But what does it mean?
You’re sure to have seen those Impressionist paintings like those of Renoir, presenting joyful dancers frolicking in the tranquillity of the river’s edge? That is the guinguette spirit. Around the table of these open-air cafés, you’ll savour simple products from the local land. Enjoy a delicious slice of farmhouse bread spread with a Loire game or fish terrine. A beautiful plate of smoked fish passes from hand to hand – sometimes zander, sometimes pike, sometimes even silurus, that terrifying catfish from the dark, muddy depths of the Loire. Thick slices of dried sausages accompany a fresh beer from a local micro-brewery, or a glass of Touraine-Amboise, with notes of ripe red berries. The atmosphere is relaxed and calm, just like the wild landscapes shaped by the Loire that stretch out from the guinguette.
Because that, too, is the guinguette spirit. This is a place of life, relaxation and pleasure, sat by the river, in perfect harmony with its landscapes and in deep respect for its biodiversity. A few tables and charges, sometimes mismatched, a few garlands hanging from the branches and a space to dance those summer nights away. The guinguette is the place to come together with family or friends, savouring a few simple specialities around a glass while putting the world to rights, or debriefing an intense day of sightseeing in Val de Loire. Sometimes, we might take out a deck of cards to keep the evening going, or opt for a more southern French passion: pétanque.
The guinguette spirit is, above all, an art of living, a different way of being and consuming. It’s slowing down after work or a castle tour. It’s meeting the locals or those from far away and sharing a table with them. It’s enjoying life, quite simply.
In Val d’Amboise, you can discover the guinguette spirit at several great spots, each offering a different experience.
Guinguette Chez Oscar and Suzette, Place du Marché, Amboise
From spring onwards, Oscar and Suzette’s guinguette can be found on Amboise’s Place du Marché. Perched at the top of the ‘Loire à Velo’ cycle route, it offers an extraordinary panoramic view over the Loire and the Amboise Château Royal. At lunch and in the evening, it offers local specialities and traditional French dishes in a summery atmosphere. In the evenings, you can often enjoy the fantastic spectacle of the hot-air balloons flying over head in absolute silence. Later in the night, music awakens the dancers and many local bands come to liven up Amboise nights under the stars.
Guinguette Sauvage, Les Caves, Chargé
The Guinguette Sauvage is a truly wild place. Level with the Loire, it exists in perfect harmony with the landscapes of Europe’s last wild river. Located just 5 km from Amboise, this is an exceptional spot promising total disconnection. A few tables and chairs are laid out on the river banks, with wonderfully mismatched decoration. Children can run off their energy on the grass, or with a few games dotted here and there. Meanwhile, parents, after ordering in a little cave cellar, can sip on a good glass of Crémand de Loire or a fruit juice from a neighbouring orchard. Here, the dishes place the Touraine terroir centre stage. In the evenings, live music fills the air, under the beautiful fairy-lights.
Oppidum, Rue du Rocher des Violettes, Amboise
The Oppidum restaurant terrace, located on the heights of the D751 just out of Amboise, offers a unique but truly delicious experience. The restaurant is attached to Les Caves Ambacia, an iconic Amboise cave cellar specialising in old vintages of the best Val de Loire wines. It goes without saying that lovers of fine nectars will find something to delight here. On the table, you’ll find generous platters loaded with the best raw produce from the local lands. Terrines, charcuterie, fish and cheese delight even the most exacting foodies. Here, you’ll discover Tours rillettes, duck pâté, Saint-Maure-de-Touraine and Crottin de Chavignol, among other specialities. In short, the perfect menu to regain your strength after a morning on the cycle paths along the Loire or climbing the corridors of the finest castles.
