As the legendary Jeanne Moreau once sang in Jules et Jim (1962) movie:
"On s'est connus, on s'est reconnus / On s'est perdus de vue, on s'est reperdus de vue / On s'est retrouvés..."
(We knew each other, we recognised each other / We lost sight of each other, we lost sight again / We found each other again...)
Life has a habit of carrying us along at a surprising pace. One minute you're building momentum for a newsletter, the next you're wondering how an entire year has slipped by.
The good news is that some things are always worth returning to.
As Jeanne Moreau sang in the movie, life may send us spinning in all directions, but the joy is in finding each other again. We're delighted to be back, sharing stories from Saumur and bringing a little taste of Loire Valley life to your inbox once more.
And there is plenty to catch up on. Since we last wrote, Saumur has continued to flourish, with new discoveries, familiar favourites, and exciting developments across the town. We'll share some of the highlights from the past year, what's happening over the summer months, and a sneak peak of our own plans and adventures at La Maison Trumeau.
There's a lot to uncork, so pour yourself something nice and let's get started.
The bears are comfy and ready to hear all the news
The Past
Highlights from the last year in Saumur, and in no particular order:
Jackie Goulet was re-elected as mayor of Saumur in March 2026, although it was touch and go between rounds of voting with strong competition. This victory secured him a third term, making him the first mayor of Saumur in 25 years to serve three consecutive mandates. Amongst other things, he is responsible for boosting and modernising the social calendar in Saumur.
The shopping street at Rue Saint-Jean and around, Rue du Puits Neuf and Rue de la Tonnelle have been revamped (very much long awaited by locals and shop owners), with new paving and a restored fountain (although at the reopening the fountain didn’t work during Jackie’s speech, whoops). A much improved restoration of the pedestrian friendly zone.
The Casino JOA de Saumur opened its doors on 26 March 2026, becoming the first casino in the Maine-et-Loire department. Unsurprisingly, its arrival has sparked plenty of conversation, with opinions divided over what it might mean for the town. Whether it proves to be a winning addition to Saumur remains to be seen but it's certainly a topic we'll happily debate with you over a glass of good wine.
In foodie/drink news:
London Fizz opened at the Hotel Les Londres, billed as a go-to spot for cocktails, darts, and weekend brunch. We have yet to try but will do very soon, it looks fab.
Maison Zue opened in June 2025: A vibrant international brasserie and brasserie-style restaurant opened in June 2025 by Chef Marlon Medina on Place de la Billange. It replaced the former "le 7" and features a modern menu with plates designed for sharing.
L'Auberge des Isles in Montreuil-Bellay suffered a devastating fire in August 2024 and officially reopened in July 2025. The food and service is as good as ever and we really liked the wine list. So many good local producers to choose from and the setting is so idyllic.
L’Auberge on Place Saint Pierre closed down earlier this year. To be honest, it was no loss to anyone we knew as the food and service was terrible and while many wished the owners well in their next endeavours, many were scathing of the restaurant on social media. It is now a Bouillon restaurant and seems to be off to a good start with a varied menu, lots of choices and a larger seating arrangement on the square.
3 restaurants which have changed hands and enhanced their menus, Le Pot de Lapin is now Gargamelle, the Creperie Place Saint Pierre, has a new owner, still a creperie menu and a good lunch spot. And finally Le Terrier du Chateau has new owners and new name, Bonheur. Now with sharing platters and tapas style menu, its great if you want a plate of picky bits with a good bottle of local wine and of course, with a great view of the chateau.
The new JOA Casino in the restored Cinema building
And on a personal note:
Away from Saumur, 2024 and 2025 became major renovation years for our home in Kent. After a three-year tussle with planning requirements and more than a few moments of wondering if we'd ever reach the finish line, we're delighted with how it all turned out. The renovation has given the cottage a new lease of life, blending modern living with its historic Grade listed charm. In many ways, it's a love letter to France, from the château-inspired kitchen to the dedicated wine room, the small reminders of the life that ultimately led us to make Saumur our home.
The renovations are now complete, the house is restored for another century ahead of it, and perhaps most importantly, we're still happily married. We call that a successful project!
Finishing the renovation gave us a chance to pause and ask ourselves, How do we want to live? No more major renovations and more time to do the things that fills our cup. Over the past few years, Saumur has become far more than somewhere we visit. We've found a wonderful community, built lasting friendships, and realised this is where home now feels. So, when the opportunity arose earlier this year, we decided it was time to stop living between two places and make Saumur our permanent home.
It's a decision that feels both exciting and deeply right for us. We'll be sharing more of the journey for us in the months ahead, whether its the practicalities of relocating or the unexpected challenge of transforming La Maison Trumeau for living. We originally renovated this house for holiday guests, but living somewhere every day is quite different to a house in vacation time. Now begins the next chapter: shaping it into a home that reflects how we want to live.
Here are a few pictures of the ‘French inspired’ touches in the house in Kent:
Our builder recreated this for us from a photo of a chateau kitchen
Antique flooring inspired by the Versailles flooring at Chateau Villandry
Willo’s wine room
We continue to grow our love for this part of the Loire Valley and beyond in France. Any opportunity we can get to explore, we will be there.
When we travel further afield, we love to include a brocante or 2 and some new to us were in Tours, Bordeaux and Paris, each with its own character, charm and irresistible treasures. The addiction… ahem… let's call it a "collection" continues to grow. If you've been following us on Instagram, you'll already have had a peek at some of the markets and the vintage gems that somehow managed to find their way home with us.
We visited the ‘wine shop’ in Bourgueil, La Maison des Vins de Bourgueil, for the first time. It’s located at 18 Place de l'Église in Bourgueil. A fab wine shop, with a tasting room, small seating area and hosts quite a collection of wine from the region, a showcase run directly by the local winemakers' syndicate. A great place to try out a variety of local wines in one place and excellent explanations of the unique characters you can expect in these wines.
Willo has been digging deeper into his love of wine, quite literally. Over the past couple of years, he's been lending a hand at Domaine Moly, helping with the grape harvest each September and, more recently, taking to the vineyards to plough the vines. For someone who spends most of his working life behind a desk, it's a welcome change of pace. It's hard work, but the kind that's good for the soul, and it has given him an even greater appreciation for the care, skill and patience that go into the wine we enjoy at the table. We are big fans of Domaine Moly’s wine and the owners Etienne and Aureila. You can find out more about them here: Willo’s Instagram post talking about Domaine Moly
Quinconces Brocante in Bordeaux
Maison des Vins de Bourgeuil
Ploughing at Domaine Moly
Summer events in Saumur
One of the things we love most about Saumur is its wonderful sense of community and the social calendar. The summer takes it to another level, with markets, festivals, concerts, wine events and celebrations bringing people together almost every week.
The recent Anjou Vélo Vintage was another huge success. Even the soaring temperatures of the heatwave couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the cyclists and participants sporting their finest vintage attire.
With summer now in full swing, here are a few of the events we're most looking forward to over the coming weeks.
La Nuit de la Bulle – 13 July
If we had to choose just one summer event, this would probably be it. Held in the grounds of the Château de Saumur, La Nuit de la Bulle celebrates the region's sparkling wines with tastings from local producers, delicious street food, live music and a magical atmosphere as darkness falls. And with a dress code to wear white, it’s a fun evening we don’t want to miss. Find out more and book tickets: Festivini – La Nuit de la Bulle.
Chefs on the Rooftop - 27th July
A star in the calendar: five of Saumur's talented chefs, a handful of local vignerons, and one of the best views in the Loire Valley. Hosted on the rooftop terrace of Le Dôme, this is an evening of exceptional food, perfectly paired wines and a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. It sells out for good reason and is one we highly recommend if you're lucky enough to be in town and early enough to grab yourself a ticket.
Festivini – 7 Soirées, 7 AOCs - various dates
Give us any excuse to spend an evening on the rooftop of Le Dôme, overlooking the rooftops of Saumur and the Loire Valley. Throughout the summer, each tasting celebrates a different local appellation, from Saumur-Champigny and Crémant de Loire to elegant Chenin Blanc and rosé. It's a brilliant opportunity to meet the winemakers themselves, discover new favourites and deepen your appreciation of the region's incredible wines. Explore the programme: Festivini Summer Events.
Loire Boat Festival - coming in September
Taking place later in the summer, the Loire Boat Festival is a wonderful celebration of the river that has shaped this region for centuries and is the last wild river in France. Traditional Loire boats line the quays, craftspeople demonstrate their skills, music fills the riverside, and the whole town seems to gather to celebrate life on the Loire. It's a wonderfully authentic weekend and a lovely way to experience Saumur's maritime heritage. Find out more: Saumur Loire Festival.
La Nuit de la Bulle
Chefs on the Rooftop
Festivini wine tasting events
If you have particular dates you are in town, you can use the link below to access the whole social calendar for Saumur. There are so many wonderful events, to suit all interests and ages.
We'll take a petit pause here before this edition turns into a novel!
There's so much more to share. In the coming months, we'll be taking you behind the scenes of our move to Saumur, the realities of transitioning from living between two countries to calling France home, and the unexpected joys (and inevitable challenges) of turning a house once designed for holiday guests into a home for everyday life with 2 bears.
We'll also be sharing more about what's next for La Maison Trumeau. As we look towards 2027, we're beginning a new chapter; one that reflects the life we're building here and creating new ways for people to experience this special corner of the Loire Valley, through retreats, hosted events and experiences. If you've ever wondered what it might be like to spend more time in Saumur, whether for a few days, a week or simply to immerse yourself in French life, we think you'll enjoy what's to come.
Until next time, enjoy the month ahead, raise a glass of something local, and if you find yourself in Saumur, do say hello or simply follow our stories on Instagram. We'd love to see you there.
À bientôt,
Mandy & Willo (and the bears, of course ;))
Scan the QR code for our IG page
