Hotel Tours Giraudeau

Chambord: just a “hunting lodge”!?

by tiabunna

When King Francois the 1st wanted to develop a ‘hunting lodge’, he was not interested in doing things by halves. So he had erected the simple little weekender you see here. It is believed that Leonardo Da Vinci was involved in the design of the very impressive double helix spiral staircase in photo 2. Actually, the whole place is rather impressive, with a great many fancy points of detail – especially on the roofs (photo 3). Being an excessively modest fellow, Francois also made sure that everything was heavily encrusted with his initial ‘F’ and salamanders, his personal emblem (see photo 4). Despite all that, in total Francois spent only seven weeks in this Chateau!

We visited during February of 1997, still deep in winter, when the monumental pile probably was not looking its best. Certainly it was distinctly chilly, showing that the (reported, I didn’t count them) 365 fireplaces would have been necessary for any degree of comfort. It also is worth noting that, for the most part, the 440 room building is empty of furnishings.

Enjoy Place Plumereau

by tiabunna

Place Plumerau is the main square of the ‘old town’. With tourism the main business in the district these days, it is hardly surprising that it is well served with a choice of eating and drinking opportunities. I didn’t stop here, but I rather fancy that sitting in this square with a group of friends on a sunny day, with its mediaeval buildings surrounding, would have to be very pleasant. Even wandering through was enjoyable.

If you wander westwards along rue de Commerce from the Cathedral, it is not a long walk to find yourself here. Alternatively, head up rue Nationale (the main street) from place Jean Jaurès, then left via rue du Maréchal Foch or rue de Commerce - either way, the streets in this area become fairly tangled, so it is nice just to wander and find your destination almost by luck!

Chateau De Tours

by Sharrie

Tours is the regional capital of chateaux & wineries. Well, since I planned to visit the other chateaux (& there are at least 7 of them) I skipped this one instead. This is just a photo shoot of the exterior. For remembrance.

School trip

by deeper_blue

"Loire Valley"

I was on a school trip here in '92 ,I wasn't allowed to enjoy it, since I was given all these nasty French tasks to do, force-fed warm cereal every morning plus it was really miserable weather, still it beat school.