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The largest of the Loire château and considered one of the most extraordinary structures in Europe, Chambord sits in the middle of a 13,000-acre royal game forest. Begun by François I in 1519, it took 12 years to build and required 1,800 workers. There are 440 rooms and 365 chimneys on the roof, and a wall 32 km (20 mi) long encloses the forest (you can wander through 3,000 acres of it; the rest is reserved for wild boar and other game). The vast rooms are filled with a variety of exhibits (including a hunting museum) - not all concerned with Chambord, but interesting nonetheless.
The entrance fee was 7 EUR.
More info and pics are found in my Chambord page. Leave a Comment
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A trip to Amboise allows you to see an older chateau that was converted from a fortified defense to a royal residence. Not far off on the edge of town is a mansion (hotel), "Le Clos-Luce", where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last four years of his life as the honored guest of Francois I. It is believed that a tomb in the chapel of the Chateau contains the body of da Vinci (routinely visited). Amboise (pop. 11.4K) lies on the south bank of the Loire and has an important bridge crossing. Leave a Comment
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Amboise is a small city with a great reputation and a great historical past. The castle, old city and Chateau du Clos-Lucé are the principal points of interest.
You can find more pics and info in my Amboise page Leave a Comment
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Azay-le-Rideau is not overly large and is beautifully situated rising from the Indre River and surrounded by an English Garden (a later improvement). It is the site ofa Sound and Light Show in season, so plan accordingly. Azay is 32 km from Tours and there are 4 major chateaux nearby west of that city to choose from to fill out a day (plus evening): Chinon, Usse, Villandry and Langeais (just across the Loire). Of course a car is mandatory. Leave a Comment
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Blois is one of the small cities in the Loire Valley with a nice old part (Quartier Vieux Blois), a beautiful cathedral and an interesting castle with a remarkable history. And if that is not enough, do some shopping or enjoy one of the local pubs.
This place is also a good starting point to explore the eastern Loire Valley with castles like Chambord, Cheverny, Beaugard.
Discover more in my Blois page Leave a Comment
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Chambord, the largest castle in Loire Valley was built by Francois I as a hunting lodge. Often called “the madness of a king” it perfectly express one single idea, that of Francois Ier`s supreme power. He spent only 42 nights there during his 32-years reign.
This extraordinary castle combine the most recent Italian ideas with the most traditional French architectural forms.
The chateau has 85 staircases, 440 rooms and a chimney for every day of the year. It was designed by the Italian architect Domenico de Cortona in 1519. The major attraction is the Great Staircase, which consists of two separate spirals that entwine but never touch as they lead up to the roof. The legend said that so the wife and the mistress never meets. There are no evidence but some say that was Leonardo da Vinci ideas and plans.
Around the castle, a wall built between 1542- 1645 enclose the largest parc in Europe that serve as a National hunting forest .You can rent a bike or a horse to explore it and meet the wild animals that live there. Leave a Comment
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Chateau de Villandry is famous for its beautiful gardens.
See more pics and info in my Villandry page Leave a Comment Phone: 02 47 50 02 09Directions: 15 kms west of ToursWebsite: www.chateauvillandry.com Other Contact: villandry@wanadoo.fr
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Due to its central location, Tours is ideal as starting point for your vacation in the Loire Valley. It's a bustling urban centre, with a great many restaurants, bars and cafés, and, thanks to the student population, a lively nightlife. It has a prettified and fairly animated old quarter, some good museums – of wine, crafts, stained glass and an above-average Beaux-Arts museum – and a great many fine buildings, not least of which is St Gatien's cathedral.
More to see and read in my Tours page Leave a Comment
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If you stay overnight in Chartres (pop 40K) you can easily enjoy a good dinner or if your taste is limited, a fine pizza at the Roma Nostra. The second dividend is the night-life, looking at the Catheral as dusk fulls and the illumination comes on. Then there is walking the town , down and up to the Eure and the two other old churches:St. Pierre and St. Andre and some more (but different) glass. It allows you to have time to visit the Crypt and more in the cathedral, plus the most remarkable off the beaten pathvisit to Meslay-le-Grenet to see the Danse Macabre. Leave a Comment
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on October 27, 2002
on June 27, 2005
on February 15, 2009
on May 8, 2005
