13th October Chateau Country
Today we headed to the Loire Valley to visit some of the Chateau's in the area. A Korean girl travelling alone has decided to become my travelling companion, and doesn't stray far from my side! Our first stop was Langeais Chateaux which is one of the best examples of late medieval architecture. Anne of Brittany married Charles VIII here, a political alliance to unite France with Brittany.
Next we stopped at Amboise for lunch...but who stops for lunch when there is a chateau to see? So I skipped lunch and went up to see the Chateau d'Amboise. This chateau has fabulous views of the Loire valley, buildings from the 15th and 16th century, two impressive cavalry towers and gardens planted with Mediterranean plant species, including a Lebanese cedar. This chateau was the first where Italian tastes were introduced into the Loire Valley. This is also where Leonardo da Vinci died on 2 May 1519 and is buried in the St Hubert Chapel. And of course as I got out to explore the gardens...it began to rain! I quickly grabbed and apple pastry for lunch ;) and headed back to the bus. Here I had to change buses as my original bus was going on for another day. Yesterday we had discovered this 'change bus' phenomena when those doing a two day tour got off our bus and onto another bus bound for Paris that night, then those on the three day tour (me) changed buses today onto the bus bound for Paris tonight, and my original bus continued on for another day. I wouldn't have minded but it was bucketing down rain so I was a little wet getting across to the other bus. So I farewelled my new friends and the lovely tour guide Paschal and joined the new tour bus.
Then off we went to visit Chateau de Chenonceau. Did I mention it was raining? It was about a 10 minute walk up to the chateau from where the bus drops you off. Yes Mum, the 'Rainbird' is getting a VERY good workout. I bought a travel umbrella before I left...don't bother, I should have learnt my lesson from Bali! It was useless and broke...so I'll be buying a real umbrella when I get to London! We were drowned rats by the time we reached the chateau!!! The Chateau of Chenonceau is also known as 'The Ladies Chateau' due to six particular women who lived here.
Diane de Poitiers - renowned for her beauty, intelligence and sense of business, was King Henri II's 'favourite lady' and was given the chateau by him in 1547.
Catherine de' Medici - was Henri II's widow who removed Diane and governed France from the Green Study in the chateau and established the authority of the young king.
Louise of Lorraine - was the wife of Henri III and after he died, went into mourning in white (as required by court protocol) but her bedroom was all black.
Louise Dupin - who managed to save the chateau during the revolution.
Marguerite Pelouze - who was a descendant from the industrial bourgeoisie and spent a fortune on restoring the estate for it to resemble the way it was during the time of Diane de Poitiers.
Simone Menier - was the matron in charge of the hospital installed in the chateau's two galleries. Over 2000 wounded were looked after here, up to 1918.
Inside the chateau there are many of the original pieces, particularly the beds, of the people who once lived at different times in the chateau. There are also many tapestries hanging on the walls including 16th century Flanders tapestries. This chateau has beautiful gardens outside and is surrounded by a moat...it is very 'Disney Princess' like!
Our last Chateau...thank God...was Chateau Cheverny. By this point I was over being drenched by rain and walking around damp and was looking forward to just getting back to Paris! Despite being 'over' Chateau's, this place was worth a visit. It is located in Sologne near Bloise and was one of the first stately homes to open to the public in 1922. This estate has been in the same family for more than 6 centuries: the Huraults, a family of financiers and officers who became famous in the service of several kings of France. Today the chateau is lived in by the descendants of the Hurault family, the Marquis and Marquise de Vibraye, whose apartments are located in the right wing. Again there was so many things to see, a nursey with rocking horses from the time of Napolean, the wedding dress of the current Marquise de Vibraye, and lots of furniture and tapestries. The plan of Cheverny was new at the time it was constructed and inspired by the Luxembourg Palace in Paris. It's style was to become typical of classic French architecture. The grounds are magnificent and include many gardens, lawns and an orangery. Cheverny is an important hunting venue and the kennels house about 100 French hounds with the V for Vibraye shorn into the right flank of each hound.
While I really did enjoy the 3 day trip to Normandy, I was really happy to get back to my hotel in Paris and climb into bed!
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