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| Page Views: 2,163 Last Visit to Pays de la Loire: October, 2006 | Valley of Kings -- Sixteen Loire Valley Chateaus by Beausoleil - last update: Nov 12, 2007 |
Check Travelogues for sixteen different chateaus! Chateau Chenonceau, located just outside the village of Chenonceaux, is one of the loveliest of the Loire chateaus. It was extended over the river Cher by Diane de Poitiers and when it was taken by Catherine de Medici, Catherine added a second story to the bridge gallery. There are often art exhibits in the gallery but it's hard to look at the art when you can look up and down the river out the windows.
We have exited a door at the far end of the first floor gallery for a walk in the woods and spectacular views of the chateau along the river. However, on our last trip (Oct. 2006) the door was locked and any views were gotten from the entrance side of the river as in the photo here. |
|  | Azay-le-Rideau Azay is probably my favorite chateau. It is small and white and perfect. The setting in the moat that is a little lake is lovely and the surrounding gardens are perfection. Then there is the river flowing past the edge of the property and the tiny town that is so clean and friendly. It just adds up to a delightful chateau experience.
There are volunteers who gather to arrange flowers for the rooms and when they put the flowers in the beautifully furnished rooms, you have a very warm, living home rather than a tourist attraction.
Mind you, there are tourists aplenty, but despite that there is a warm welcoming feeling to Azay. |
|  | Villandry and Gardens Villandry is another favorite chateau. The gardens are famous and spectacular but don't miss the inside of the chateau. It is beautifully furnished, has recently had a lot of renovation and updating, has lovely floral displays from the gardens and offers stunning garden views from the windows and the tower. Yes, the climb to the top of the tower is definitely worth it.
If you can, plan to spend a day there. Arrive late in the morning and visit the chateau proper, have lunch and then spend the afternoon in the magical gardens. We've visited many times but this is the first time we walked the maze. I was convinced we'd get lost, but our daughter was with us and she just took off into the maze. What's a mother to do? . . . We followed. We made it to the viewing platform in the center and back out and had a lot of fun in the process.
Don't forget the travelogue below for 16 Loire Valley chateaus, some not so famous. |
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| Pros: | "Lovely countryside; lovely chateaus; lovely churches; lovely wines" | | Cons: | "You can't possibly see most of it in a few days!" | | In A Nutshell: | "A lovely relaxing place for an entire vacation, not just a day!" |
Beausoleil's Pays de la Loire Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do | | | | Restaurants | Hotels & Accommodations Tips: 1 - Photos: 5 | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
Beausoleil's Pays de la Loire Travelogues | | | |
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Comments for Beausoleil about Pays de la Loire | | | | |
Jeannette1 Fri Oct 27, 2006 05:05 UTC I feel like re-visiting Villandry. Maybe I'll do it next year. All these castles are so interesting but I need to brush up on my French history :-) |
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