The Loire Valley with Mom and Sheri
Carlyn and Cari's Web Page
Carlyn and Cari's Guest book
Venice in November
Spain with Lin and Monica
The Louvre and Monet's House and Garden, September 2009
Disneyland Paris- The end to my month long 50th birthday celebration
London Skyride- September 20, 2009
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Switzerland- July 2009
Carlyn's Birthweek 2009- Fun, Food and Henry VIII
Sailing Trip on the Solent of the English Channel, June 2009
Istanbul, Turkey- May 2009
Aberdeen with Jacky and Steve
The Loire Valley with Mom and Sheri
Budapest, April 2009
The German Christmas Markets with Joyce, December 2008
The Lord Mayor Show, November 8, 2008
Madrid and Andalucia, October 2008
Krakow, Poland- September 2008
Cari's Birthweek- Germany
Dinner at Muspatts Farm celebrating Carlyn's
Italy, June 2008
The Lake District- May 2008
York- May Day Holiday Weekend 2008
Cornwall and Wales- Page 1
Cornwall and Wales- Page 2
Hever Castle
Blemhein Palace
Hastings and Battle- 1066 Country
Brighton
German Christmas Market
Fall in Provence
Paris in a Day
Visitors at Parliament Square
Amsterdam and Kuekenhof
The South West "Jurassic" Coast
Cambridge
Christmas and Canterbury
Normandy
Austria
Prague, Czech Republic
Belgium break
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Blog
My mom and sister arrived in London April 18 to join us on a Loire Valley holiday in France. We boarded a Eurostar train at London St. Pancras Station, traveling though the Chunnel to arrive at Paris where we rented a car for our six day journey.
The Loire Valley is also known as the Chateaux de la Loire [the Castles of the Loire]. Its' fairytale castles are rich in the renaissance architecture that was in vogue during the period that saw the castles renovated and expanded. The renaissance also influenced the magnificent courtly gardens that abound in the area. The Loire Valley entered its renaissance period in the 16th century. As elsewhere in Europe, the period brought with it new, artistic ideas in architecture.
Because of its beautiful and game rich forests, the kings and nobility made this area the preferred habitat for their castles. Their fairytale castles were nestled in the forests surrounded by their splendid garden type settings that bordered the winding Loire River and her tributaries, the Cher, Indrois and Indre.
We rented a "self catering cottage not far from the Cher River. Though a bit rustic and on the "needs a good cleaning" list, we made it home for our visit and enjoyed the lovely garden and all the area had to offer in the way of food, wine and Chateaus.
Chartres Cathedral in Chartres, France was built in 1194 after a fire destroyed the original church. The people of Chartres volunteered to haul the necessary stone from quarries 5 miles away. On October 24, 1260, the cathedral was finally dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX and his family.
The Clark's in front of a garden at Chartres. Chartres Cathedral was never destroyed nor looted during the French Revolution and the numerous restorations never have altered its glorious beauty. It always stayed the same: a great triumph of Gothic art. The cathedral was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites in 1979. According to tradition, Chartres Cathedral has housed the tunic of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisia, since 876. The relic was said to have been given to the cathedral by Charlemagne, who received it as a gift during a trip to Jerusalem.
Us with the backdrop of Château de Chenonceau. Built on the river Cher, where the unique beauty of its architecture reflects in the water, the Château de Chenonceau is the Val de Loire’s finial. Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin. The lovely surroundings, the formal garden and the park surrounding it add to the impression of delicate grace emanating from the castle.
The Cher River in Montrichard
Enjoying gallettes (buckwheat crepes) in the medieval cathedral city of Tours. Tours is famous for its original medieval district, called le Vieux Tours. Unique to the Old City are its preserved half-timbered buildings and la Place Plumereau, a square with busy pubs and restaurants, whose open-air tables fill the center of the square.
Some of the offerings at The covered market, Les Halles et Grand Marché, Tours, with a huge selection of fresh local meat, cheese, and produce
Built on the river Cher, where the unique beauty of its architecture reflects in the water, the Château de Chenonceau is the Val de Loire’s finial. Château des Dames as recorded in the French history books, Chenonceau owes a large part of its charm to women: it was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, then made even more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, and saved from the rigours of the French Revolution by Mrs Dupin. The lovely surroundings, the formal garden and the park surrounding it add to the impression of delicate grace emanating from the castle.
Lunch at Château de Chenonceau. Chenonceau is not only remarkable for its architecture and history but also for the fine quality of its collections as can be seen from the inside visit: Renaissance furniture, a vast ensemble of XVI th and XVII th centuries tapestries and a great number of masterpieces. Le Primatice, Rubens, Le Tintoret, Rigaud, Nattier, Van Loo are among the most famous names that can be found there.
Mom enjoying our dinner at the "Chateau" of Duck Confit, Lentals and freshly sourced artichokes, washed down with local wine.
The view from Chateau Chinon. Henry Plantagenet lived here and Richard the Lionheart (probably) died here. Most excitingly though, Joan of Arc came here to persuade Charles VII (then dauphin) to toughen up and kick the English out of France.
Enjoying a baguette sandwich....and local Chinon wine in the shadow of Chateau Chinon. In the 12th century Chinon, located in Anjou in present day France, was a primary residence of Henry II (Angevin King and King of England) and served with Poitiers and Bordeaux as a key southern capital of the vast Angevin holdings.
Wine tasting at Couly- Dutheil in Chinon
Old 16th century bulding in Tours on the Place Plumereau, a lively square surrounded by tall half- timbered buildings.
Enjoying a very fine dinner just minutes from our cottage
The four of us enjoying the Chateaux Chambord. Chambord was never a place for living. Upkeep, and especially heating, was so difficult that the Kings of France and its different owners only came in the summer, to hunt or for large receptions.
The double spiral staircase allows two people to go up or down without crossing each other; this is one of the highlights of the chateau. It is said that it was designed by Leonardo da Vinci. It looks as though the chateau was built around this staircase - 440 rooms in the chateau - 84 staircases - 365 fireplaces - 800 sculpted capitals - 32 meters: height of the lamp above the staircase - 128 meters: length of the facade - 156 x 117 meters: ground space covered by the building - 5433 hectares of woods. Visit. - 33 km of walls around the estate - 11 million Francs: the cost paid by the French Government to purchase Chambord.
Looking out through the Wisteria and Iris from our Loire Valley Cottage.
Carlyn continued her Joan of Arc pilgimage to Orleans, the medieval capital of France. It is the home of the chapel of Joan of Arc, who's martydom is portrayed in the stained glass at Cathedrale Ste- Crox. The large city square situated in the centre of Orleans France is called Place du Martroi where her statue is center to the square.
Driving back throug Paris to Gard Nord where we barely caught our train (by 30 minutes!).
Sheri being consumed by a larger than life gargoyle.
Four women and their loot from the Loire Valley shopping experience
