| The kings of France, seduced by the
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| | Open: Closed on 25th Dec and 1st Jan
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| temperate climate and the game-filled
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| | 5. Chateau de Cheverney
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| forests built their sumptuous homes here
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| | Chateau de Cheverny is undoubtedly the
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| in the Loire Valley. They surrounded
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| | most lavishly furnished of all the Loire
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| themselves with the greatest artists and
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| | Chateaux. Built between 1604 and 1634
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| architects of this era. This is the
| |
| | little has changed. Its present owner is
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| country of a thousand castles. The valley
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| | a direct descendant of the original owner
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| is full of not only royal castles and
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| | and his 70 hounds or so are still used
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| renaissance palaces, national museum and
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| | for regular stag hunting. Some of the
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| large magnificent chateaux, but also
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| | chateau's masterpieces include paintings
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| medieval castles and fortresses, small
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| | by old masters, tapestries from Paris and
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| fairy tale manors, private chateaux,
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| | Holland plus Louis XIV's commode and
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| medieval cities, churches, abbeys, and
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| | unforgettable grandfather clock. The
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| cathedrals. Many chateaux and stately
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| | 1640s interior decoration, consisting of
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| homes are open to the public: some are
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| | panelling, painted ceilings, and
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| state owned, such as Chambord and Blois;
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| | fireplaces, and paintings by Jean
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| others are private, and still lived in. A
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| | Monnier, is among the finest of its kind.
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| large proportion of them run
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| | There are two interesting facts
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| son-et-lumiere shows during the tourist
| |
| | pertaining to Cheverny. Firstly, die hard
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| season. Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau
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| | Tintin fans will note that Herge based
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| de Chambord are definitely worth a visit
| |
| | the mythical Moulinsart on Cheverny. If
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| and are close to Blois.
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| | this appeals, check out the Tintin
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| 1.Chateau de Chenonceau
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| | exhibition situated directly opposite the
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| Le Chateau des Dames built on a bridge
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| | chateau. Secondly, the 18th century
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| across the river Cher is one of the more
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| | Orangerie served as a hiding place for
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| romantic chateaux of the Loire with
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| | the Mona Lisa during WWII. From here,
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| elegant turrets, arches and stately
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| | you'll be able to take in the majesty of
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| avenues bordered by plane trees. It's
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| | the park and its canals which are open to
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| romantic feel is further heightened by
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| | the public from April to November
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| the fact that its stylised and
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| | Chateau de Cheverny: 16 kilometres
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| symmetrical structure is reflected in the
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| | south-east of Blois, Cheverny, 41700 Tel:
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| waters of the Cher.
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| | +33 (0)2 54 79 96 29 Open: Open daily
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| Chenonceau owes much of its design and
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| | 6. Chateau de Beauregard
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| beauty to four women in particular. It
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| | Chateau de Beauregard was largely built
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| was Catherine de Briconnet who first
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| | at the same time as Chateau de Cheverny
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| started the trend and was largely
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| | as a hunting lodge for Francois I. It is
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| responsible for its early Renaissance
| |
| | famous for its Galerie des Portraits
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| style. Catherine then passed the baton to
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| | which comprises over 327 portraits of
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| Diane de Poiters (mistress of Henri II)
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| | Kings and their lovers plus famous
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| who was responsible for the formal
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| | dignitaries from 14th to 17th centuries.
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| gardens to the left of the chateau as you
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| | Take note of the unique flooring that is
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| approach it. Unfortunately Diane de
| |
| | covered in 17th century porcelain tiles.
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| Poitiers was forced to relinquish
| |
| | Chateau de Beauregard: 6 kilometres south
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| ownership of Chenonceau to Catherine de
| |
| | of Blois, Cellettes, 41120 Tel: +33 (0)2
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| Medici (the embittered wife of Henri II)
| |
| | 54 70 36 74 Open: Closed Wed in winter
|
| who offered Chateau de Chaumont in
| |
| | months and entirely for the month of
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| exchange. Not entirely a fair swap! Later
| |
| | January
|
| the castle was inherited by Louise de
| |
| | 7. Chateau Azay le Rideau
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| Lorraine, the bereaved wife of Henri III
| |
| | The Azay le Rideau Castle, one of the
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| Catherine's favourite son. Louise painted
| |
| | purest creation of the Renaissance, was
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| her bedroom ceiling black and white out
| |
| | built on an island of the Indre River, an
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| of respect for her late husband.
| |
| | ideal setting for an architectural jewel.
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| Madame Dupin also had a pivotal role in
| |
| | The son-et-lumiere events held in the
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| the development of Chenonceau in the 18th
| |
| | park during the summer tell some of the
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| century and was responsible for
| |
| | history of the Chateau and are not to be
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| encouraging literary events to be held
| |
| | missed if you are there at the right
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| here. The likes of Rousseau, Voltaire and
| |
| | time.
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| Montesquieu all spending time here. Today
| |
| | 8. Chateau de Villandry
|
| Chenonceau is a profitable business owned
| |
| | Villandry was one of the last of the very
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| by the Menier family who are known as
| |
| | big chateaux built around 1536 in the
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| respected chocolatiers.
| |
| | Loire valley during the renaissance. It
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| Chateau de Chenonceaux: Chateau de
| |
| | houses some interesting and very valuable
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| Chenonceau, 30 minutes from Blois,
| |
| | antiques and furnishings but it is
|
| Chenonceau, 37150 Tel: +33 (0)2 47 23 90
| |
| | probably best known for its Italian
|
| 07 Open: Closed 25th Dec & 1st Jan, 1st
| |
| | Renaissance garden created by Dr
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| May
| |
| | Carvallo. As well as being very ornate
|
| 2. Chateau de Chambord
| |
| | and decorative, the gardens produce
|
| Chambord is truly royal in its great
| |
| | fruit, vegetables and herbs which are
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| scale, its grand air, its indifference to
| |
| | sold locally to raise funds for the
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| common consideration (Henry James). It
| |
| | maintenance of the chateau.
|
| combined the dream of King Francois I
| |
| | 9. Chateau du Clos Luce
|
| with the imagination of Leonardo de
| |
| | Chateau du Clos Luce is where Leonard de
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| Vinci. The result is a real
| |
| | Vinci spent the last years of his life.
|
| mathematisation of architecture, a
| |
| | You can visit his study, salons, kitchen
|
| grandiose creation : 440 rooms with 365
| |
| | and bedrooms, the chapel and see frescoes
|
| fireplaces, a fabulous double staircase,
| |
| | painted by his pupils. His drawings and
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| and a unique roof terrace
| |
| | paintings are set out in the park of the
|
| Chateau de Chambord: 15 minutes south
| |
| | chateau with giant models of the most
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| east of Blois, Domaine national de
| |
| | spectacular machines he invented with
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| Chambord, Chambord, Tel: +33 (0)2 54 5040
| |
| | voice-overs of Leonardo da Vinci and his
|
| 00 Open: Closed on 25th Dec, 1st Jan and
| |
| | disciple Melzi.
|
| 1st May
| |
| | Le Chateau du Clos Luce: 30 minutes from
|
| 3. Chateau Blois
| |
| | us, at demeure de Leonard de
|
| Chateau Blois is almost like four
| |
| | Vinci,Amboise 37400 Tel: +33(0)2 47 57 00
|
| separate chateaux rolled into one - so
| |
| | 73 Open: daily except 25 December to 1st
|
| diverse are the architectural styles at
| |
| | January
|
| play here. The Medieval heart is centred
| |
| | 10. Chateau du Chaumont
|
| around the Salle des Etats Generaux which
| |
| | Chateau du Chaumont is located on the
|
| is where the court and council were
| |
| | southern bank of the Loire River about 20
|
| based. Flamboyant Gothic flair is evident
| |
| | minutes west of Blois. It was the first
|
| in the Louis XII wing whereas Renaissance
| |
| | chateau at Chaumont-sur-Loire,
|
| architecture is the dominant style in the
| |
| | Loir-et-Cher, France. Originating in the
|
| Francois 1 wing. It is in the Francois 1
| |
| | 11th century, it was built by Eudes II,
|
| wing that you'll find Catherine de
| |
| | Count of Blois.
|
| Medici's private rooms complete with
| |
| | In 1560, the castle became the property
|
| array of poisons. This was also the spot
| |
| | of Catherine de' Medici who entertained
|
| where the Duc de Guise was brutally
| |
| | numerous astrologers there, including
|
| murdered in 1588 after he was thought to
| |
| | Nostradamus. On the death of her husband,
|
| be planning a Catholic uprising against
| |
| | King Henry II, Catherine used her power
|
| Henri III. Apparently, it was Henri who
| |
| | to take over the much coveted Chateau de
|
| carried out the deed himself only to be
| |
| | Chenonceau from her husband's mistress,
|
| murdered himself a year later by a monk.
| |
| | Diane de Poitiers. As certain legalities
|
| Lastly, the Gaston d'Orleans wing will
| |
| | had to be met, Diane was forced to accept
|
| satisfy any cravings for Classical
| |
| | the Chateau de Chaumont as payment for
|
| architecture. Evenings are a particularly
| |
| | her beloved Chenonceau. Diane de Poitiers
|
| good time to visit Blois especially if
| |
| | lived at Chaumont for only a short time
|
| you book to see the 'son et lumiere'
| |
| | when the castle was sold.
|
| shows that recount the chateau's
| |
| | The chateau holds an international garden
|
| turbulent past.
| |
| | festival covering a different theme each
|
| Chateau de Blois: Place du Chateau,
| |
| | year from April to October.
|
| Blois, 41000 Tel: +33 (0)2 54 90 33 33
| |
| |
|
