Viva La France! Part Trois

Friday May 2: The Loire Valley continued...

We decided to stay in the Loire Valley in the morning because we wanted to check out another castle and see a winery. Our next castle was Chateau d'Azay le Rideau. It was built by a French finance minister and when the King saw how elaborate and expensive it became-he confiscated it. The inside of the castle was much better kept than the prior castle because this castle was a national monument and one that the French government maintains.

It's all about symmetry for the French-the view down the walk.

A castle is a castle is a castle...

The family seal above the fireplace: this castle was really well maintained. Some of the tapestries looked like they were practically new even though they were over 100 years old.

Mom, Dad and the castle.

After the castle, we headed to a winery in a nearby town. I wasn't feeling great so I stayed in the car while the rest of the family went to a wine cave where they age the wine. They ended up with these caves when they were digging out stones to build the castle. They all said it was a great day (and they bought lots of wine!).

Then we all piled into our cars and headed to Brittany to try to get to Saint Michel (a famous Abbey) before it closed...we made it and the pictures will be up shortly!

Viva La France: Part Duo

Thursday May 1: The Loire Valley

On the grounds of the first castle we visited, Chenonceau there was a 12th century farm. The buildings were covered with these purple flowers that I think my mom said were wisteria. They smelled like bubblegum. It was beautiful!

Nora stopped to smell the flowers...
The castle itself was built over the river for one of the kings mistresses. It was really crowded (even though we didn't get there until late afternoon). Nora and I took the audio tour which had some interesting facts...like that the hall that stretches over the river used to house soldiers in WWII and they used to fish in the river out the windows.
The gardens were along one side of the river-done in the French style, very symmetrical.

We spent that night in Tours, which was a really nice town. The hotel recommended a small little square with great old buildings and restaurants to eat dinner.
Stay tuned for more of the Loire Valley and then Brittany on the coast!