Monday, May 18, 2009

Chambord and Cheverny Chateaux


The must do Chateaux
Both Chambord & Cheverny were missed on our trip last year and so Sue decided they needed to be on our “must do” list. This was our last day in the Loire before moving off to Burgundy and so we made a day of it.
Chambord defies comprehension. It hurts the head to absorb its magnificence. Built by King Francois 1, the grounds including the hunting forest cover an area the size of Paris. A feature of the Chateau is the double helix staircase, supposedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci. People going up the staircase will not meet people descending. The Salamander appears all over the chateau as this was the chosen emblem of the King.
Before nicking off to Cheverny, we decided lunch was in order and we found a restaurant in a neighbouring village rather than eating with all those other tourists. Smart move - lunch was superb!!!!
Poached eggs in a red wine sauce for an entrée, followed by grilled Salmon, finishing off with cheeses and coffee. The meal was enjoyed with a local Cheverny rouge. Yes, I wonder what the common people are doing now…..No I don’t really!!!!
Off to Cheverny - A mere gatehouse compared to Chambord but special in that the descendants of the original owners (the Herault Family) still own the property and only vacated the chateau in 1985. It is now a magnificent museum showing how the ultra-wealthy lived their life.
Most people buying souvenirs were quite happy with key-rings, fridge magnets and assorted trinkets. Not Sue - a $350 leather and suede hand bag was more to her liking. Sorry Kev and Wayne, she really was going to spend that $900 in OZ.
Home to pack and clean the villa and say goodbye to the Loire tomorrow.

3 comments:

  1. Go Sue!!! I agree forget the trinkets and go for a usefull momento - the suede hand bag sounds great, this doesn't take up space in the suitcase, its carry on luggage.Love reading your trip bloggs Leon- makes me want to visit France again. Looking forward to the next stage- take care Luv Jenny

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  2. Hey Leon,

    this brings back memories, Tammy and I and the kids toured the chateaux in 2006. Chenenceau which spans the river (and was the link between Free France and the occupied region in WW2) was our highlight.
    The scale of Amboise was staggering too.

    Mal

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  3. Bonjour Leon and Sue,
    I'm a daily visitor of Paris Daily Photo, where I found your link to your blog. And I'm going to take time to go through all your articles.
    I live in Cheverny, and I can precise one point of this post: The owners of Cheverny didn't vacate the castle. They still live in, but in the right wing, which cannot be visited ;-)

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