Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Loire Valley

May 12, 2008

We left Millieres and decided to take the long way home and drive through the Loire Valley.

Nikki, thanks for being such a good sport about all the travel in the car.

With over 300 chateaux in the Loire Valley it was tough to decide where to go, but we decided
first on the Le Chateau D'Azay Le Rideau.
Nikki wondered how we liked her new home.

Total French story-we are snapping these photos of the girls in the windows, I am standing in a huge courtyard below, there is also a tour group off to one side of the courtyard. We are laughing and having a good time when the tour director turns to us and tells us we need to be quiet. You just never know.

The furnishings in this castle were really amazing.

"Here I am"

Dad, do you think this is too complicated for your machine?

I was in love with all the fireplaces and their enormous mantles.

It's red!

Everyone thought this was the perfect castle, great protection with the water, not too big, beautiful gardens-they were ready to move in.
Chenonceau Chateau
The original chateau was was put up for sale in 1512. Bohier bought it and demolished all the old buildings except for the keep. He was very busy and could not supervise this project so his wife Catherine took charge and gave it the great flare that we see today. It was completed in 1521, but Bohier and his wife had little time to enjoy it becuase they died in 1524 and 1526.

It is build across the river Cher. It was quite a magnificient piece of property.

Jesse decided this one was for her.
The tower outside the castle is now the gift shop.

Another red one.
The furnishings were again quite lavish- the children each claimed their room and tried to imagine being a child back in the day living in a castle.

The next part was my favorite-The kitchen and dining room. It was amazing. I could really cook up some meals in this room.

There was so much to see and I loved it all-so I will let the pictures do the talking.
The boys had great interest in the butchers blocks.
One of the balconies that over looks the entrance.
The gardens are always so beautiful and so well manicured, I can't imagine what it takes to keep up a place like this.
We were so glad we decided on the long way home-it put the icing on the cake for a fabulous
trip.

No comments: