Loire Valley: A long getaway!

This is a tour on the outskirts of the longest French river. We start with Amboise where we visited Da Vinci’s last residence after having an amazing breakfast. Another castle at Chaumont-sur-Loire is very known.
Tours is also covered in this video, shedding light on Saint-Martin.
Pagode de Chanteloup was definitely an amazing hidden gem!
One cannot speak about the famous castles of the Loire without visiting the wonderful Chenonceau.

Music copyright: @epidemicsound

This beautiful region of France is home to some of the most iconic castles in the world But the Val-de-Loire is more than just that It’s also a land of rolling hills, lush vineyards, and charming villages After enjoying a delicious French breakfast, we headed to the first renaissance castle in Amboise. It was originally built in the 15th century as a royal residence but it is most famous for being the last home of Leonardo da Vinci who died on this exact bed! François Ier was devastated by the news Marguerite de Navarre grew up in the adjacent room from 1514 to 1521 Downstairs, you can check the chapel built by Henri VIII to his wife who lost her children at a young age. Da Vinci lived in the Clos Lucé from 1516 until his death in 1519 During his time there, he continued to work on his paintings such as Sainte Anne’s and Saint Jean-baptiste’s He also kept exploring the secrets of the world After checking the dining room and the kitchen, you would head downstairs to check Da Vinci’s inventions in terms of flying, arms and wars as well as projects related to everyday life Can you imagine that he created the first prototype for a bicycle and for a car!? Da Vinci also designed a number of gardens and fountains for the castle grounds In fact, to many, he is the first botanist to ever exist! The flowers here inspired the artist in a several masterpieces. This castle is a must-visit for anyone interested in the Renaissance period or the history of science and technology. On the left bank of the Loire, about 30 km south of Tours, you will find Chaumont-sur-Loire, also known for its 15th century castle which is a museum dedicated to the art of the garden It actually hosts an annual International Garden Festival Tours is a major tourist destination, known for its historical and cultural attractions such as the medieval tower of Charlemagne. He was crowned King of Franks in Tours in 771. We follow the circuit of Saint-Martin by visiting his basilica that was built between 1886 and 1924 in a neo-Byzantine style after it got destroyed during the French revolution. This Unesco world heritage site is the burial place of Saint Martin of Tours. Therefore, it used to be a place of pilgrimage for many Christians. Place Plumereau is a pedestrian square in the old town of Tours that is lined with half-timbered houses dating from the 15th and 16th centuries It is very vibrant and full of tasty restaurants We then head to a square named after Jean Jaurès, a French politician and socialist leader The square is home to a number of important buildings, including the Hôtel de Ville, the Palais de Justice and the Opéra de Tours. The Pagode de Chanteloup is the largest wooden pagoda in Europe This family-friendly place was once a summer residence for the Duke of Choiseul, a French nobleman who was interested in Chinese culture You can rest by the lake or play some medieval games before heading to the pagoda. Here is the lake you have the tower and the castle was here it was destroyed in the 19th century It is made of wood and is painted red and gold. It is three stories tall. If you look there this is Loire (the river) the main entrance was here and the castle would be there, somewhere there This is the end (Adele’s song) oh lunch’s here We really enjoyed the picnic basket in the feng shui garden! I kept the brightest gem for last. The castle of the ladies is very well maintained The kid seems really happy to escape the labyrinth Château de Chenonceau is the most famous and visited castles in the Loire Valley and is known for its beautiful architecture and its unique location spanning the River Cher Built in the 16th century by Katherine Briçonnet over a 12th century mill, many noble ladies kept its ownership during the centuries The most famous owner of Chenonceau was Diane de Poitiers the mistress of King Henry II of France She added the famous gallery that spans the river After Henry II’s death, his wife Catherine de Medici took possession of Chenonceau and expelled Diane de Poitiers Catherine de Medici made further changes to the castle. At some point in history, the castle has been used as military barracks, a hospital, and a school. It is also known for its beautiful gardens which were designed by Catherine de Medici Don’t hesitate to explore the castle domain where there are plenty of auxillary gardens, well-preserved horse carriages and these old Bentleys! This what I love about France I took this book from Beaune, Bourgogne from the eat, on the other side I read it now I have to choose another one, for free the joy of sharing books