* Pictures noted are from bottom to top - After 5 hours driving through periodic rains we arrived in sunshine to our hotel in the heart of this small, sleepy town of Chenonceaux, home to Chateau de Chenonceau (picture 1), the third most
visited chateau in France. Again our accommodations were in an attic-type room on the 2nd floor (no elevator). Since we didn't have air-conditioning we had the presence of mind to 'borrow' a standing fan from the seating area in the hallway which helped to keep us cool and the air flowing.
We went out for a short walk through 'downtown' (maybe 5 streets) to determine where we would eat dinner, then returned to the room to check emails (amazingly the hotel had free wifi) and read.
Dinner was at the hostel across the street from our hotel and the menu included home-made onion soup and beef bourgonion (picture 2). Just delicious.
The next morning was bright and clear. After a croissant and cafe au lait at the corner patisserie
we walked 15 minutes to the front gates of the magnificent Chateau de Chenonceau. As with all these chateaus, this one has a long and interesting history. It was built in the 16th century on the River Cher by Thomas and Katherine Bohier. He was a member of the royal court who ultimately gave the chateau to King Henry II who then donated it to his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitier. Unfortunately for her when Henry II was killed in a joust, his wife, Catherine de Medici, was given the chateau back and Diane was moved to a smaller chateau elsewhere. The chateau after that changed hands as the times and prosperity dictated to a number of differnt owners over the course of the following centuries.
After a walk down the tree-lined drive (picture 3) our visit included a tour of the Chateau including the Chapel; bedrooms of Diane de Poitier, Catherine de Medici, Louise of Lorraine (black decorated room for widow of the short-lived Henry III - picture 4), and other subsequent
inhabitants; the kitchen areas, staircases, hallways, galleries, gardens of Diane (picture 5) and
Catherine, the vegetable gardens (picture 6); the farm with floral gardens (picture 7); the maze; and wax museum (located in the former royal stables), etc.
It was a very warm day and since we were getting saturated after the chateau tour, we walked back to the hotel for a picnic lunch of salami and cheese (from Dordgone markets), fresh bread with fois gras (also from Dordgone) topped with a smear of minced truffles (from Umbria). Incredibly terrific.
Once refreshed we returned to the Chateau estate to finish our tour of the outside grounds which took us to the end of the day. We enjoyed a nice dinner at the hotel and returned to our room to finish emails and get a good night sleep.
On our way out of the Loire Valley we did make a quick stop to view the beautiful Ambrose Castle situated along the Loire River (picture 8), then return to the car for our drive to Mont St
Michel and the Normandy coast.
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