The vacation in the year 2012 should be a "little flatter" - that means vacation in the flat country. We thought, the valley of the Loire in France would be just the right place.
We booked with Interchalet a reasonably priced summer cottage near Chinon. Near- that means a lonesome hamlet in La Roche-Clermault, 6 kilometers away from Chinon. The cottage was not a palace but absolutely sufficient for 4 persons. It's notable: the house was in the midst of the winery of Monsieur Bruno Préveaux.
There are a lot of palaces and castles in the surroundings. Many vineyards there look like small chateaux, and in the great and big castles was written a considerable part of the French history.
Chinon itself is located at the river Vienne, an affluent of the Loire,a picturesque, medieval town with a big castle high above the city and many small streets, lanes and squares.
The surroundings of the cottage is lovely and bicycle-friendly. You can easily bike on asphalted roads and farm tracks between vineyards and grainfields. You pass small hamlets, villages and lonesome farms. But it's only right at nice weather. We had'nt every day. Almost every day we had one rain shower, at least!
Monsieur Préveaux' excellent red and rosé wine took comfort in the bad weather. And the visits in the marvellous castles and abbeys were a good compensation for rain, wind and low temperatures.
Showing posts with label Loire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loire. Show all posts
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Royal Palace Amboise
Only 25 km away from Chenonceau is located Amboise. We can easily visit this town on the same day even though we have already a certain tiredness of sightseeing.
At lasty, we can see the Loire at the first time. We are surprised how wide and natural the river is. Directly above the river the chateau of Amboise rises.
Contrary to Chenonceau - here was made state policy in the 14th and 15. centuries .Especially the kings Charlesl VIII and Francois I. have resided there and have left their marks. Mainly Charles is to owe the conversion of the old castle to its today's form. He had got Italian architects to Amboise to change the castle in the sense of the renaissance.
He could not see the finished building. He pushed his head against a low door beam so that he died short time later. He wanted just to show his wife Anne de Bretagne a new ball game!
Francois I finished Charles' lifework. His merit was also that Leonardo da Vinci came to Amboise. He had there his old-age residence and died here in this town.
At lasty, we can see the Loire at the first time. We are surprised how wide and natural the river is. Directly above the river the chateau of Amboise rises.
Contrary to Chenonceau - here was made state policy in the 14th and 15. centuries .Especially the kings Charlesl VIII and Francois I. have resided there and have left their marks. Mainly Charles is to owe the conversion of the old castle to its today's form. He had got Italian architects to Amboise to change the castle in the sense of the renaissance.
He could not see the finished building. He pushed his head against a low door beam so that he died short time later. He wanted just to show his wife Anne de Bretagne a new ball game!
Francois I finished Charles' lifework. His merit was also that Leonardo da Vinci came to Amboise. He had there his old-age residence and died here in this town.
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| The Loire in Amboise |
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| View of the castle |
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| Detail view |
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| Leonardo da Vinci's supposed tomb |
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| Typically Renaissance these frontispieces |
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| Rue Victor Hugo in Amboise |
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