General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI plan to visit some Loire Valley chateaux this fall. Take a look and help me narrow it down some.
If you've visited any, let me know!
Château de Sully-sur-Loire
Château de Cheverny
Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire
Château d'Amboise
Clos Lucé (da Vinci lived here for 3 years!)
Château de Montreuil-Bellay ?
Château de Saumur
Château de Brissac
Château du Plessis-Bourré
Château de Chenonceau
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Château d'Ussé
Château de Villandry
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)They all are beautiful. Have a marvelous adventure.
GermanWatcher
(61 posts)We rode our bikes from Orléans to Nantes in 2011. I'd recommend Chambord, the town and castle of Chinon and Angers with the Bayeux tapestry. And don't forget to sample the Crémant de Loire...
underahedgerow
(1,232 posts)and the site of where Joan of Arc met the king. There's a stone and a plaque and it's REALLY cool.
It's such a great area. I would go for the less is more approach or you're just going to get overwhelmed and you'll be rushing so fast, they'll all blend into one. Those chateaus are enormous and LOTS of walking and walking on marble floors totally destroys your feet. You'll be aching. So take it slow, don't rush and see the couple that are best.
DebbieCDC
(2,542 posts)And so was Chennonceau. You can't really go wrong though with ANY Loire Valley chateau.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)the one with the pointed gothic spires, Chateau Amboise.
Why don't you find out what else is in the areas of these chateeax and see what you discover. That might be a good way...
Me, I'd probably do several in one general area to get some comparisons...what a terrific project!
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)just before this.
I've been to Chambord before and have seen the Bayeux tapestry in Normandy last year.
There is SO MUCH to see in France in a country the size of Texas!
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)That was wonderful. I'm going to Sicily in two weeks. Hope to get to see a Caravaggio that is in a church there...
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)CTyankee
(63,771 posts)been sent to Florence for restoration. Second try...
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)CTyankee
(63,771 posts)I did an art essay on this painting here on DU. It was basically a rewritten piece from my Master's thesis 11 years ago. I will try to get inside the church in Siricusa when I'm in Sicily later as I have candles to light for some friends to send a healing vibe...
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)I do the candle thing, too.
CTyankee
(63,771 posts)It's in an old church in Siricusa that attracts lots of visitors because of the painting, I hope. My friend is so grateful that I am doing this but I think it a sweet thing for those who appreciate it. Some don't want it and that's fine, too.
procon
(15,805 posts)Thanks!
elleng
(130,156 posts)Check her out.
Have FUN!
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)and thank you, I will!
elleng
(130,156 posts)Host of MO'M group.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1281
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)doxyluv13
(247 posts)I would say, and I've been to most, not to miss Chenonceau--it's built across a frickin river. If you are at all interested in gardening, Villandry is worth it even tho only a few rooms of the chateau are open. The French had figured out how to extend the growing season in the pre-greenhouse era by these sunken gardens and their microclimates. This gave a better sense of how the chateau residents lived than just seeing their stuff.
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Albertoo
(2,016 posts)The other top ones are arguably Amboise, Azay, Chenonceaux and Villandry.
Chambord:
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)mnhtnbb
(31,319 posts)I absolutely loved the Loire Valley and we visited many of the chateaux.
My favorites:
Chambord
Chenonceau
The Royal Chateau of Blois
but we also visited
Chaumont sur Loire
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
cynannmarie
(113 posts)I've been to most of these, although it's been some years now. Most memorable for me were Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay le Rideau and the 2 related to Leonardo da Vinci--Amboise and Clos Luce. The exhibit of Leonardo's inventions was super interesting. If you're really into it you can see more than 1 in a day since the driving distance between most of them is short. Chenonceau might take the longest time since it is so large. But it is fabulous. Azay le Rideau is small and can be seen in an hour or so. Have a terrific trip!
struggle4progress
(118,041 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Or, just go to Atlantis
Recursion
(56,582 posts)There's a hotel right nearby in Chinon, Diderot, that is wonderful, and a great Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant called l'Oceanic, which makes the best turbot I've ever had in my life (and that was two days after eating turbot at le Meurice in Paris...)
burrowowl
(17,607 posts)Done by woman architect be sure to sample local wine with good garden grown veggies etc
TubbersUK
(1,439 posts)but then, so do they all.
Enjoy !
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)suffragette
(12,232 posts)It's a lovely town. Our hotel had french doors which opened to a beautiful view of the river.
Because I had sprained my ankle badly, I did not make it up the hill to the chateau, but my sister did and enjoyed it.
We both enjoyed the wonderful fish in beurre blanc, a tasting tour at Combier (the peach liqueur is essence of fresh peach) and the kindness of the people there who went out of their way to be helpful to us (including a helpful upgrade to a lower level room with a large bathtub with waterjets and a ride to the train station). Also the chocolatier plied us with free samples and tucked generous freebies into our bag of a small purchase.
We had planned a couple of side trips from there, but my ankle did not allow for these.
One would have been to a dolmen in Saumur. Very unusual in that it is on private property and I think they have a small cafe. To sip coffee at ease near something so ancient stirred my imagination.
The other was to have been to the Abbey of Fontevraud. There are effigies of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine there. Eleanor in particular led such an amazing life, especially for a woman of her time.
Also, on the train from Angers to there, you can see local cave dwellings, some of which are still used.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g187199-d3291376-r222713742-Distillery_Combier-Saumur_Maine_et_Loire_Pays_de_la_Loire.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontevraud_Abbey
http://www.saumur-tourisme.net/ville-uk.html
http://www.ledolmendebagneux.com/
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)Photos will be shown afterwards!!
suffragette
(12,232 posts)Raine1967
(11,589 posts)It was only a day trip but we managed to see these three:
Château d'Amboise:
Clos Lucé: (There is a tunnel that connects Lucé to d'Amboise for DaVinci)
and Villandry. (The gardens were still starting to pop but they were amazing nonetheless)
Have fun! I can't wait to get back there and spend a week!
CurtEastPoint
(18,552 posts)so much for sharing! Great photos and my favorite of course was the cat on the cushion. I appreciate your taking the time to post these!
Raine1967
(11,589 posts)BTW, that cat was on DaVinci's bed!
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)because a dear friend has a service dog named Sullivan, Sully for short.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)with this post. Going to earmark this so I can use it as a travel guide on the internet. That is the only way I will be able to get there.
Have fun and thanks for the post.