Chateaux in Loire Valley

Old Oct 24th, 2013, 11:13 AM
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The owner of Cheverny, who still lives in the château, takes pride in his community and his outreach programs are a testament to his social commitment. The story is remarkable but all anyone writes about here are the hounds.>

and whose hounds are those - who is the perpetrator of this 'gimmick to milk tourists - the owner - blame him for the Schlock as well as the authenticity - heck he/she may not have much money to dole out sans those souping chiens.

And recently my son went to Cheverny just because there was an exhibition of Tintin (or some such character out of his French childhood there - more milking the place with that type of tripe!

Cheverny I have visited inside and out and it is an average Loire castle nothing more - really nice but would be low on my list for advising casual tourists whose time is limited.
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Old Oct 24th, 2013, 11:52 AM
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http://www.wolfstad.com/2009/01/tint...u-de-cheverny/

Well in this part of the Chateau d Cheverny you see no old furnishings just cartoon after cartoon of Tintin - again something appealing to the French masses - fine with me but if you come to see a fully furnished castle on the insides you may be disappointed?
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Old Oct 24th, 2013, 02:26 PM
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just because there was an exhibition of Tintin

There's always an exhibition of Tintin at Cheverny - the chateau shop is rife with Tintin-alia.

There are two ways one can approach the Loire Valley experience. One as only a casual visitor who takes a quick tour making an attempt see as many properties as possible, as quickly as possible. Or as someone who spends time in reading and understanding the underpinnings of each location he visits and does so in advance of his visit. Those who make the effort to familiarize themselves with some of history of the Loire Valley before they actually visit there, will have a much richer and much more rewarding overall experience.

I'm not sure what all this self-righteous puffery is about, the fact is whether it has been restored or is in the state it reached in 987, the Chateau Amboise has historical and political importance that merits a visit, regardless of what Sarastro feels are its architectural shortcomings.
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Old Oct 24th, 2013, 05:31 PM
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hey French Mystique Tours, which was the chateaux we ate the picnic at? annoyed with myself that I can't remember...I do remember the pastries though!
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 02:55 AM
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lauramsgarden - If you mean the place in Normandy it was Domaine Saint-Hippolyte. Say hello to Mr. lauram.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 05:16 AM
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I've been to all the major Loire chateaus - Amboise several times and to me Amboise' chateau is right up there with the best - not the best looking at it was I believe meant to be a fortress kind of but yes the interior is really interesting and historical.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 06:46 AM
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no French Mystique - it was in the Loire, a chateau we didn't go into but took our picnic there and walked around, that was what I wanted to share with breevesms. I have a zillion pictures but they aren't well labeled. Mr. lauram says hi back, and hugs to your lovely misses
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 10:56 AM
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I love the château d'Amboise. Just can't get enough of the defenestration of the Huguenots.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 11:23 AM
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Hmm, I'm stumped lauram. If you want to send me a photo perhaps it will remind me. You have mine and the Mrs's e-mail address.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 12:35 PM
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>>

According to Ina Caro there were lions kept in the dry moat adding even more fun to defenestrations!
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 12:42 PM
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Laura, the picnic was in Chambord. There was a big covered picnic area with tables and benches.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 12:44 PM
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Yes, I've read that, ParisAmsterdam. What a riotous evening it must have been!
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 01:00 PM
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When we did Loire several years ago, we narrowed our choices down to 2+, that being Chenenceaux and Chambord and found each magnificent in different ways; we also went to Amboise and saw a few more via drive-by. We had so many days, and yes, the locating, parking, accessing, touring sometimes requires more hours than you have, it's that simple. Consider staying at Au Bon Laboreur right in the hamlet of Chenenceaux, where you walk across the street to the castle.
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Old Oct 25th, 2013, 01:11 PM
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I am not a fan of Chambord because it is empty. Sure the roof is nice, but that's it. I don't find the historical story compelling either.

I did a home exchange in the Loire years back and saw as many of them as I wished to--for the rest of my life. I have been to some several times.

On my website, I have pieces about a few of them. You might want to take a look here:

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...ire-blois.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...beheading.html

http://altecockertravels.weebly.com/...beheading.html

The tapestries in Angers are interesting as are the Plantagenet tombs in Fontevraud Abbey. Villandry is good for the gardens only in my opinion if you have limited time.

It all depends on your interest, but I strongly advise against doing more than 2 a day. Blois, by the way, is easily accessible as a day trip from Paris. None of the others are. Doing drive bys of chateaus just to take a photo I regard as a waste of time.

In summer there are lots of plays and concerts at the chateaus in the evening. Of course, the plays require French, but you can enjoy plenty of entertainment and sound and light shows that do not require French. Amboise has a huge show a couple of times a week (as I recall in French but with English translation of the story line in a booklet/handout). If the show is still being done--and you are there during the summer--you should make it a "must see".

There are still 2 chateaus I have not seen: Cheverny and Saumur. Those will have to wait for another visit--if ever. Every time I go I am always with new people who want to see the chateaus I've already seen and I never get to my "pick up" list.
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Old Oct 26th, 2013, 01:17 PM
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StCirq on Oct 25, 13 at 2:56pm
I love the château d'Amboise. Just can't get enough of the defenestration of the Huguenots.


Thank you for teaching me a valuable new word today - defenestration.

The old Michelin Green Guide "Chateaux of the Loire" has an etching of bodies hanging, a beheading in progress, heads lined up like pottery, and body parts scattered about, with the caption "Execution of the Plotters." The text has a short grisly description of the event mentioning that Catherine de Medici and other royals came after dinner to see "the last grimaces of hanging men or watch heads fall."

I walked across the river for a good view of the chateaux and snapped some photos.
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Old Oct 26th, 2013, 01:19 PM
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lauren_s_kahn on Oct 25, 13 at 5:11pm
I am not a fan of Chambord because it is empty.


Yup, pretty empty, but I recall a couple of horse carriages on the ground floor. Isn't this the chateaux with the double staircase?
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Old Oct 26th, 2013, 02:56 PM
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You are right about the double staircase.

The Biltmore estate copied the staircase at Blois.

So now you know if staircases are a priority. I know a lot of people like Chambord. I just didn't. Of course, what you like/should see in a limited time is totally personally. I think I have been to the Loire about 4 times. The last time I home exchanged in Tours--it was some years back.
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Old Oct 26th, 2013, 06:41 PM
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You're welcome, spaarne. Great word. And it of course comes from the French word fenêtre (window). Having people to a fancy dinner of truite à la Loire amandine, then decapitating them and tossing them out the window into the river and lions makes me really appreciate Cahérine de Médicis, especially if she had them use the newly introduced knives and forks to them before dinner. So civilized.
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Old Oct 28th, 2013, 08:18 AM
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I walked across the river for a good view of the chateaux and snapped some photos.>

Yes for the best view of Amboise' castle's lovely front cross the bridge to the island just opposite - in summer there is an open-air piscine - swimming pool there that provides a neat venue - the chateau shining in all its glory just across the river.
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Old Oct 28th, 2013, 10:50 AM
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Valencay though off the path is one of my favorite Loire chateaus -

https://www.google.com/search?q=vale...=1600&bih=1075
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