aussiedreamer

Hi all.....I don't usually do reports on the go but have just had the best couple of days in Azay Le Rideau and wanted to share. Thanks to lots of research and advice from you guys, we have thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

We are staying at The Grand Monarque hotel and couldn't be happier. We do have the Tours suite and its very comfortable with plenty of room. The restaurant was great For one meal, as it has a limited menu but oh wow just the loveliest meal in an open shady courtyard. I'll post full descriptions in my t/r when we return home.

A brief overview....

We loved Chinon...the cathedral, the town and the market. Cannot recommend enough, I did want to try the elevator up....just in the name of research of course....but we walked up one way and down another, sigh. Lunch at Cafe de Sarts just ok.

Drove onto Fontevraud Abbey, wow. Charming in its size and simplicity.

Drove 'home' via Chateau d'usse......holy cow!!!! So impressive .... We didn't go in, but great photo ops on the little bridge.

Today we headed to Chateau de Villandry, oh my the gardens, so beautiful and I'm sure in spring and the height of summer, they would be more impressive. We only did the garden entry. We then headed to Amboise.....where does one begin? What a great setting and so accessible. We had the most amazing lunch, before we headed up to the chateau. Honestly, stop researching and have lunch at Le Patio. That one will stay with me for a while. Just wait till the t/r with photos. Teaser..... The Mille feuille wow.

The weather has been amazing for us, we've covered a lot of miles on foot but if that means I can eat more Mille feuille, then so be it.

Next stop Reims.

annhig

Hi Aussie,

Nice to see you dropping in here and great that you we having such a terrific time. We have been to most of the places you mention at one time or another and we loved them too.

Sounds as if your TR will be a corker!

MaryCAnderson

Hello AussieDreamer,
Great report. Will be there next month, so your info is a big excitement. Quick questions-- is Azay under scaffolding? Does it appear that Villandry gardens will be finished in. October, or, do they have fall vegetables coming in the section near the gates?
Thank you in advance!

tasmangirl

Sounds amazing! On my trip list for 2017.

Adelaidean

Looking forward to your photos, am looking up your destinations now, so lovely.

denisea

Sounds divine! Enjoy.

aussiedreamer

Hi Mary. Hard to tell re Villandry in October .... Maybe someone who has been at that time could help. But as October is only weeks away.... The gardens were stunning.

As for chateau Azay Le Rideau, I have to admit we didn't enter the grounds but I did see some scaffolding.

Hi Ann, nice to be back on 'your' side of the world. We are actually deciding how to spend our last 6 days after Reims. Maybe a few days in London to finish off. :-?

denisea

Oh, Reims.....I am green with envy! Sip some bubbly for me! Have fun.

aussiedreamer

Reims has been fantastic. Oh the champagne. We've decided to spend our last week in Trier and then Salzburg. Loving the slow relaxed pace.

annhig

nice choices, Aussie - we just got back from a quite fast-paced trip to Sicily and our next trip is going to a lot slower!

schnauzer

Great stuff Aussie, I'm heading to The Loire again next June. Will cut and paste your report!

bilboburgler

Trier, one of my favorite cities, just back from the Saar ( the river just south so missed poping in this time)

geetika

DH and I spent 10 days in the Loire Valley almost 30 years back when we lived in Paris, my favs were Azay le Rideau and Chenonceau. We didn't make it to Fontevrault Abbey, resting place of the Angevins, in those days I hadn't read about Henry II and Eleanor d'Aquitaine.

Thank you for taking the time to write this TR aussiedreamer, it brings back such happy memories. I've always wanted to go back but we somehow never made it, despite visits to France almost every year. But now I'm definitely going to work on it, probably for summer 2018...

geetika

And enjoy some more mille feuille with some bubbly at Reims!

hetismij2

We were in Amboise about the same time as you! We were in camper hell on the island in the river, but great views of the city from there! We will definitely be going back, and putting up with camper hell some more, to explore it further. As it was we only stayed one night on our way back home.