Crossiants and chateaus

We did it,we finally made it to France. Just like the UK,it's a place you dream of going to and not sure if you will actually get there. Now we have,the dream has become a reality. It also helps when you know someone who lives there and are fortunate enough to stay with them.

Friends of ours who we met in Arizona,USA when we lived there are French and have a beautiful B&B  Bagatelle in Vouvray.

 After 15 years of not seeing them we were finally able to catch up with our wonderful french friends Anne and Bertrand.

They hosted us in their amazing 300 odd year old chateau in an area called the Loire Valley. The home is beautifully decorated and welcoming. However we didn't stay in the home we were privileged to stay in the "caves".

Caves are quite a common feature in this area. They are built out of the limestone escarpment that backs their property. The caves were initially carved out many years ago and used as utility areas. Infact they have a massive cave that was used as the wine making and storage area above the caves that are now guest accommodation. Anne has impeccable taste in decorating and our cave rooms were luxurious and homely.

Note the original wood fired oven to the right.

We were introduced to real french food and oh how delicious it was,it lived up and beyond expectation. The boys ate their fill of fresh croissants and baguettes. The cheeses,the meats the strawberries and wine,how could we possibly live without it now we have the taste for it?

Our hosts informed us of the best attractions to see. So off we went to see  the home Leonardo Da Vinci once lived in Château du Clos Lucé. We were able to see models of many of his inventions,his drawings a replica (or could it have been the "real thing"?) of the Mona Lisa. The beautiful gardens where he took inspiration for his botanical studies and of course the home where he even entertained Francois1, the King of France

Next on the chateau agenda was 

CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU

King Henry II gave this castle to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, but when he died, his wife, the Queen Catherine de Medici threw out Diane and installed herself there. Everywhere you’ll see the symbols HDC, originally it was H and D entwined and after the King’s death Catherine added her initial C. A 

Truly magnificent and expanding across the river in all its glory. Oh how the rich and noble lived.

This is like a fairy tale castle

We also the visited the enormous 

CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD

built over a 30 year period in the 16th century just because, it was the show off castle to prove that Francois 1 King of France could out do other castles particularly those of the English. It is a status of power and was built for not as a defensive castle but one for recreation and the grounds used for hunting. It is a sight to behold,the sheer scale is unbelievable. It is one of the finest examples of French Renaissance architecture in France and undoubtably in the world (because it is in France!!)

http://www.ilovecastles.com/chambord.html