We had planned to go see the main sights in the region, and that means châteaux. Those are castles, but the English word doesn't really describe them very well, because there are so many styles and types of châteaux, from Medieval fortresses built for defensive purposes to Renaissance palaces, mansions, manor houses, and hunting lodges built for living the good life.
The main châteaux we wanted to see were of course Amboise, Blois, Chenonceau, Chambord, Cheverny, Chaumont-sur-Loire, Azay-le-Rideau, Langeais, Saumur, and Chinon. That gives you an idea how many châteaux there are an within 80 km/50 mi. radius of Tours.
We had also heard of the châteaux at Fougères-sur-Bièvre, Montrichard, Valençay, Montrésor, Loches, and Montreuil-Bellay, and we went to see those too. We obviously did entirely too much, and wore ourselves out driving to, from, and through villages and towns all over the region.
The château originally was surrounded by turreted fortifications,
but they were torn down as France settled into peaceful times.
but they were torn down as France settled into peaceful times.
In my reading and research to plan the trip, I depended mostly on the Michelin Green Guide for the Châteaux de la Loire. On one of the introductory pages on planning a tour of château country, I stumbled upon an aerial photograph of a place called Le Château du Moulin. I'd never heard of it and it looked like it might be worth a visit. Nearby, the Michelin said, there was also a medieval, walled village called Mennetou-sur-Cher. I wanted to see that too.
I searched my blog and I don't think I've ever posted pictures of the château du Moulin before. I can't believe it. So here are some. (And now I've realized that I've never posted pictures of Mennetou-sur-Cher here either....)
Do you remember all those vintage cars when we were there in 04?
ReplyDeleteYou've been to these wonderful places so many times and yet you have the patience to ferry around wave upon wave of (appreciative) guests.
ReplyDeleteCHM, I do remember (and have pictures of) those classic cars.
ReplyDeleteSusan, I also remember that we drove over to the château du Moulin in March 2006 and found it closed for the season. Next time...
It looks quite forbidding, a bit like a fortress. I can just imagine the number of people needed to keep this place functioning then, and even now for tourists to visit.
ReplyDeleteSo many steps...