Loving the Loire Valley

Sunday 22nd June

Today started out much cooler than yesterday but we decided to visit only one Chateau and then head back to the hotel for rest time. Before heading out we were able to sit and have coffee with the English couple before they headed home - to be in their own bed tonight.

Todays chateau - the Chateau d'Azay le Rideau.

This chateau was built between 1518 and 1527, and is french Renaissance style. It is built on an island in the Indre River, and built on the site of a medieval castle fortress from 12th century. This fortress was destroyed by Charles VII in 1418. The Chateau was purchased by the french state in 1905 for 250,000 francs.

One of the main features of the Chateau is the grand central staircase, escalier d'honneur. Unlike other staircases of the time which are spiral, this staircase goes up in straight flights. Not all the rooms are heavily furnished - not overdone. Each of the rooms provided written information about the use of the room and descriptions of the furniture and paintings displayed. Lots of portraits of the who's who of the time, but the wow for us was the tapestries. Lots of Flemish tapestries from 16th and 17th centuries. An enjoyable Chateau to visit with low crowd numbers. 

Someone went nuts with the camera so I have lots of photos to choose from. Let's see how I go.

First view of the Chateau.

The grand staircase. Open views to courtyard at each level.

How many millions of feet have worn these steps down?

The walls are lined with woven rushwork - this is not the original,
but like it was at the time. 

Tapestries - Flemish from 16th and 17th centuries.
Lots of them, this is just a small selection. 

Lovely chest - carved marble and ivory.

The billiard room around 1850. Back then billiards was seen as a way of recognising dexterity, elegance and intelligence. A little article published in 1874 read 'a billiard table in a private home shows that the owner is intelligent and cultivated and that their ideas are in line with the century'.

Lots of these lovely little cherubs holding up the pillars.

There were a lot of these portraits throughout the Chateau, with covered faces.
Apparently the artist felt that everyone just looked at the faces
and ignored the rest of the painting. 

We'd bought a sandwich for lunch so before heading back to base we were able to sit in the gardens around the chateau and enjoy a quiet lunch.

Monday 23rd June

Moving day again today - back to the village of Bracieux which we were in last week.  Not the same apartment (booked out) but a 2 bedroom house.

We had a quiet drive following along the Cher River. The plan was to do a drive by shooting of a few chateaux along the way. The first aim was Chenonceau which we visited on our trip in 2014, but this was a bust. We got to the Chateau and the crowds were so big we decided we'd just drive on by.

Further along the road, Chateau Chissay en Touraine.

Then Chateau Fougeres sur Bievre.

Lunch at the hotel we ate at one day last week, and arrived in Bracieux at 3pm - what a great house. 2 bedrooms, large living area,  huge TV that Rob has figured out more stuff to watch than vintage mechanic,  and if it wasn't so hot outside we have a sunroom and 3 outdoor seating areas, and swings and a slide.