Chateau Country

The Loire Valley region ( just 2 hours south of Paris and 3 hours from St. Malo) is one of the most visited regions in France. The lush valley landscape, studded with France's greatest Chateaux, is the main attraction. It is also part of the french history as you can read the progression of ways of life just by looking at the various architectural styles. All the chateaux and sites are gathered in a quite reduced area, making your tours more attractively paced.

This historic town, located in the western part of the Loire region, sees itself as the quintessential Loire city. Some of the finest 14th century medieval tapestries, telling the story of the Apocalypse by St. John, can be seen within the 13th Century "fortress" Chateau.

The plan of the gardens show both the influence of agricultural writer Olivier de Serres and the synthesis of the monastery garden, with the Italian Garden proposed by Androuet. Covering a total of 17 acres, they are composed of 3 terraces one above the other, separated by shady avenues of limes and vines. The highest is the Water Garden, then comes an ornamental garden with box clipped into patterns symbolizing the variety of Love (tragic, tender and passionate). Finally the Orchard or Kitchen Garden with 85,000 plants. The use of the humblest vegetables is here raised to an art.

As early as the 10th Century, ruler Foulques Nerra built here a sturdy keep to command the Loire Valley. Louis XI began the present Chateau in 1465. The chateau still looks like Louis's medieval fortress. Its apartments have kept their medieval layout, one room commanding the next through narrow doors. It is also fully furnished with medieval furniture. Wax historical scene of Anne of Brittany's wedding with King Charles VIII takes you back to the 15th Century in this unique medieval environment.

Azay le Rideau

In a verdant setting where the waters of the Indre act as reflecting pools, this Renaissance chateau was built in 1518 by the financier Gilles Berthelot. In architectural terms, it is a French gothic 15th century style chateau. Its defenses (machicolated cornices, pepperpot towers and turrets) are purely decorative, the owner's status symbols. By contrast, the decoration shows the influence of the Italianate style used in the Francis 1st wing in Blois. Lavish period furniture and antique tapestries enhance the visit of the interior.

Built in white tufa and roofed in slate, the old dwellings of Tours fill the isthmus between the Loire and Cher rivers. It already was a center of trade during Gaul and Roman times. The restored old town is filled with historical buildings, monuments and squares; St Gatien Cathedral, Square Plumereau, Bishop's Palace. It is also the city of St Martin. The wax museum illustrate the historical background of the region.

Chenonceau

This castle built in 1513 is a jewel of the Renaissance architecture. Flaubert praised it as "floating on air and water". The chateau stretches across the Cher river with a 200 feet gallery built over a series of arches. The grandeur continues inside with splendidly furnished rooms. Beautiful view from the Diane de Poitiers French gardens.

The first of French classical palaces, the chateau stands in a vast park enclosed by a 20 miles wall. King Francis the 1st built his dream castle with the help of Leonardo da Vinci. This 440-room king's "hunting lodge" was described by Henry James as truly royal - royal in its great scale, its grand air, and its indifference to common consideration.

This royal town is located at that point on the Loire river where the limestone landscape of the Orleans region give way, almost imperceptibly, to the chalk country of Touraine downstream. The royal chateau is unique as you can sample from the main courtyard architecture from the 14th, 15th, 16th and 17th Centuries. Dominating the old town, the chateau was the site of many historical events, including the assassination of the Duke de Guise (head of catholic right wing party) by King Henry III.

Between Paris and the Chateau country, it is famous for its magnificent cathedral, the "Acropolis of France". It still beckons to the pilgrim far off across the endless wheat fields of the Beauce. Referred to by historian Emile Male as "the mind of the middle ages manifest", it began in 1020 as a romanesque. Destroyed by a fire in 1194 it was rebuilt in 25 years and finished in 1250. Donated by royalty, aristocracy and the merchant brotherhoods between 1210 and 1240, its glorious collection of stained glasses is world renown. Over 150 windows illustrate biblical stories and daily life in the 13th century.

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