That conversation about Paris with my stylist made me think I should try wrapping up my France trip recounting. It’s only been…6 months now.
When last we left our intrepid travelers, they had arrived in Cour-Cheverny in the Loire Valley at an adorable bed and breakfast. My main goal for this trip–besides seeing my awesome friends and illuminating the wonders of France for (then) Boyfriend–was to see some goddamn castles. I missed them on my last trip, which was particularly dissatisfying because all my life I’ve known I should have been royalty. A ruling royal, no less–none of this princess crap. That being the case, it was my chief desire on my first journey abroad to find a castle I could live in once I attained my royal future. I did see palaces in Brussels, Stockholm and Paris (but really, what building in Paris was not a palace at some point?), which was nice and all, but how could I have missed the valley of castles?
The Loire Valley has more castles per square foot than people. When castles reach retirement age, they move to the Loire Valley. You can’t swing a dead pigeon without hitting at least five castles down there (please note: you really shouldn’t touch a dead pigeon in France to see if this is true).
At any rate, my travel buddies were kind enough to oblige my castle craze, and in the three nights and two days we spent in the Loire Valley we saw three castles. Here they are!
1. Chenonceau: The ladies’ castle.
This one was my top choice to visit. I mean look at it! So pretty on the outside, arching over the river Cher (that’s right). But the inside was a bit sparse and we were finished pretty quickly.
Money shot
I’m not as breathless as the man behind me
2. Amboise: Leo DaVinci’s final resting place…maybe?
I didn’t really know anything about this one going in, but I loved it. It was so imposing, situated way the heck up on what I truly believed to be an insurmountable hill if you were not invited. Well done.
Look at the clouds posing for us
I love how Gothic this photo is
A proper gallery
3. Chambord: The big beastie.
BIGGEST CASTLE EVARRR!!1! It’s so big. I mean really. Just, tons of hectares. We spent all day here and I did not get bored. Not a lot going on in the rooms, but you gotta love the double helix staircases (all the way). The best part was meandering up on the roof, looking out over your hectares and hectares of land, being so close to the God who ordained you to your royal post.
I can’t even capture it on my camera!
Hallooooooooo!
Perspective shot from the roof–lookit those tiny people!
And that’s about that. We cooked one last meal in our sweet little house, bid adieu to the Loire and her valley and took Picassotron up to Tours for a short train-ride to Paris!
Note: Most of the photo credits for my pictures from France go to the awesome Richard. Check out his blog or his other blog or his other photos.
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