Filed under: Uncategorized
Today our only objective was to get to Chartres, but Ern realized we had a day to explore getting to Chartres, so we decided to head to Nantes and stop by one of the chateaux in the Loire Valley as recommended by our father.
Today is also Easter, so we expected many things to be closed – which Nantes was. It was a bit of a bummer, the town is 500,000, but it was pretty sleepy. All the shops and cafes were closed, so it was a bit of a letdown especially after how lively Rennes was, but we wandered over to the large Castle of the Dukes of Brittany. I was able to walk around the ramparts. It used to have the Loire River flow right outside the ramparts, but has since been filled in.
The chateau of the Dukes of Brittany in Nantes
FYI, lunch was nothing special, we just got a kebab sandwich since the cafes were mostly closed. I think at some point on a trip to Europe you end up having a kebab….the other option was McDonald’s or a very sad panini stand which since Ern lives in Italy and I’m heading there on Tuesday, it didn’t make sense to have something Italian.
We then made the long 1.5h drive to the chateau of Chenonceau. This is where all of the tourists were on Easter. We got there after 5pm and thankfully most people were leaving, but wow, that parking lot was crowded!
The chateau had an interesting history, but in short, was seized from its original owner by the King of Francis I. Later King Henry II (who was married to Catherine de Medici at the time) gave the chateau to his mistress Diane de Poitiers.
The chateau is unique in that it spans the River Cher. The servants quarters and kitchens are in the piers of the castle. The most interesting thing we learned was that the River Cher was the line of demarcation between occupied and free France during the 2nd world war and the gallery pictured below was partly in occupied france and partly in free France!
Standing guard at Chenonceau
Spanning the River Cher
At the far door is the door to Free France. This gallery spans over the river.
Hello!
Looking out from the gallery to the river
All over the chateau, there are fresh flower arrangements. This weekend, they were all Easter themed since today is Easter.
Can you see the bunny in green behind the hedgehogs?
I may have turned into my mom. I seem to be taking many photos and spending lots of time in the gardens.
I really loved these glass cloches for the plants.
These flowers were so large! I think I saw them at Monet's garden as well. Maybe Melissa knows what they are??
Today was a lot of chateaux. Tomorrow is the cathedral at Chartres and the gardens of Versailles. I hope the good weather holds. I want to bike around in Versailles!
2 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Hi Marlene,
Glad that you and Ernie visited Loire Valley and visited one of the most beautiful castles in the valley, Chennoceau. I was there in the Spring of 1985 and visited two other castles, d’Ambrose and Chambord. They are all grand and timeless.
Dad
Comment by Chester Chen April 26, 2011 @ 3:09 pmI’ve always wanted glass cloches for my garden. But where the heck do you get them in Seattle? And how much would they cost!? I think the flower in the last picture is a peony. I love them.
Comment by Sallie April 27, 2011 @ 7:20 am