宇宁: France Trip March 2018 Day 1

Day 1 - Chambord Castle and the Blois town

Off we go, 3 girls in Cristina's car for a 6 days trip to Loire valley!

Las tres chicas

We rented a 2 BR apartment in Amboise town that is in the middle of the region. Makes it great for connecting between the different castles that can take 2 hours in the widest span.

Villa Bellagio in Amboise

What i learned from this trip: The Loire Valley is one of the most culture rich region in France with a lot of distinctly different wine regions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loire_Valley

The Loire River

Loire in sunset

It is my first time in a France non-city region and I was surprised how much i enjoyed the tranquility and the sights.

Typical Loire Valley Greens

Chambord - Castle 1 in the visit list

Chambord pamphlet

I called this castle "the one that prepares for the royals who never came!"

Chambord Front view

Chambord Garden

Chambord side view

The bell tower

https://www.chambord.org/en/

This castle is the grandest and yet most austere in all the castles that we visited.

It's spectacular in all its grandeur yet didn't feel welcoming or cosy.

Unfortunately all its occupants never stayed too long as the castle is either too swampy (aka mosquitos) or too cold during winter (aka high ceiling)

There's an interesting double helix staircase that reminds me of DNA structure in the middle of the castle connecting all the floors. The stair case is like a double strand intertwined such that you can arrive to the same floor in 2 routes. Any practical reason for the design? likely no =)

Rumour is Leonardo Da Vinci designed it.

Double helix stair case

The castle has a lot of rooms that's grand, like this king's room. The castle has been prepared for the French King and Queen visit that somehow never happened. i'm guessing they don't like the cold =)

King's room

The castle is filled with a lot of priceless antiques that's interesting but too easily ignored when we cannot feel our toes anymore!

Clock, chimmey, portrait of the king and procelain plate

old chest, list of donors names and old carriage

One thing about Chambord is their histopad that is quite cool as it details a 360 deg reconstructed view of the old times

See how the histopad shows an alternative reality

In the middle of the visit, we got so cold and hungry that we had to get out and eat in the castle's restaurant. Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures! yikes!

With this many castles in the region, we have to be selective on which one we go into. So some castles only got a camera shot.

Castle xx

Blois - Town 1 on visit list

After visiting Chambord, we went to Blois town which is very pretty.

Blois town from across the River

There is a nice cathedral and a Chateau (castle) in the town. But as we didn't go into the castle, we can only catch a view from the streets.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Blois