Destination: Fiction

Château de Chambord

2021-03-23T15:13:00.000-04:00

King François I built a huge Renaissance palace as his country getaway in the Loire Valley. From its humble origins as a hunting lodge, Château de Chambord became a symbol of the French king's power. Today the palace sits within the largest enclosed park in Europe, a forested domain that is home to deer and wild boar. Here's a peek inside the imposing château, from the double-helix staircase thought to have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci to the carvings of the monarch's personal emblem, the salamander.

Château de Chambord

The Double-Helix Staircase

The Double-Helix Staircase

1st Floor Apartments

Window Overlooking the Gardens

The King's Ceremonial Bedchamber

The Queen's Bedroom

2nd Floor Vaulted Rooms

Emblem of King François I: The Salamander

Salamander Carved into a Door

The Terraces

View from the Terrace

French Formal Gardens

Spires and Chimney Stacks on the Terrace

Lantern Tower

Chambord liqueur was inspired by a raspberry beverage that was produced for French royalty to commemorate their visits to the Loire Valley. I sampled the fruity liqueur in one of the château's gift shops but waited until I returned home to buy a bottle.

Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur

For more information about the château, visit the Domaine national de Chambord website.

Next: Château de Chenonceau

Tours: Heart of the Loire Valley

2021-02-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

A good home base for exploring the many grand châteaux of the Loire Valley is the city of Tours. One hour from Paris via high-speed TGV train, the region's largest city is also set amidst the valley's much humbler troglodyte homes. And I had the opportunity to dine in one of these fascinating caves.

Town Hall, Tours

I didn't have much time to explore this beautiful city, other than a visit to Saint-Gatien Cathedral, the Gare de Tours rail station and a quick shopping trip at Galeries Lafayette.

Window Box, Tours

Saint-Gatien Cathedral

Gare de Tours, the TGV Rail Station

We stayed at the historic Hotel L'Univers Tours. The inviting lobby has a portrait gallery with murals of the establishment's many famous guests including French chanteuse Edith Piaf and Winston Churchill.

Lobby of the Hotel L'Univers Tours

Palm Trees and Chandeliers

Edith Piaf (centre)

Winston Churchill (centre)

In the evening we headed out into castle country for dinner, with a detour to see the bronze sculpture of a rather buff Leonardo da Vinci gazing across the Loire River at Château Amboise. The artist and inventor moved to Amboise at the invitation of King François I and spent the last three years of his life here.

Bridge Over the Loire River

Leonardo de Vinci, Amleto Cataldi (1923)

Château Amboise

The limestone cliffs of the Loire Valley have been quarried for centuries to build the region's homes and châteaux. This left cavities in the cliffside that were later used as troglodyte homes. One of these homes in Montlouis-sur-Loire was more recently used as a wine cave and is now the Restaurant La Cave. The warm decor and central fireplace created a cozy ambience in which to enjoy the delicious local cuisine.

Restaurant La Cave

The Bar

Fireplace

Escargots with Mushrooms and Bacon

I'm happy to say that Château Amboise was merely an appetizer. There were two more castles on the menu for the following day: Chambord and Chenonceau.

Angers: Gateway to the Loire Valley

2021-01-25T13:20:00.002-05:00

The city of Angers on the Maine River in western France is a gateway to the Loire Valley and its many beautiful châteaux. A quick lunch stop in Angers gave me an opportunity to explore the city's medieval centre with its impressive 13th-century castle, Château d'Angers, and a cathedral constructed in a mix of Romanesque and Gothic styles, Cathédral Saint-Maurice.

The French City of Angers on the Maine River

Château d'Angers

Château d'Angers, Angers Castle (1230)

Castle Moat, Converted to Gardens During the Renaissance

For lunch we found a charming little restaurant near the castle, Crêperie du Château, where we shared un galette (a savoury buckwheat crêpe) in the tiny courtyard. Then we set off to find the cathedral.

Medieval Centre of Angers

Crêperie du Château

Crêperie Courtyard

Un Galette, a Savoury Crêpe

Half-Timbered House

Cathédral Saint-Maurice

Cathédral Saint-Maurice, Angers

Cathedral Nave

Altar

Nave (viewed towards the entrance)

Pipe Organ

Replica Panel from the Apocalypse Tapestry in Angers Castle

An unexpected treat capped off our visit to the cathedral: a rehearsal on the massive pipe organ.

For more information about this delightful city, visit the Destination Angers website.