Renowned for its lavish chateaux, the relics of royal days gone by, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the river Loire, this huge area runs through the heart of French life. Its sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent wine and food add up to a bourgeois heaven. The lush Loire valley is supremely regal. In the 13th century, Orleans was the intellectual capital of France. It attracted artists, poets and troubadours to its royal court. Also ripe for discovery are sleepy hamlets and troglodyte caves,, and small Romanesque churches decorated with frescoes. Inviting inns offer game, fish and plentiful fresh vegetables to be savoured with light white Vouvray wine, or full-bodied Bourgueil. Overindulgence is no sin in this rich region. The Blois Castle, capital of the kingdom for a short time (1498-1595), was stirred by the last starts of the Valois dynasty. It is like visiting four different castles rolled into one - so different are the architectural elements at play in the four wings. The Chenonceau Chateau, the "Chateau des dames", is absolutely stunning and built on a bridge across the Cher river. King Henri II gave it to his favourite, Diane de Poitiers, but his wife Catherine de Medici demanded it back upon the untimely death of Henri II after a nasty jousting accident - who can blame her it is such a treasure. Diane was offered Chateau Chaumont in exchange. But Diane never set foot there, instead retreating to Chateau Anet, where she died in 1566, 7 years after the death of Henri. The Chambord castle, pinnacle of the Renaissance, combined the dream of King Francois the First with the imagination of Leonardo da Vinci, who lived at Clos Luce also open to be toured, in Amboise for the last four years of his life. The result is a real "mathematisation" of architecture, a grandiose creation: 440 rooms,a fabulous double helix staircase,a chimney for every day of the year and unique roof terrace. Over its history Chateau Chambord has only ever been used as a residence for twenty years. The Azay le Rideau Chateau one of the purest creations of the Renaissance, was built on an island of the Indre River perfect setting for an architectural gem
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Renowned for its lavish chateaux, the relics of royal days gone by, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both history and architecture. Like the river Loire, this huge area runs through the heart of French life. Its sophisticated cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent wine and food add up to a bourgeois heaven. The lush Loire valley is supremely regal.
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