les chateaux de la loire, part 1

Just as Burgundy is the wine region of France, the idyllic Loire valley hides a veritable gold mine of chateaux. (Don't mind me, I'm just practicing my travel-writer-speak.) Thus, we were off to the quaint little town of Blois (pronounced somewhat like a French person vomiting) this weekend to find out what all the fuss is about these history-riddled castles. Secretly, I was also hoping to come accross Beauxbatons since I never did find Hogwarts while I was in Scotland.

I won't lie, as exciting as the prospect of castles and wine and history was, I was almost just as excited to miss three (i.e. five hours of) classes. By Thursday morning we were all incredibly relieved to be done and free to prepare for our departure that afternoon. What a wonderful feeling -- no crazy Frenchman rattling on about statistics and French slang, just a relaxing train ride and a long weekend of castles.

We stayed at what had to be the swankiest Holiday In I've ever encountered. There was odd modern furniture and art all over -- including a display of giant egg cartons, or possibly many pregnant women standing in a line, if you talk to Amanda. At any rate it was strange, but there was pretty decent food (including an amazing breakfast buffet) and some English television.

Friday was our first full day and we were scheduled for three events: Le Chateau de Blois, Le Cheateau de Chambourd and another wine tasting.

It was right before we left for our first chateau that I realized what an utter failure I am -- though I had remembered this time to charge and bring both of my batteries, I had left my memory card in my computer at Dijon, meaning I tragically have no pictures from the first day. However, because this entry would be devastatingly boring for you, my faithful readers (hi, parents) and basically pointless without photographic illustration, Abby has kindly agreed to let me borrow her brilliant photos from the day. Thus, all the following photos from Friday are property of Abby Kaufman, copywrite and etcetera.



I had to disagree with our guide who claimed that Blois was the most beautiful of the chateaux, it did have some very interesting aspects. It's made up of four different buildings built during different time periods, meaning that the whole chateaux consists of four different archiectectural styles. Above and straight ahead is the classical part which is the most recent, dating from 1635-1638. To the right, with the beautiful staircase, is the section from the Renaissance, dating from 1515-1520.



This is the gothic part, built around 1498-1503. It's not even the oldest part of the chateaux -- Abby didn't get a picture, but there is a also tiny little white building that was built all the way back in the tenth century.



The inside was splendid, each room ornately decorated literally from ceiling to floor. This is, afterall, where French royalty lived.



It's hard to tell from this picture, but the tiles in the rooms were amazing. I want to have this pattern in my kitchen someday.



This was one of my favorite rooms. I believe it was the study of Henry IV, who apparently loved books, because the panels on the walls actually opened up to reveal bookshelves that lined the room from ceiling to floor. Also, this is the only room to have maintained its original decoration.

When we were finished looking around the interior we went back outside where there was a terrace overlooking the town of Blois -- a perfect place to take in the view and take pictures. And this is where it got a little weird.



My French alter-ego, Marie-Chantal.

When the photographer is without her camera, she finds another, stranger way to contribute. Meet Marie-Chantal. She is far too superior to show any enjoyment at this castle. Besides, she has three of her own that are much bigger.

We were quickly off to our next castle destination -- Chambourd!



This one was definitely my favorite. It was immense. I spent most of my time there getting lost on one of the floors -- I would walk around and around feeling like I'd covered most of it, only to discover an entirely different section I hadn't seen before. To be honest, I was a bit glad not to have my camera at this place: it was overwhelming enough trying to take it all in without having to worry about getting good photos. This way I was able to just walk about in a daze and enjoy it.



I loved this room; it made me think Marie-Antoinette meets the tropics. I dediced that this would be my room if I lived here.



The tiny room that made up the servent's quarters.



What a pretty church.



There was graffiti like this all over and Abby and I were musing over whether or not it was authentic. I don't think we came to a conclusion.



Chambourd was originally a hunting lodge for Louis IVX. You know, just a small weekend home for a short trip to the countryside.



"Look at me, I'm in a castle!"

Before Abby and I even got a chance to peek at the third floor, we realized that we could go up to the roof and this became our priority.



I think it was one of the most amazing parts.



"There's an actual moat! This really is a castle!"

I could have easily spend many more hours there, but we had another wine tasting planned and so, alas, we left. (Leaving a castle to go taste wine -- yeah, it's a rough life here in France.) The wine wasn't anything compared to our first experience (the Loire Valley is not in Burgundy, which means the wine isn't as good) but it was still interesting. The man there showed us around the winery.



One of the vineyards, obviously.



This is where they make the wine. He told us how they make the different types of wine, and I don't remember everything he said specifically but basically it takes a lot of waiting. (Even though none of the wines they make are older than four or five years, I believe.)

Just as we were finishing up the tasting, I looked out the window and noticed the beautiful light of the sun setting over the vineyard and forced Abby outside with her camera.



I think it was a good decision.



Hey look, it's a picture I took! It was Abby's turn to play model.



The lovely Lauren joined us for a bit of frolicking.



And Amanda looks good in a field.

I've done many great photo shoots in my day, but I think a vineyard in France has to top them all. (Sorry, hillside field of poppies.)


I believe I must place a bookmark here for now, as this entry has already gotten monstrous and I still have two days and two monuments to get through.