The pictures you are about to see though are from a day trip that was hosted by a group to the Loire Valley, south of Paris. This area is known for its abundance of castles along the, you guessed it, Loire River. And while, small tear, we did not end up seeing the castle that forever resides as the background to background to my computer- I temporarily got over my subtle sadness to enjoy the two castles we would end up seeing- The Chateau de Chenonceau and the Chateau d' Amboise.
Check out their websites to see a little more, and of course some beautiful pictures
http://www.chenonceau.com/media/fr/index_fr.php
http://www.chateau-amboise.com/
(one on my background...: http://www.chambord.org/ ; but a picture close to the one I have is: http://www.freewebs.com/mdvanzutphen/Chateau_de_Chambord_France.jpg)
BUT TO CONTINUE, this was the Chateau de Chenonceau...
Ha, but to be more honest, that was a picture of a professional picture! Op, gotcha! The ideal... I know. This is what it looked like when our group went there -
And what it looked like coming down the path (the front of it was under construction). And to add- the long area over what used to be just an arched bridge- is actually a long hallway with close to nothing in it (not to disappoint). In WWI it was used as a hospital space, but otherwise it was a gallery.
View from the inside, looking down the Loire River.
These were the royal symbols for Henri II and Catherine de' Medici. But get this, on the floor as decoration the two royal symbols, just like they were bonded in marriage, were on top of one another on the floor textiles. However, when such happened, the layering of the two created what looked like a D. IT JUST SO HAPPENED that Henri II's mistress and actual first owner of recipient of the castle, Diane de Poitiers. Henri found this pretty funny... but Catherine, not so much.
The library wall
One of the downstairs eating areas... I got excited because it (oh goodness) made me think of potterybarn...
They had SO much pot wear, I just had to.
Some of the framed prints of the castle. This was Catherine de' Medici's exhibition room.
You must meet the group that I went with!!
From left to right you have: Patrick, Sam (on of my roommates!), Alex, Dot (Harry Potter wiz extraordinaire), Sarah (I will be taking a cooking class with her later), and Katelyn.
This is a picture after we had a race through the castle's side labyrinth- Alex one, so is taking a "victory shot" brushing off his shoulder...
We were the losers...
Striking a pose as I climb the center object!
Next we went and visted Leonardo Da Vinci's final manor. He had a studio here, did some work here, and eventually died here.
So... one of the ideas he thought of was the precursor to the helicopter. At the manor they had built a life size replica, and being the kids that we are HAD A BLAST with this convenient learning tool! Sorry to say, there was no lift off- but we did fly off a couple times!
View from part of his manor.
The sun had JUST come out and everyone was just soaking it in!
Two of my beautiful friends enjoying beautiful France. :)
(That is part of the Chateau d' Amboise in the background)
Some bundled up kids enjoying a day out on the town near the Chateau d' Amboise.
An amazing town clock... one which we actually found a secret door to climb up it! It was a beautiful view from the upper windows!
Once we got town, we walked a little more an ended up coming to the Loire River and taking a final view of the Chateau.
Back on the bus :)
No comments:
Post a Comment