1, 2, 3... Chateaux in the Loire Valley

On our way down to the Loire, we dropped Veronika off at Rennes and then met up with Julia in Amboise, which was our home-base. The Loire is a land of castles. Evidently it was really in vogue to have your own Loire castle during the 1500's, so there was lots of competition for the best one. You all can vote on what you think. Each one had it's own charm.

Amboise

Chambord
This one was cool because we've had a picture of it up in our hallway for 15 or so years. I guess my dad had some engineering convention there one summer ages ago. It is famous for it's size - 400 rooms, 356+ chimneys.


Cheverny
Cheverny's owners still live in the top floor today, which helps explain why there's such a homey feel to it. I would like to meet the interior decorator some day. Each room was BEAUTIFULLY done. All fabrics, colors, textures, paintings, sculptures, china... meshed perfectly. Loved it! It wins for the inside hands down.

The chateau is famous for it's hunting dogs, all with a shaved V for identification. The 100 or so hounds were really fun to watch. Something would excite them and they'd all head to one end of the cage, and then the leader of the pack would speak and they'd all turn around and listen.
Very entertaining. And they looked so happy.


Chenonceau

Gorgeously situated across the river, this house was given to Dianne de Poitier (who was a mistress to some French king). She knew how to work it! The location was unbelievable with the sunshine streaming in across the river and into the chateau.

The kitchen was top-of-the-line in its day. Waffle makers, cake molds, different rooms for baking, butchering, beating...


Not only was the location unforgettable, the gardens were bursting with spring.

And the inside flower arrangements bowled us over. They were the most beautiful concoctions I'd ever seen, freshly arranged with unique designs placed in each room.

Villandry
Villandry is famous for its gardens. They wowed us for sure. Different hedge designs to represent crosses. Various vegetables planted to show off red versus green versus orange colors...

Azay-le-Rideau


This was my personal #1. It was enchanting, like you were walking into the story of Sleeping Beauty. Situated on a lake, as opposed to Chenonceau's river, it was just gorgeous.


It didn't hurt that the clouds above were showing off for us.


And we finally got our question answered about the mysterious bright yellow flowers we'd been seeing on all of our drives, since we asked one of the bookstore employees there. Colza, or in English, rape used for rapeseed oil. The French countryside is covered with it.