Our first find was the grand royal Chateau de Chambord and is the largest in the Loire Valley. It is also the most recognized over the world because of its distinct French Renaiassance architecture. Constructed by King Francois I in the 16th century to be his hunting lodge and partly to be (close to his mistress) Comtesse de Thoury. Wow!
Our next stop, though not as grand but full of history was Clos Luce in Amboise. The chateau was built in the 1400's on a 12th century foundation and was the final home of the great painter and inventor Leonardo da Vinci. He arrived in Amboise in 1510 by mule and was carring in his saddlebags the paintings of the Mona Lisa and Saint John the Baptist, which are now a permanant collection in the Lourve, Paris. He died in 1519.
After a little more roaming around, we found ourselves a 12th century Abbaye to spend the night. Pretty fitting for a day filled with history.
Chateau de Chambord
House of Chambord Liqour and a little village.
another little castle
Clos Luce, Leonardo da Vinci home.
Town of Amboise, royal residence of King Francois I.
Le Grand Hotel de l'Abbaye
"Queen size chair" and exterior view of Abbaye.
Terrace view.
No comments:
Post a Comment