Exploring the legend of the Maid of Orléans
We arrived in Orléans around midnight after a long drive, and a detour around an industrial estate on the outskirts of the town thanks to a sat nav error. Midnight is never a great time to arrive...
View ArticleA walk through 18th century Orléans
Orléans is most famous for its association with Joan of Arc and, judging by the number of statues of the Maid of Orléans around the city, it’s not a relationship the town is going to underplay any time...
View ArticleChâteau de Chenonceau, the castle of the six ladies
If there is a more exquisite sight anywhere in the Loire Valley than the Château de Chenonceau in the early morning sunlight, I don’t know what it might be. Draped across the tranquil River Cher, its...
View ArticleThe Royal Citadel of Loches
The plan had been a morning exploring the delights of the Château de Chenonceau, followed by a drive through beautiful Loire Valley countryside, and a leisurely lunch in the ancient royal town of...
View ArticleA confluence of history in Tours
It was during our fifth circuit of its tightly packed city centre that I began to regret coming to Tours. How hard can it be to find a parking space? To be fair, our sat nav’s determination to take us...
View ArticleChinon, a Royal English castle in France
Imposingly built on an rocky hill, and towering over the Vienne River and the medieval town below, the fabulous Château de Chinon is an impressive and picturesque sight viewed from the banks of the...
View ArticleChâteau d’Ussé and the legend of Sleeping Beauty
We hadn’t planned to visit the Château d’Ussé. Instead we’d headed to the more famous and picturesque Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, only to find that it was undergoing major restoration work – always check...
View ArticleSuccumbing to the lure of the Loire in royal Amboise
The Loire Valley is a magnet for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in France’s royal history. The lure of the majestic River Loire, beautiful countryside, picturesque towns and villages, and...
View Article‘A well spent day brings happy sleep’, Leonardo in Amboise
Amboise has two world-class attractions, the Château Royal d’Amboise and the equally extraordinary Château du Clos Lucé, or Clos Lucé as it is almost universally known. It was to here that I headed...
View ArticleThe Renaissance glories of Château de Villandry
No trip to the Loire Valley would be complete without visiting at least one spellbinding château. That though creates its own dilemma: with so many extraordinary château to visit, which one is the one?...
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