| The Loire Valley of France is famous for its many | | | | Catherine used her power to claim Chenonceau upon |
| romantic chateaux and its wines. Here are five | | | | the death of her husband, Henri II, Diane de Poitiers |
| excellent venues to be found east of the city of | | | | did live at Chaumont for a brief period. This chateau |
| Tours. They are in relatively close proximity and can | | | | is smaller than some of the other famous Loire |
| be visited in a quick two days or a leisurely three by | | | | chateaux, but its architectural design makes it look as |
| car. One can visit these sites in the order listed going | | | | if it emetged from a fairy tale. This chateau is now |
| in a generally easterly direction. These are all | | | | the property of the French government. |
| top-notch attractions, and a visit to the Loire Valley is | | | | Chateau de Cheverny |
| not complete without seeing them all. Each of these | | | | A personal favorite of this author, the Chateau de |
| chateaux have regularly scheduled guided tours. | | | | Cheverny is unique in many ways. It is newer than |
| Amboise | | | | some of the other famous properties, having been |
| The impressive chateau which overlooks the Loire | | | | built in the early 17th century. Amazingly, the same |
| river from the top of a cliff was a royal residence in | | | | family that built the chateau lives in it today. One |
| the 15th and 16th centuries. Famous French kings and | | | | sees many beautiful pieces of furniture, tapestries, |
| royalty were raised here, including Francois I, who | | | | and works of art in the magnificent rooms on the |
| later as king invited Leonardo da Vinci to live in | | | | chateau tour. The property, unlike many others in the |
| Amboise. Leonardo spent the last few years of his | | | | region, was not ransacked during the French |
| life living and working close by at Clos Luce. He is | | | | revolution. According to our tour guide there, the |
| buried in the small chapel of Saint-Hubert, just outside | | | | nearby townspeople actually helped to protect the |
| the chateau walls. At Clos Luce an interesting | | | | building from destruction since the family was always |
| museum has been built. Using plans drawn by | | | | kind to the local inhabitants. Of course visitors are not |
| Leonardo da Vinci, a number of his machines and | | | | allowed into the residential section of the chateau, |
| inventions have been constructed in modern times | | | | but the grounds can be visited as well. There one will |
| and are displayed. They attest to the genius of this | | | | find the kennel which houses about 90 hunting dogs, |
| man who was hundreds of years ahead of his time. | | | | and they are taken out on hunts twice per week in |
| In the 17th and 18th century the chateau fell upon | | | | order to keep up the old deer hunting tradition in the |
| hard times and was a prison at one point. Numerous | | | | region. |
| restoration projects took place over time, and these | | | | Chateau de Chinon |
| continue today under the direction of a foundation | | | | The Chateau de Chinon is the largest of the |
| managed by descendants of the former king | | | | chateaux in the Loire region, and it contains more |
| Louis-Philippe, who also spent time in Amboise during | | | | than 400 rooms. In contrast to the warmth of |
| his reign. | | | | Cheverny, however, there is little furniture and most |
| Chenonceau | | | | of the rooms are empty, as the building was |
| Perhaps the most famous of the Loire chateaux, | | | | ransacked during the French revolution. One does get |
| Chenonceau spans the Cher river. It is an amazing | | | | a sense of the opulence that was here, however, |
| sensation to be touring the chateau and see the | | | | since both king Louis XIII and his son, king Louis IV |
| rushing waters of the river pass underneath. The | | | | (the "Sun King") stayed here on many occasions. Prior |
| grounds boast two magnificent gardens, each one | | | | to that the chateau was the residence of Charles |
| built by a famous lady in French history. One was | | | | VII, the dauphin of France in the early 15th century. |
| Diane de Poitiers who was a mistress of king Henri II | | | | The legendary Joan of Arc came here to pledge her |
| and was given the chateau by her admirer. The king's | | | | allegiance to him and urged him to declare himself |
| wife, Catherine de Medici, was not happy about this | | | | king and fight to liberate France from the English. In |
| and took back the chateau after Henri II died | | | | recent years Chinon has become well known for its |
| accidentally in a tournament. Not to be outdone, | | | | cabernet franc based wines and there are numerous |
| Catherine had the de Medici gardens constructed, and | | | | opportunities nearby to sample some of these wines. |
| these were of course larger than the garden of | | | | The Chateaux of the Loire are among the most |
| Diane de Poitiers. The property has a winery as well, | | | | popular destinations in France. Don't miss any of |
| and one can do some wine tasting as part of a visit. | | | | these great venues if you go there. If you have |
| Chateau de Chaumont | | | | additional time to spend in the area, there are other |
| This was Catherine de Medici's residence during the | | | | smaller and less famous chateaux nearby which can |
| time that Diane de Poitiers lived at Chenonceau. After | | | | be visited, and these are impressive as well. |