I went on a little trip in the back country, thing I’ve been wanting to do since I settled myself in France, so I was very excited and happy to finally do it.
One sunny day in our summer trip
I went to a region full of old castles : small, big, huge… all kind of castles are there, from every period. Of course, in my week of exploring, I couldn’t see them all, so I just went to a few of the most famous ones :)
The Chenonceau Castle
Among my readings this year, I spent a lot of time reading historical novels which, though certainly not accurate on everything and often highly over-creative to stay true to historical archives, let you form with disturbing ease a better chronology of the major events you should know happened in your country.
The Medici Trilogy - Jean Plaidy
The region, called the Countries of the Loire, because everything revolves around this river, La Loire, has often been the place where Kings used to establish their royal courts, one favoring one castle, the other favoring the other…
Castle of Amboise
So it’s with interest an a bit of emotion that I could walk in gardens, corridors, admire rooms in which one man I’ve been reading about for months used to sleep, eat or might have been killed…. :)
North facade
Anyway, the trip was as beautiful as it was entertaining and interesting, guided visits and “light & sound” nocturnal shows helping. I didn’t see even a quarter of what there’s to see there, but I’m sure I’ll make it up one day.. ;)
One facade of the Blois Castle, lit with special light for the nocturnal show
Symbol of the Britain Crown
Catherine de Medicis
