The first time in France: visiting the Loire Castles

After traveling for some years in Italy decided to go and see what is outside our country and we choose as the first half France, in particular the region of the Loire.

 

Here we are ready for our first trip outside Italy, we decide to go to France to be precise, given the vastness of the nation, we choose the region of the Loire Valley, dotted with magnificent castles and fantastic landscapes.

Guide peugeot fitted with both enthusiasm and depart early in the morning to the time of the Frejus tunnel and just before they take advantage of the border for one last good coffee and to buy a road map that we still lack.

Through the tunnel and a large part of France and the evening we reach Cheverny, we find an inn that we decide will be our reference for the first 5 days of travel in order to move in the day and returning for the night.

The discovery starts

We decided not to waste time and start by choosing to visit for the first closest to the castle, and opt for Cheverny, one can not say that reflects the imagined fairy tale castle, with towers and drawbridge, is a gigantic residence, immersed in an infinite park with well kept lawns and trees that give us some valuable shade, because we found a summer marked by tremendous heat and a drought that was not here for years (at least so assures us the hotel and a restaurant owner in the area).
The castle, although inhabited, is partially open and it is really worth. however, the character of the castle is the breeding of beautiful hunting dogs.
Spend the afternoon wandering in the forests and castles, some "minor" small residences pretty much always with infinite parks.

For the second day we decide to go to the castle that the image viewed on guides and brochures we felt it was aesthetically the most "fascinating": Chenonceau.
Here the parking is outside of the forest that surrounds the castle, which cross the forest with great pleasure, given the high temperatures (very unusual) and the end of which we have this huge castle at the turn of the river, it was constructive a covered gallery on two floors, on the river, a really fantastic show and even the rooms inside the castle worth visiting, because un'italiana lived here, namely Catherine de Medici, one of the two gardens was devoted to her, while the other in Poiters of Diana, the mistress of Henry II, husband of Catherine de Medici ... that story!
After the visit to the castle we visit the small museum of wax and then we head toward Chambord, certainly the largest and most impressive of the castles of the Loire, but see the visit the next day, because the forty degrees which does not give us respite.
In the evening, when the temperatures are a bit more acceptable, we decide to go and see Blois, its a great country on the banks of the Loire, with all white houses and slate roofs blacks during the days that give a charming glance, the evening the lights give a wonderful view of the castle which is located in the center of the country and where the large inner courtyard is the story of the castle and the passing of Joan of Arc, who meets a little everywhere.

It starts today with the visit of Chambord, visit the interior, although here the original furnishings are few, certainly the best preserved carriages and interesting spectacle of the horses we see.
In the following days we head to Briare to see the pont-canal, in practice, a bridge that crosses the Loire, which flows into a canal to connect the smaller rivers that run in parallel and thus allow the passage of small boats, then visit the village of Chinon, where iresti remains of the castle and where you live the memory of the passing of Joan of Arc, a walk is really pleasant, as it is good to see all these slate roofs of blacks that stand out with the sun to the time of sunset.
After a day spent in this area we decide to move towards the mouth of the river to visit other castles, and then set the night for some "base" in Villandry, in a nice hotel near the castle and the following days we go to discover the nearby castles.

We can only start the visit from the castle of Villandry, famous for more than the salt or the magnificence of affreshi or arazi for its gardens, are divided into three sectors and all three leave the visitor breathless, even those who do not have too l 'hobby or passion for gardening can only be in ecstasy in front of such beauty.
In the afternoon we go to visit the castle of Ussé, it says here that has taken the inspiration for the tale of Sleeping Beauty.

Today we start to discover the castle of Azay le Rideau, characteristic to be surrounded by water and where the evening to witness a spectacle of lights and sounds "that runs between the park and the castle really fantastic.

Today we give a shift a little longer to reach the castle Valençay, everything here is worth a visit and certainly will not be wasted time, from large tree-lined street to go to achieve it, through the magnificent gardens and park in front with lots of animals around it but the thing that fascinated most was the visit to the interiors, perfectly and lovingly preserved, the audio supplied which tells the story of the castle and its inhabitants, with a mixture of characters, loves and lovers, that almost seems to see them meet in corridors and secret passages .... inevitable even a visit to the museum the car a few yards from the castle, of course passing through the park.
Our journey draws to a close, but we believe we can really pleased to visit this corner of France who gave us landscapes and moments are truly unique and has helped to grow in us the desire to discover and already think of traveling to the next journey, perhaps in another corner of France ...