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Chateaux Envy
Chateaux Envy
The Loire Valley: a stunning area brimming with castles just a few hours south of Paris. Back in the 18th century, this is where everyone who was anyone kept a second home. Even the spectacular mansions of the footmen are situated along the shores of the Loire River! With 300 castles to chose from, it is necessary to winnow it down, so we decided to chose one with a picturesque setting (Chenonceau), one with well-preserved furnishings (Cheverny), and one with impressive architecture (Chambord). But there's more to this area than touring chateaux: we witnessed a jousting fight, canoed the Loire River, spent time by the pool, and - as always - feasted like French kings and queens.
How to decorate a palace
How to decorate a palace
I'm pretty sure this was at Cheverny but don't quote me on that. The interiors there were gorgeous and sparked my imagination for what it was like to have lived so many centuries ago. If you go, don't miss the hunting dogs getting their lunch. The cutest!
Jousting competitions
Jousting competitions
We spent many happy, leisurely hours here at Chambord; one of the activities was watching a jousting match. We cheered our team, then lunched at the café, and toured the castle interior. Travel tip: explore the expansive grounds speedily by renting a bike!
Pastoral, bucolic, & verdant
Pastoral, bucolic, & verdant
You can't see if from here, but the Loire River was just behind this cheerful flowers bush. We found a peaceful, comfortable, countryside estate for our retreat, complete with a pool and a darling chat du chateau. We started every day with hearty, home-cooked breakfasts in the sunroom.
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