A Flooded Loire River

Saumur with the Irish Girls

Four of us Irish girls headed to the town of Saumur on a bank holiday Thursday in April. We had a learned castle historian in Roisín (who had taken a class on them in the University of Tours) so we couldn't go wrong! Kate was in charge of the map while Shona and Roisín minded the excellent drawings of our Irish friends who couldn't physically make the excursion.

The castle at Saumur I learned was a defensive castle (thank you Roisín) and it also served as a prison. It is the vocal point of the town and rests on a hill over-looking it. It differed greatly to the one I witnessed at Angers and appears to be plucked straight out of a fairytale story book when viewed from far away.

Even up close one can dream of what life was like in this castle hundreds of years ago for the inhabitants of Saumur. We did not get to see much of the castle's interior but it was a worthwhile visit none the less. You get lovely views from the castle and the company that day was great wondering around with three of my very entertaining fellow country women!

Chateau de Chenonceau

This is the most beautiful chateau I have been to thus far. Chambord looks utterly amazing in photographs but it's proving difficult to get there. Chenonceau is easily accessible by train from my base in Tours and it really is stunning.

The gardens were my favourite part, especially this pink garden. The Chateau itself is jaw-dropping and it is built on the river Cher. It is huge inside with many rooms and plenty to see. My personal favourites were the kitchen and the gallery. I first saw a picture of this Chateau in my first year French class at college but I never thought I would get to see it in the flesh.

There was a small farm and also a gorgeous labyrinth in the grounds of the chateau. The whole estate, if it can be called that, was just utterly beautiful to walk around and take in.

I travelled that day with a party of American and Canadian students and also an Australian student, some of which were my classmates. They were a great bunch to explore with and I hope our paths cross again very soon!

Amboise: Sunday's Finest

April 14th we bound a train for nearby Amboise for the large regional farmers market and to check out the town itself. We were blessed with a beautiful hot day and it made our trip even sweeter. Experiencing a French market is a must and the sights and smells caught our eyes and taste buds. From live foul to huge cheeses to enormous bottles of wine and even clothes and mattresses... this market had it all!!

With our mouths watering it was time for some lunch and we dined outside on the town square... only getting slightly burned!! We then decided to explore Chateau d'Amboise and we were not disappointed. For me the highlight of the day (apart from the weather) was in the chateau or rather what was in its chapel. Here lies the tomb of the great Leonardo de Vinci. His tomb is simple yet elegant and the tiny chapel which houses him is beautiful.

The Chateau itself is very well preserved and nice for all age groups. Once we had exited the building we found an ice-cream stand and we took our cones to the grass and enjoyed the long awaited sunshine.

With a few hours to kill we had a few beverages in the shade once we had had enough of the heat (my slightly red skin in particular needed a break). Amboise is a lovely town and a great spot for tourists and locals alike particularly on market day. The chateau gives lovely views of the Loire river and the gardens are very well kept also. The town itself is beautiful in the sunshine and the little square provides lots of nice cafes and restaurants.

Vendôme... no more than a two hour stay

On the 13th of April we ventured to Vendôme, a small town in the Loir-et-Cher region. We arrived off the train expecting to be in or very near the town centre. We soon found out we were two to three miles outside the town and had to get a bus. The bus trip turned out to be a comic one... 
Shona "vous allez au centre de la ville?"
Bus driver "oui,où aimeriez-vous aller? "
Shona "je ne sais pas?"
Bus driver "pour rendez-vous?"
Shona "non, juste pour un voyage"

Vendôme is a pretty little town with little rivers everywhere and beautiful flowers and plants. As the heading suggests one can cover this town in two hours with lunch. It has the remains of an old castle looking over the town and if you wish to venture up the steep hill to it you will be met by a lovely garden and seating area over looking the surrounding areas. For me the nicest areas of the town were those by the water and in particular the old gate into Vendôme.

Angers: A Medieval Dream

Accompanied by my classmate, Ann, from my home college, we ventured to Angers on a cold final March weekend. This town is graceful and simply elegant with the Chateau d'Angers as its vocal point.

The castle is a beautiful structure built in the 9th century and is home to the Apocalypse tapestry. Much of the castle was closed off and from what we experienced it is only worth venturing inside on a warm sunny day. You are able to see most of its beauty for free from the outside.

The Musée de Beaux Arts is very impressive according to my travel partner Ann who is a lover of galleries and it appeared so to my eyes also. We stumbled upon a gallery full of fantastic sculptures next to the Musée, housed in a restored church building with a glass roof. It was most certainly the find of the day.

Walking around this charming town is an attraction in itself. The cobbled streets go uphill and downhill and are full of pretty flowers and dainty shops. Adam's House is a well known tourist spot and a very different shop with many wonderful crafts.

The tourist office in Angers are extremely helpful and you can cover all of the sights in a few hours. Apart from the magnificent castle my highlight of the day was the grounds of the Jean-Lurcat museum. The following photos will hopefully do it some justice...

I would have to admit that Angers is the most beautiful of the few towns I have visited so far. With its castle, clean sandy coloured buildings and streets, and beautiful tourist spots it really is a gem. The only element missing that day was the sun! A must for those who wish to explored a medieval and picturesque town.

Like Mother like Daughter

Just found some old photos of my mother's trip to La Rochelle in 1975 when she lived with a French family. She was 15 then. A bit of history repeating itself I suppose.

La grand-mere francais et ma mere avec la tour de la lanterne

                                                               La Rochelle 1975