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Showing posts with label Cheverny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cheverny. Show all posts

Thursday, September 6, 2018

Exploring Chateau de Chambord and Chateau de Cheverny (France) - Visiting Loire Valley Gems with Savvy Mom Ruth Paget

Exploring the Château de Chambord and the Château de Cheverny (France) – Visiting Loire Valley Gems with Savvy Mom Ruth Paget



On a French National Patrimony Day, Laurent and I drove to the Loire Valley to visit two lesser-known châteaux: Chambord and Cheverny.

Chambord was first and foremost a royal hunting lodge.  Women sat on a terrace and watched men go off hunting and played cards until they returned.  They ate together.

This Château was built in 1519 on the orders of François 1 (House of Valois).  The famous double staircase allowed people to go up and down without seeing one another – good for servants and lovers.

The other architectural feature that makes Chambord stand out is its terrace.  The terrace is more of an Italian invention than a French one. 

The lawn and terrace both offer seating for the Château’s sound and light show.  Chambord has a liqueur of its own that is used in the Phoenix Cocktail of the University of Chicago.

I thought Chambord was a little touristy with its souvenir shops, a hotel restaurant, and several cafés.  I wanted to learn about châteaux gardens, history, and architecture.  I wished there were books out about those topics for sale.

I liked the small town of Cheverny next to Chambord, which is only 6 kilometers away from Chambord.  The garden was in full bloom there.

The Town of Cheverny had well-cared for hotels.  Red geraniums tumbled down out of window boxes and tables of umbrellas fluttered in the breeze outside lobbies and outdoor cafés abounded.

By Ruth Paget, author of Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France

Click here for:  Ruth Paget's Amazon Books



Ruth Paget Selfie