Take a road trip through castles in Loire Valley and experience most magnificent and charming French essence in land of castles.
2023-07-09
There is a saying that to appreciate purest and most perfect French style, you only need to visit two places: Paris and Loire Valley; longest Loire river in France is known as "the most beautiful place in world". The river" and valley through which it flows is considered the "rear garden of France";
Shot in Château de Chinon, France
Why do you say that? If Paris represents a diverse, romantic and avant-garde urban culture, then Loire Valley is beautiful for its quiet and elegant pastoral style. There are many castles here, and most important part of France, country of ten thousand castles, is also in this river valley...
Shot in Amboise Castle, France
During protracted Hundred Years War between Britain and France, French royal family is said to have fled to Loire Valley to seek refuge. People also come here for holidays in fashion, and many magnificent and noble castles have risen from ground. , or reflected in water, or hiding in forest, and now they are very adorable when swimming;
Shot in Angersburg, France
The best way to visit castles in Loire Valley is by car. For those who have a castle complex, it will be very pleasant to visit castles one by one. While visiting castles, you can also walk from one city to another. The city, according to legend, castle and city are reflected on banks of Loire River, which all vividly appear before our eyes;
Shot in Château de Chambord, France
From great city of Nantes to Angers, Tours, Blois and Orléans, this is essence of Loire castle group. Regardless of cities and towns, almost all of them have castles. If castle tour is one of highlights of "French Taste". Nantes in west and Orléans in east are two important starting points from where you can start an intense, luxurious and beautiful tour of castle...
Shot in castle of Blois, France
Imperious and majestic royal castle - Chateau of BloisAfter castles in Loire Valley began to flourish, castle-fortresses of defensive and military purposes have left stage of history, demonstrating strength and glory, filled with luxury and pleasure ...
Speaking of royal castles of France, I must say about imperious and majestic castle of Blois in Blois, because over past 400 years, as many as 7 French kings and 10 queens have lived here; among them Francis I, king of France, a king who loves castles;
He "connected" several famous castles: he was born and raised in castle of Amboise, as an adult he used castle of Chenonceau as a hunting palace, ruled for many years in magnificent castle of Blois, died. Before that, da Vinci was invited to design the famous Chateau Chambord, and indeed his love for castles can be traced.
(Credit, photo: Xixing Jun)
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Kings and queens in French castles - Chenonceau and ChambordAmong hundreds of castles in Loire Valley, if you choose "king" and "queen", I think it should be Chambord and Chenonceau. One is beautiful and romantic, other is full of majestic style, one is majestic and charming, one dramatizes life and death of a man, and other is full of grief and hatred for a woman...
Let's talk about most popular "Women's Castle" of Chenonceau in Europe. Diana, an excellent mistress, Queen Louise, who wore mourning clothes all year round after death of "transvestite" Henry III, and Madame Dupin, dream mistress of philosopher Rousseau, some of them created beauty of Chenonceau, while others were protected, his safety was ensured, and his the legend continues...
Looking back at Chateau Chambord, a masterpiece created by talented master Leonardo da Vinci, especially 365 giant chimneys, how does it feel to come together? The complex and extreme beauty of Chambord Castle is revealed violently and dazzlingly on 33-meter high platform;
Wandering among these chimneys, no matter front, back, left, right, up, down, far or close, they are all so attractive and shocking; Chateau Chambord is in front of you, simplicity of lower half and splendor of upper half, simplicity of lower half and upper half. The complexity of building not only forms a strong visual contrast, but also blends perfectly with each other. The ingenuity of idea permeated in it is remarkable. No wonder French consider it a national treasure .
(Credit, photo: Xixing Jun)
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Fairy tale castles - Château Usse and Château de ChevernyThe area between Nantes and Orléans, France's two largest cities, is best place to visit castles in Loire Valley. Palaces and castles are becoming more and more, both magnificent and full of fabulous temperament;
Among them, Château de Usse and Château de Cheverny are prototypes of castles from fairy tales; Château Usse, built on a platform like a huge model of a castle, is famous "Castle of Sleeping Beauty". It has a strong romantic atmosphere. in a dense forest, perfectly interpreting Perrault's "Sleeping Beauty in the Forest";
In addition to castle of Husse, reference image is extremely symmetrical and beautiful castle of Cheverny, which is prototype for castle in The Adventures of Tintin. Here Tintin, Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus went on an unusual adventure together;
It is worth mentioning that during Second World War, in order to avoid fire of war, Cheverny Castle once housed precious collections of Louvre, including Mona Lisa... Looking at Fort Usse and Chevet Nyborg reminds me of Alcazar castle in Segovia, Spain, which is called "Snow White's Castle".
(Credit, photo: Xixing Jun)
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Witness friendship between king and master - Château d'Amboise and Clos-LusbourgIn past, French kings in Middle Ages took pride in following Italian fashion and loved to introduce France to Italian Renaissance art, architecture and various craftsmen. Among them, French king François I was king who was obsessed with Italian art. This royal castle has also been turned into an Italian style palace.
This castle is not only place where Francis I was born and raised, but also place where religious persecution took place. 1200 Protestants were killed here, and their bodies were stabbed in castle, on wall;
A few hundred meters from castle of Amboise is small castle of Clolus, where once lived a rare genius in history of mankind - Da Vinci, he is not only a talented artist, he is also an astronomer, inventor, medical scientist and civil engineer. .. In last few years of his life, he was invited to France by Francis I, French king, who loved art of Renaissance, and lived in this small castle, a gift from king. master's favorite "Mona Lisa"; Clos Lusbourg is only a few hundred meters from royal castle of Amboise, where king lives, and master, finally, in arms of alarmed king Passed away...
(Credit, photo: Xixing Jun)
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Fortress AngerIn a country rich in castles, German style, Italian style and Spanish style evoke different feelings, and French style is no exception. The French style is much more luxurious and romantic, rooted, of course, thanks to changes of times and favor of royal family;
When castles in Loire Valley began to flourish, castle-fortresses turned into palaces and manors, and use of defense and war gave way to needs of comfort and pleasure. And complex and luxurious transformation.. .
Among numerous castles in Loire Valley, there are not so many surviving ancient fortresses. Two famous fortresses are Angers and Chinon. Angers is especially rare because it is well preserved. Its appearance can teach you what it means to be "impregnable as gold" and "one man stands guard over gate and ten thousand men cannot open it";
This castle is guarded by 17 tall and dark towers and walls.
Credit, photo: Xixing Jun
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Discover Legend of Joan of Arc - ChinonburgThere is a legendary national hero in history of France. Not only did she lead French army to reverse recurring defeats in Hundred Years' War between Britain and France, she also made her debut as a teenager. This is Joan of Arc, at Château de Chinon she lobbied Queen of France for military power and began her short but brilliant heroic journey.
Walking around France, I found that there are so many cities associated with this girl. Rouen, Chinon, Orléans, Reims, Compiègne and even Paris may be associated with her. She gained valuable military power in Chinon, saved famous "Siege of Orleans", helped Charles VII be crowned at that time in Reims, and finally attacked Paris victoriously. He was then captured at Compiègne and taken prisoner by England at Rouen. People were executed for witches; 
In addition to these key nodes, she attacked more cities... What puzzles me is that this god-like girl, illiterate but turning tide many times, has even been called a military strategist and a Catholic saint. real person? or legend? During her lifetime, she claimed to have been "inspired by God" to commission important tasks, and after her death, she also played an important role in Western culture;
Not only French politicians use her image for advertising, but Shakespeare, Voltaire, Schiller, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Shaw and other writers and composers have also created works associated with her. It is a miracle in itself that no medieval figure has been studied and celebrated as widely as Joan of Arc, regardless of gender.
(Credit, photo: Xixing Jun)
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Castle in Coco's hometown - Chateau de SaumurSome castles on banks of Loire river are reflected in water as silhouette of city, because they are built on hills on banks. , very charming; such a castle, not just to see it up close, but also to other side of river to see it from afar, just like visiting a city and then climbing a high tower to overlook it, you can understand everything, from details to whole picture ;
The small town of Saumur also has a large castle in hills near Loire River. Initially, it was just a defensive fortress, but later turned into a beautiful and romantic sight. It is same as castle of Angers I. mentioned yesterday. A masterpiece of famous family of Duke of Anjou...
When I arrived in Saumur, weather was cloudy and sunny, and fog was gathering and dissipating. Saumur castle also appeared from time to time. As one of most beautiful castles in France, it looks delicate and charming from afar. Looking closely, it is extremely spectacular, this feature is very similar to a person, a fashion queen, with a small and delicate appearance, but a strong heart. When talking about her, always think of Paris, but small town Unlike many celebrities, due to her humble origins and emotional disappointment in past, goddess with a strong aura avoided talking about her hometown all her life. The small town of Somir also represents mystery of her life experiences. .Guess who she is, Yes Coco Chanel Coco*Chanel.
"Randomly Meet Dumas" - Fort Monsolo
Encountering unexpected beautiful landscapes while traveling is truly a wonderful encounter, whether it's a miniature ancient city walled by road, or beautiful countryside that makes you want to stop at any time along way. pleasant surprise Unexpected gift; once "meeting with Alexandre Dumas" in Loire Valley was an unplanned "meeting";
After entering Loire Valley, full of castles, highway almost disappeared. On way from Saumur to Château Chinon, after turning a corner and crossing a bridge, castle suddenly appeared in front of us. roadside; this castle was not originally in itinerary, but he fascinated with his white figure and his powerful and somewhat dilapidated posture, so I stopped car for inspection;
It's name is written on a sign on side of road. After checking it, I learned that it was prototype of Madame Monsolo. The author is French romantic Dumas, this castle is called Monsolo Castle and trilogy, consisting of "Madame Monsolo", "Queen Margot" and "Forty-five Guards", depicts various scenes of French court in 16th century, heroes and beauties, love and greed, power and conspiracy, grotesque, swords. and swords...
Castle Monsolo is closed to public and people can only perceive stories of novel through its loneliness, vicissitudes and independent appearance, as well as prosperity and decline of past...
Credit, photo: Xixing Jun
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