Take a cloud tour --- Castles in Loire Valley, France
2023-07-12
Due to outbreak of novel coronary pneumonia, many people have canceled their original travel plans.
So, follow me on a cloud tour and visit castles of Loire Valley in France.
Most of castles in Loire Valley were built in middle of 16th century, and most of them belong to French Renaissance style.
Castles can be roughly divided into three types: royal castles, noble castles and other castles.
First visit two royal castles together: Château de Chambord and Château de Chenonceau.
01. Chambord Castle also translates as Chambord Castle and official website also uses this name. Inscribed on World Heritage List in 1981, it is largest and most majestic building in castles of Loire.Château de Chambord was originally a hunting ground, and later Francis I built a castle here in 1519.
Château de Chambord
The designer of castle has always been a mystery. It is rumored that sketch was designed by da Vinci, but there is no conclusive evidence, it is certain that style of castle of Chambord was clearly inspired by da Vinci.
In 1534, when main part of castle was built, Francis I died, and whole castle was completed 150 years later, during period of Louis XIV.
Château de Chambord
The Chateau de Chambord, unlike other castles focused on defensive functions, began to focus on appearance. Therefore, in order to pursue external effects, some places do not even install windows for lighting. And his most famous double helix staircase, installed in main hall.
Image taken from French official website of Chateau de Chambord
The interior of Chambord Castle is made in style of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, luxurious and filled with a courtly atmosphere.
Interior of Chateau de Chambord
02. Chateau de Chenonceau, also known as "Women's Castle", because its previous owners were some extraordinary ladies. For example, Diane de Poitiers, favorite concubine of Henry II; Gabrielle de Estre, favorite concubine of Henry IV; Catherine de Medici, concubine of king, widow; Louise Dupont, daughter of Chancellor of Finance under Louis XV. These women made full use of their talents, power and wealth to transform castle of Chenonceau into a palace of art.
Diana de Poitiers made gardens of Chenonceau most fashionable and artistic of her time; this is one of reasons why Chenonceau is most visited castle after Versailles.
Image taken from Chenonceau French official website
Château de Chenonceau is unique in that it has a unique covered bridge across Cher River, which has become a remarkable piece of castle architecture.
Château de Chenonceau
One of mistresses of castle, Louise Dupont, was daughter of Chancellor of Finance in era of Louis XV. She is undoubtedly representative of elegance and perfection of 18th century Enlightenment. In her salon in Chenonceau, most prominent elite and philosophers of that era gathered, Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau were guests here.
The castle's two-story covered bridge currently hosts mainly art exhibitions, including famous paintings, sculptures, and so on.
Image of covered bridge of castle of Chenonceau
Let's visit another noble castle: Chateau de Cheverny
03. Chateau de Cheverny, also translated as Chateau de Cheverny. This castle is widely known for fact that Château de Moulinsard in The Adventures of Tintin is based on castle of Cheverny.
Cheverny Castle
The Cheverny Castle has been open to public since 1922 and has always been inhabited.
Louis XIV's boulle style wardrobe, 17th century tapestries, a magnificent dining room, a warmly furnished children's room will make you feel as if you were instantly transported to Middle Ages.
Interior of castle: dining room, nursery', office
For Tintin fans, castle's biggest draw is permanent exhibition themed "The Mystery of Mulancas", which features a model same size as real thing, showing stories from comics. , and entering this museum is like starting an adventure with Tintin.
Museum "Secrets of House of Mulan", image taken from official website of castle of Cheverny
In Loire Valley there are more than 70 castles, large and small, of different styles and purposes.
By architectural style of castle, you can determine whether it belongs to Gothic, Romanesque or Renaissance styles.
The development of horticulture can be understood from garden style of castle;
From decorations and works of art in castle, one can understand clash of ideas of Renaissance.
Traveling is a way to experience clash of different cultures and experience sublimation of ourselves.
#在家云旅游#
Author's brief introduction: @爱吃冰饼的小狼 Chinese settled in France, senior international trader, travel lover, wine connoisseur and communicator.
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