France’s Loire Valley is renowned for its magnificent chateaux. Scores are scattered over the landscape and choosing which to see is a challenge. On this leg of our journey, John and I rented a car and made our home base in the quiet village of Chenonceaux, staying in a hotel just 300 meters from the […]
The Loire’s Castles and Gardens
Touring in the Loire Valley means you don’t have to travel far to see the grand chateaus and pretty villages that dot the landscape. The Castles in France are simply stunning. John and I stayed in one place, Chenonceaux, and found a multitude of treasures on short day trips along and over the rivers that […]
France’s Fontevraud Abbey, Tomb of a Queen
Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, near the Vienne River in the Loire Valley, is the largest abbey in France. Built in the early 12th century and restored in recent years, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I go to the great abbey, in the village of Fontevraud-l’Abbaye, to pay my respects to one of […]
France’s Lovely Loire Valley
The lush Loire Valley is the home to some of the most beautiful chateaux in France. Set near meandering rivers and streams, these chateaux are monuments to the glorious history of France. There are dozens of beautiful and historic chateaus in the Loire area, including the following four. Amboise Chateau The Château at Amboise overlooks […]
The Northwest Area of France
Rich with history, the Northwest Region of France’s unique culture and landscape bear the markings of centuries of struggles, triumphs, and glories. Rolling hillsides are accentuated by flowing rivers and rocky cliffs. Towering cathedrals and elegant chateaux are this region’s jewels of the past. This region holds the smaller regions of Brittany (Bretagne), Normandy and […]