Loire Valley

Wow! Where do I even start! This weeked was unbelievable! I went to the Loire Valley on Saturday and Sunday and explored the "heart o France." People say that the head of France is Paris. The brains are in Paris...the mind is in Paris. But, deep in the Loire Valley is where you will find France's heart. Well...let me tell ya! I found the heart!

The Loire Valley is full of castles (chateaux) and gorgeous countryside. There are beautiful little villages gracing the land. It was fabulouos. The Loire is a river running through France. Paris holds the Seine River...while the countryside can claim the wide, picturesque Loire.

Many kings of France wanted to get away from the madness of the city of Paris...so they would have chateaux built for them on the Loire River. Lovely idea, eh!?!

We went to many chateaux and villages!

1.) Chateau d'Amboise.
Catherine de Medici chilled here...but...fun fact: She never used silverware because she was convinced that it was "of the Devil" Haha. Oh, silly Catherine! Charles VIII died here in this chateau on his holiday. He was walking (actually, he was probably running)...and he ran into the top of the doorway in his chateau and died! No way! He must have been going rather quickly to die from running into a door! Oh, silly Charles!

2.) We saw Leonardo Da Vinci's house!
Oh my! It was wonderful! He only lived in two houses in his lifetime: one in (of course) Vinci, Italy...and the other here in France! We got to see all of his crazy inventions in his home. They were amazing. He had a park in the backyard with a pond that he would just invent stuff and try it out. (See picture below) Not to mention...he painted like a genius!



3.) Le Chateau de Chenonceau.
Fun fact about this castle.... Henri II was married to Catherine de Medici. (That girl definitely got around!) But, his "favorite" was Diane de Poitiers...So, he created this very clever symbol that he engraved all over the chateau. It looked like an H with two Cs circling it...for Henri and Catherine.... But, silly Henri...the two C's also remembed two D's!!! D for Diane! So clever!

4.) Chateau de Chambord. (See picture below)
Wow. What a dream. Leonardo Da Vinci designed the staircase in here. It is two double spirals leading up...yep...pretty much a Double Helix. He was so dang amazing! And, I'm pretty sure I saw Sleeping Beauty stoll out onto the terrace.


5.) Chateau Nitray.
Here we did a wine tasting. (See picture below...yep, that's a Bin O Grapes...fermented might I add) It was so great! I learned all about different types of wine and how to smell, taste, drink, enjoy, hold...pretty much everything you could imagine about wine! I even learned how to make a barrel! (Ok...so, that's another story..) This chateau was more of a hunting lodge. It was unbelieavable!





I ate in an amazing traditional French restaurant for dinner on Saturday night...and enjoyed a lovely two hour meal! It was so nice to not be in a hurry and to just enjoy the company and the delightful food.

The hotel, Hotel La Herserie, that we stayed at was incredible. It was a darling country home with lots of little mini houses. I stayed in a room with my friend Leisha and we had the best view. The hotel is owned by a man, his wife, and their darling little red-headed daughter. They fed up an amazing, homemade breakfast in the morning. It was simply divine!

I don't know if anything could have made this lil excursion any better...oh ya....the weather was incredible and it's autumn! Evey time a new season enters into my life, I swear that it is my favorite! I think Fall has got to be my favorite season of all. The colors are just incredible. The leaves are lime green, magenta, raspberry red, grape, violet, gold...I swear it smells purple during the fall!

Point to the story: The Loire Valley is amazing and you should go!