Chambord

Leisurely start and then off to visit our Chateau for the day.  We were on our own, as Marie Louise and Boudewijn wanted to visit Orleans.  We had decided on what is considered the biggest and grandest chateau, Chambord.  It certainly was both.  It is a spectacular chateau.  We particularly liked the symetry about it.  It has a central double helix staircase.  It was started in 1519 by  Francis I, although it was not finished in his lifetime.  Chambord was finally finished 30 odd years later, by his son Henry II, and then Louis XIV.

Chambord was intended as a hunting lodge, but its architecture makes it an extravagant chateau since it is 156 metres long and 56 metres tall with 77 staircases, 282 fireplaces (and it was still cold) and 426 rooms.  We spent about four hours wandering around the various rooms, the chapel and the displays.

Our only disappointment was that the gardens were very plain.
From Chambord we decided to drive around and view (from the outside) a few of the other chateaux in the area.  This proved to be a mistake, as although we found them, they were well disguised and hidden behind trees or walls.
Finally we headed for Blois and visited the Cathedral of St Louis and the Hotel de Ville.  The Cathedral is a church in the XVll Century Gothic style, however the façade and belltower were built in 1544.  The cathedral has an interesting crypt that we were able to access.
We then found the spot where Rita and I had had lunch 20 years ago (almost to the day)!
After that we met up with Marie Louise and Boudewijn for a superb dinner at Vinomania.  It was made all the more special because of our lovely sommelier, who spent a good deal of time discussing and describing the wines to go with our meal, which was superb.
She also gave us the name of a Gite in Blois, operated by an Aussie,  Closerie Falaiseau.  http://www.loirevalleyholidayrental.com/