The Best Chateaux in the Loire Valley

>

In a recent write-up, I talked about some of the ideal campsites in the Loire Valley. Loire camping is amongst some of the perfect in France. The region has an abundance of attractions - specially if you are interested in the majestic and fascinating châteaux which are doted all through the region. If you're camping in France's Loire Valley, these lovely castles need to certainly be on your list of places to check out:

Château de Cheverny

In 1914 Château de Cheverny became 1 of the first castles to turn out to be open to the public. The castle's magnificent inner rooms, furniture, tapestries and art are matched by its magnificent gardens. The nicely maintained grounds are a delight to wander around, whilst taking in the a variety of flowers, fruits, herbs and other flora that grows in the garden.

The castle also has a permanent Tintin exhibit. Rumour has it that this is considering that the château inspired Hergé, the cartoon's creator, when he drew Marlinspike Hall as the home of his fictional character. Fans of the comic will note that even though Marlinspike Hall lacks the two outermost wings of the actual structure, the remaining central tower and wings are practically identical to the ones in the castle. If you have any Tintin fans in your party, this is nicely worth leaving your Loire campsite for!

Château de Chenonceau

Nestled peacefully upon the river Cher, the calm nature of the present castle does not start to betray the exciting history the structure has enjoyed. The original manor was burned to the ground by royal troops in 1411 to punish the owner, Jean Marques, for an act of sedition. He rebuilt a castle in its spot in the 1430s, and it was to change hands lots of times before its heroic role in the wars of the 20th century. Throughout the Excellent War, the gallery was used as a hospital ward, although in the course of the Second Planet War the whole castle was employed as a indicates of escape from the Nazis, with an occupied zone on one side of the river Cher, and the 'free' Vichy location on the opposite bank!

These days, the castle is a charming mixture of late Gothic and early Renaissance architecture, with delightful gardens maintained in a classic French style (a lot of smaller sculpted shrubs). It is a wonderfully picturesque sight, and no Loire camping trip should certainly pass up on the opportunity to see such a historic, picturesque website.

Château de Cambord

It appears a little unlikely that the largest château in the Loire Valley was originally built as a hunting lodge, but this is how Château de Cambord came about. King Francois I who owned the constructing kept Château de Blois and Château d'Amboise for residential purposes rather. The castle's often edited style was by Domenico da Cortona, even though it was rumoured that Leonardo da Vinci (a frequent guest of the King) was also involved. Featuring 440 rooms, 365 fireplaces and 84 staircases, it honestly is an amazing symbol of decadence.

The château is surrounded by 13,000 acres of game reserve and parkland, and is extremely welcoming of visitors. Young children are also welcome, and the castle often puts on puppet shows and the like. Perfect for families camping in France's Loire Valley.

Château de Villandry

If you are a plant lover, you can stop hunting: you have identified the château for you. Regarded as by a lot of to be the ideal example of Renaissance garden design in the whole country, with water, ornamental, vegetable and flower gardens, the grounds of the castle have one thing for every person -its immaculately maintained and a delight to the senses. The insides of the châteaux have been restored in the 19th century in a Renaissance style and makes it a delightful way to invest an afternoon away from your campsite in the Loire Valley.

Château d'Ussé

If the Château d'Ussé feels like it's out of a fairy-tale, then you might be having specifically the identical thoughts as Charles Perrault who wrote Sleeping Beauty in the 17th century. It is effectively known that the author spent some time here as a guest of the Count of Saumur, and it is rumoured that his inspiration came from the picturesque castle. Its charmed existence is reflected in its history - or rather, it's lack of! There had been no bloodbaths, no conflicts and no political intrigue. Surprisingly, even the French Revolution seems to have ignored the splendid castle. There is a full tour offered, and there are even rooms full of waxwork figures illustrating the tale of Sleeping Beauty, which is certain to capture the children's' imagination.

There are a lot of other points to do if châteaux aren't for you, whilst you are camping in France's Loire Valley.