After morning heart starter number three at a Cafe in the Square, we set off for the village market in and arrived just in time to witness the butchers van make his last sale for the day before packing up and moving on. The car park he was located in wouldnt have supported many stall holders anyway, so we dont think we missed much. They must have packed up early due to low sales; this village is quiet.
Chateaus are sight as you drive around the Loire Valley, but most arent considered important enough to rate a mention in the tourist guides, and the Chateau Poce Sur Cisse is one such chateau. We stumbled across this noble residence on a substantial estate, and bought some rolls at the local patisserie and ate our lunch in the grounds. It is probably still a private residence, but the grounds are open to the public.
Amboise, our second stop, was the childhood home of Charles VIII, and where Leonardo da Vinci took his last breath. The village sits on the southern banks of the River Loire, currently running at half pace, and Le Clos Luc was offered to Da
Vinci by Francois I, an fan of Da Vinci and an admirer of the Italian Renaissance period. Da Vinci was 64 by the time he moved in and spent his time think up new contraptions , drawing, and constructing scale models of his ideas. The word to mind whenever Leonados up. Unfortunately, the only time up in reference to me is on because am a regular customer. Sad really. Ill just hang my hat on that, as long as theyll have me.
Built in the 16th century, Chenonceau Chateau replaced the fortified castle belonging to the Marques Family, leaving only the Marques Tower, still standing before the entrance today. Catherine of Medici is the best known person for occupying the Castle and was responsible for adding the Gallery rooms over the water bridge in an effort to create her own Ponte Vecchio. The numerous castles in the Tours area formed an enthusiastic social scene and Catherine was known to be fair and generous to the Its thought that this might be why she was spared the fate of many of her contemporaries when the Revolution occurred. The Chateau is a
popular attraction for tourists, with its unusual spanning of the River Cher, the important art collection, and the original tapestries and furniture throughout the castle. Looking out over the river, it also attracts some of the most inept canoe paddlers in France. In fact , its an international event that involves approaching the turrents under the castle sideways and scrapping along the walls in order to get through, or all three rowers paddling against each other, and just drifting aimlessly. The must have high insurance premiums to cover this behaviour.
I thought I was being watched a bit too closely by my fellow travellers today, in the vegetable garden at Chenonceau Chateau. Yesterday, I was accused of stealing grapes. I could be sent to Van Diemens Land for life for that. I was admiring the vegetable garden at Villandry when I noticed a man and his wife, or in this case, that the grapes that he was eating looked good. Before I knew it, I had a big bunch of grapes in my hand. Tim refused to eat the stolen grapes, Sue reluctantly had a few, but I tried to explain that I was
merely a fence; receiving stolen goods, not a thief. Everyone knows they taste better if you nicked them, and they were delicious. Anyway, there were no grapes on offer today; I checked.
Chteau Clos Luc , the final home for Leonardo da Vinci was our next point of call, and is in Amboise. The entrance fee of 18€ seemed a bit steep to the fee charged at substantial castles, so the idea was to enjoy the gardens and have a look at the house from the grounds. Its not really a good display of his lifes work, so it would be good to just see it out of curiosity. However, the rules have changed since Tim was there 6 years ago, and a ticket is required for it all.
