The Lovely Loire Valley - Bordeaux

Monday 2nd June

Champagne and Chateaus - the Loire Valley! We wake to a nice sunny day and a view out of hotel window of the chateau Saumur.

We head off after our traditional French breakfast of chocolate pastries, croissants, bread and coffee of course to explore the Loire Valley from Saumur to Amboise.

We stop off at some troglodyte caves. These date back to cavemen times, but a lot, like the one we visit have been limestone quarries for buildings in the area. Lots of have been diversified, this into mushroom growing - champignons and others as cellars for the champagne in the area.

All along the valley following the river are lots of gorgeous houses built into the hills wineries - making Champagne and many Chateauxs.  It is a beautiful area. Fantastic having the car, get to see so much.  This is a real highway for cyclists too. Some carrying their gear, but others just riding to a point each day where their bags await them.

We head for Ambiose. This is where Leonardo da Vinci spent his last 3 years.  We visited his Chateaux called Le Clos Luce. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens and in the gardens are many of his inventions.

The centre piece for this town is the Chateaux Palais Royal. Huge! Like others it sits overlooking the town.

There are so many Chateauxs you can visit in this area. We pick on Chenonceaux dating back to the 15th century. However one tower that pre dates this remains at the entrance. It's amazing!                Fully furnished with period furniture and paintings, even down to the kitchen.

The gardens are immaculate and there are huge arrangements of fresh flowers throughout the chateaux. We spent a couple of hours wandering around. There are stables, farmhouses and it even has it's own labyrinth.  Absolutely awesome - so huge. 

The hall

Part of the kitchen

Stairwell - one of the first staircase

The ceiling

It's about 5.30pm when we head for the motorway south to Bordeaux - St Emilion. It's about a 3 and a half hour drive, Sam and Peugeot humming  at 130kms! Tolls 38 euro, about the same cost for the diesel! Reach destination about 9pm.