Day 10: Loire Valley/The Beast's Castle

Monday 

16 September 2013

The first place we went to was the Chateau d/Amboise in Amboise. (chateau is French for castle). We were able to go on a self guided tour around the castle and grounds. I found out that Leonardo da Vinci is buried on the site of this castle in a separate building. Pretty cool!

The castle and its grounds were beautiful and the town of Amboise is lovely! I had my first official French crepe in a little restaurant there (don't worry, I don't like crepe's as much as gelato, so there won't be millions of pictures of them in the upcoming posts). Since we do everything at the crack of dawn for some reason, we were there before any place opened to serve actual meals, so we had to rely on gas station food again as we left for the next castle. But that was okay because we were high on the magic that southern French castles had to offer.

 One side of the castle.

 View from the top. The town reminded me of Beauty and the Beast.

 Another birds-eye view.

 Part of the grounds of the castle.

 One side of the castle. That guy was really into the scenery.

 The top view was really great for looking into the backyards of rich French homeowners.

 Me in front of the castle. Can we move here Mom and Dad?

 The castle on its own. We took some funny group shots but I didn't have any on my camera.

Next up we went to Chenonceau. Now after the castle in Amboise I thought things couldn't really get that much better but I was so, so wrong. The Chateau de Chenonceau is literally the castle from Beauty and the Beast. It had a tree-lined walk way, a maze, and a moat. It was so incredible. After touring the castle I walked around the gardens and through the maze alone. It was so peaceful and I was so grateful that I was in France. I want to go back to the French countryside again someday! 

 Part of the moat and the castle.

 Me in front of the castle. I was so happy the whole time because it was like being in a fairytale.

 Doesn't it look like Beauty and the Beast?!

 The gardener's cottage.

 Another long shot of the castle.

 The pathway to the castle. Re-watch Beauty and the Beast because it will totally remind you of this.

 Outside of the maze there was this stone column thing. I don't really know it's significance but I got a picture with my professors daughter.

Thank you for the magic, Southern France!