Chenonceau Castle in the Loire Valley
To see and feel the true magnificence of the country of Charles Perrault, Joan of Arc, Catherine de Medici, one must visit the provinces where numerous beautiful castles from the Middle Ages are carefully preserved by the state, owners, and the UNESCO World Heritage Fund.
Ancient France for many centuries was one of the richest and most influential powers in Europe and its cultural center. The best architects, sculptors, artists, poets, and musicians of their time worked here. A whole dynasty of kings spared no expense to realize their most grandiose ideas when building their own castle and arranging its grounds.
The halls of the palaces contain the best collections of sculptures, paintings, tapestries, furniture, and tableware (castles of Azay-le-Rideau, Beynac, Wildenstein, Brissac, Langeais), military equipment (Castle of Castelnau). The walls and ceilings of the rooms are decorated with beautiful, breathtaking paintings and frescoes (castles of Vaux-le-Vicomte, Cormatin). And the garden and park complexes with artificial lakes and fountains are still considered unsurpassed examples of French park design (castles of Amboise, the multi-tiered 'love gardens' of Villandry, the garden of Catherine de Medici at Chenonceau).
Absolutely all castles of France are unique in their appearance, architectural features, and history. They very accurately reflect the character and habits of their first owner of royal blood – the elegant and soaring outlines of Vitré and Ussé castles with numerous pointed towers, the 'black' castle of Angers, the snow-white airy palace of Cheverny, the strange and ill-suited for defense castle of Spesbourg, the aggressive fortress-castle of Langeais, the impregnable and huge Chinon and Königsburg, the secular and festive Dampierre, the Palace of Pierrefonds striking with its magnificent interior, the largest mansion in the world – Vaux-le-Vicomte, the fortress-prison of If, where the character of the famous novel Edmond Dantès languished, and the Château de Chambord designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
And in the Château de Blois lived Athos, and to this day the ghosts of the murdered Dukes of Guise and King Henry III haunt it. The Château de Chenonceau is famous for having been owned only by women, as well as for its wax museum, paintings by Mignard and Rubens, and sculptures of Carrara marble.
In total, about four thousand ancient estates, castles, and palaces have been preserved in France. Of these, about a thousand are luxurious monuments of past splendor. Moreover, 42 of the most beautiful castles are located in the center of the country – on the high picturesque banks of the Loire River.
The river, restless and fast in its mountain sources, acquires a regal pride and slowness in the valley. The Loire Valley, due to its mild climate, fertile lands, and eye-pleasing landscapes, was favored by French monarchs and high nobility for several centuries. Here were built their most famous and most visited tourist residences – castles of Cheverny, Amboise, Chinon, Azay-le-Rideau, Blois, Chenonceau, Langeais, and Chambord.
Even just sailing along the river and leisurely examining the beautiful palace complexes opening to the view, one never tires of marveling at the great talent of the Renaissance architects, who managed to give grace and uniqueness to these formidable and impregnable, essentially military, structures. And the long bridges connecting the shore to the castle seem like a road over the river of time, transporting tourists to the era of kings and jesters, knights and noble ladies.
Visitors to the royal valley have a unique opportunity to taste the best wines from the grapes grown here, get acquainted with the national cuisine, and walk through three national parks. And the impressions and heart-wrenching memories of the real France will last for many years.
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