France - Loire Valley Castle Country - A Road Trip from Paris

 Road Trip – Paris - Loire Valley  Castles -  Mont St Michel – Paris

After our successful trip across Helsinki and the Baltics (covered in blogs earlier, links given at the end of this blog), we took a Baltic Air morning flight from Riga, where our last three days were well spent, to Paris. By 9 am we were at Paris CDG airport. 

Our plan was to undertake 3 nights/ 4 day trip to Loire Valley Castles and go all the way up to Mont St Michel, a famous seminary on the Normandy coast of France (Remember Normandy Landing during the 2^nd world war?). the return journey schedule was to drive from Mont St Michel to Paris on the 4^th day morning.

Our day 1 trip was to take us to Chateau de Chambord, Blois Castle, Amboise Castel with a night stay at Amboise. Day two trip schedule was to travel from Amboise town to Chateau de Chenonceau, one of the most visited Loire Valley Castle, Chateau de Villandry, the Chateau most famous for its beautiful gardens and finally to Mont St Michel for Night Stay. Day 3 was meant for visiting Mont St. Michel, the famous Abbey existing since 8^th CE.

Our return journey was scheduled on day 4 from Mont St. Michel to Paris where we were to return our car.

Renting a Car

We had pre-booked our car with Hertz. We had utilized the services of Sixt during our trip last year and we were happy with them but this time we wanted to try out Hertz. Charles De Gaul (CDG) airport has all the car renting agencies in its basement. The way to the basement is very clearly marked. Once you go there, you will find these two renting companies and also the others.

We had pre-booked some car brand and model but as it happened in our previous year trip in Germany, here in France too, Hertz did not have that car. They offered, at a little extra cost, Mercedes A 180. A beautiful Hatchback. Who says no to Merc? We accepted the offer, took over the car and started our Journey.

Our Ride for this trip  - Merc A180 d a very advanced car

Do you want to know what to do and what not to do when taking a car on hire, read my blog here – https://harshad-datar.blogspot.com/2019/07/renting-car-for-road-trip-in-europe-and.html

The Route

Here is the map of the route that we took. From the urban Paris, we ventured into the beautiful countryside for a blissful trip across Loire Valley, with the Loire river giving us company most of the time for the first two days. On the third day, we had Mont St Michel, the grand seminary on Normandy Coast. See the map below for further details - 

The route we took

The Trip

We started off from CDG airport and headed to Chateau de Chambord at Chambord town. Drive was pleasant and the road was mostly 4 lane highway with a speed limit of about 130 km per hr. It was a 210 km journey that took about 2 and a half hours.

Chateau de Chambord

Chateau de Chambord was constructed by Francois I. Its construction finished in the year 1519. Built-in French renaissance architectural style, this Chateau became the place that the young king Francois I wanted to show the visiting Kings, Queens and Dignitaries. King Francois I, however, stayed in this castle for just a few weeks. This Castel is one of the most visited castles of Loire Valley. It is possible to visit the Castle and see its collections. We did not go in as that was beyond the time available with us. More about Chateau de Chambord can be found at chambord.org   the official website of the Chateau de Chambord. I will take you on a photo journey around this Chateau.

Elegant

Chateau de Chambord

Close up

Complex Structure

Moat and Garden

Elaborate setting

Some old Beauties

Royal Chateau de Blois

From Chambord, we drove to Blois town, yet another beautiful town. We made it there by evening but faced a parking problem and could not locate the castle accurately. We stopped closure to where the Google Map showed the entrance to the castle was but left Blois town as one, we could not find parking space for our car and second, we could not find how to go to the castle. we went across the river Loire and stopped. This stop gave us some stunning pics of Blois town and its castle.

Royal Chateau De Blois - From Across the Loire River

For the sake of completeness of information, The Chateau of Bois existed from the 9th century AD. It has seen additions by successive rulers and today it boasts of four architectural styles. They are Medieval fortress, The Louis XII Gothic wing, The Francois I Renaissance wing and the Geston of Orleans Classical Wing. Multiple counts and Kings (of France) have lived in this castle at various times. To know more about Chateau Royal De Blois, reach out to - https://en.chateaudeblois.fr.

Amboise Castle

Leaving the Blois town we headed for Amboise town where we were staying for the night. We reached Amboise by sunset. By the time we checked in, it was dusk. After resting a bit and having our dinner we stepped out to visit the town. Like all small towns in Europe, the streets of Amboise too had hardly anyone. Amboise is a small yet beautiful town with a medieval feel.

Situated on the confluence of Rivers Loire and Amasse, Situated atop a 40 m high, it offered a very strong natural defence. This thus was a sought after observation cum defence post even during Roman times. Julies Ceaser seems to have been here around 50 BC. It appeared in the recorded history in 466 AD. It has been the residence of French kings. French Kings lived and operated from this castle in the 15^th and 16 century AD.

Amboise Castle is not open at the night but it is beautifully illuminated with changing colours. We enjoyed the lighting and clicked photographs of the Castle. To know more about Chateau de Royal, Amboise – click this link - https://www.chateau-amboise.com/en/

Romance in Colour

One of the Castle Wall, Up Close

Our Hotel in Amboise

Chateau De Chenonceau

The next day morning, after having a glimpse of Amboise Castle, we headed for Chateau de Chenonceau. After around hours drive, we reached this Chateau. The uniqueness of this chateau is this chateau spans over the river Cher. Also important is its architectural style which is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance. This chateau also has beautiful gardens, lakes and bridges to boost. It is possible to visit inside and see the things including the royal kitchen. Another interesting fact is, this place was also called Castle of Dames since maximum times this castle was owned by one or the Lady. More details can be viewed at https://www.chenonceau.com.

Midst Thick Trees

Magical Reflections

Garden in the Foreground

Lovely Flowers

Proud Model with tall trees

A Furry Guest

Only Remaining Tower of the Earlier Chateau

Chateau Spanns across the river Cher

Skullers busy Sculling

Elaborate Formal Garden, one of the three such  Gardens

One more Garden

Another Look

Beautiful

This hall is built across Cher River

Chaple

Four Post Bed

Elegant

Another Meeting Room

Different Angle

Royal Dining Hall and Kitchen

Flower Laden Dining Table

Cafe in the Area

Approach to the Castle

Chateau De Villandry

Next on our list was Chateau de Villandry. A beautiful chateau which is more famous for its gardens then the building. Villandry was the last of the Chateaus built-in Loire valley. Built-in 17^th century at the site of an old fortress where King of England and King of France signed a peace treaty post the defeat of England in the 11^th century, it is built in the Renaissance style of architecture. 

The chateau is beautiful and a visit inside this castle is possible, however, the most beautiful place to visit in this chateau is its renaissance gardens. The gardens contain a water garden (Garden with a pond in the centre), ornamental flower garden and Vegetable garden which were created in their present form in 1906. To know more about Chateau de Villandry read here - https://www.chateauvillandry.fr/en/.

Chateau de Villandry

Up Close

View through the Bridge over the Moat

Garden of Villandry Castle, it's a real photo not a painting

Vertical Frame

Geometrical Garden

How Beautiful it can get!

Another Arrangement

Long Shot

Difficult to remove one's eyes

Upper Garden

Eye Catching

Moat

Vegetable Garden

Beautiful Flowers

Confused, Who is more Beautiful, My Life (wife) or the Flowers

Smiling Flowers

Arched Pathway

Friendship Bridge (of Hands)

Mont Saint Michel

Once done with this visit, we drove straight to our Air BnB at Mont Saint Michel on the Normandy coast. Since the whole day had gone driving and most of us were tried, we had a quick dinner and slept. The next day was the day of visiting the famous Mont St Michel.

On the third day of the trip, we set out to visit Mont St Michel. It was a short journey from our B & B. after traversing through a small village for some time, when we came in on an open road, we got the first view of MSM.

Soon we reached there and visited a very famous UNSECO world heritage landmark. We parked our car at the designated parking. Since it is situated a few hundred meters from the coast into the sea and one needs to take a bus to travel on the bridge connecting the mainland to MSM. The shuttle buses to MSM start from the parking.

Little information about Mont St Michel. This Abbey is situated on a small (17 ha) island less than a kilometre off the Normandy coast of central-western France. In existence in some of the other form, this place has been known from 6 CE. It got its first Monastic establishment in 8 CE. It has seen wars and control by British and French but mostly French. Its fortune rose gloriously as a place of pilgrimage but waned so much in the 16th century that it was being used as a Jail and was later abandoned.

It was declared a Historical Monument in the year 1874. It was restored in 15 years which finished in 1889. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1979.

Coming back to visit, firstly there are steps to be climbed but they are manageable unlike the steps of Indian Forts. And then there is an old church and a convent to visit. One gets a spectacular view of the sea from the heights of MSM.

First Darshan

Mont Saint Michel from the Causeway

ALternative to Shuttle Bus

Approach Stairs

Climb

Inside the Abbey

View from COurtyard

Church of the Campus

Inside the Church

Duel Column Canopy around the open courtyard

See the Symmetry

In the Seminary

Return Journey

After spending considerable time at Mont St Michel, we returned to our B & B and enjoyed our time in the magnificent garden of this place.

Garden of the B & B where we stayed

Strawberries

As fresh as they get

Fruit Laden Trees (I think Peaches)

Manicured Lawn

Beautiful Flowers, See the Hens on the corner of the column

Another one

Wise Owl guarding the flowers

Hello Rabbits

"Meri Umar ke Naujawano"

Aab Bas Karo

Band Baja (Non of these instruments had mouthpieces

The next day morning around 8 am we departed on our return trip from here to Paris straight, a distance of about 360 km which got done in about 4 hrs 30 mins on a beautiful French road.