| Submitted by: David StybrUnited States |
| Submission Date: 10 February 2005 |
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I. Introduction.
This is without doubt my favorite part of France. The majestic Loire River Valley is a land of rich vineyards and magnificent châteaux (castles). This region is also called 'The Garden of France' due to the fertile land along the river. The Loire River is normally calm and gentle, but occasional storms cause it to overflow its banks. Levees have been built to protect the nearby land and buildings. Some of these levees are several centuries old.
During the French Renaissance, as a complement to the artistic renewal which had begun in Italy, the Kings of France built their splendid châteaux in the fertile Loire River Valley southwest of Paris. Each château and estate was designed to be more sumptuous and luxurious than the others, created by the greatest architects and landscape gardeners of the time. Royalty and nobility reigned here until King Henri IV moved the court to Paris. The Loire Valley then declined in importance, but as a result its many châteaux have been preserved in much the same condition in which they were built. It would be nearly impossible to describe all of the interesting cities magnificent châteaux. Here is a brief profile by city and département of France, based on a visit which my wife & I made in July 1994.
II. The Châteaux.
Angers, Maine-et-Loire:
Angers is a good place to start an exploration in the Loire Valley because it is known as the 'Gateway to the Châteaux Country'. Once the medieval capital of Anjou, Angers was ruled by Henry II of England, who was the father of Richard the Lion-Hearted and King John. Le Château de Angers was constructed in 1230-1237 by St.-Louis. It is surrounded by lovely French gardens. The Château also houses the 77-panel Apocalypse Tapestry of the Gospel of St. John. This is one of the largest and finest of all Medieval tapestries.
Langeais, Indre-et-Loire:
Le Château de Langeais was built in the 800s by the dreaded Black Falcon and rebuilt in about 1465 during the reign of King Louis XI. It is one of the few châteaux actually located on the Loire River. The exterior of the Château is dark and ominous, but the interior rooms are richly decorated. Le Château de Langeais was the scene of the marriage of Anne of Brittany to Charles VIII on 6 December 1491.
Tours, Indre-et-Loire:
Tours is the traditional center of the Loire Valley, despite the lack of any major châteaux in the immediate area. It is a modern city at the confluence of the Cher and Loire Rivers. Tours is noted for its old quarter, the Gothic St. Gatien Cathedral, the Touraine Wine Museum, fine-arts museum and le Château de Plessis les Tours where Louis XI died. Tours is also the center of the region in which the standard French language is spoken. That is almost exactly the same French that I speak, and it made me feel quite comfortable in that area of France.
Azay-le-Rideau, Indre-et-Loire:
Le Château d'Azay-le-Rideau was begun in 1518 and rests on an idyllic spot partly on the Indre River. The exterior of the châteaux has splendid gardens, and the interior has fine furniture, tapestries and an impressive main staircase. It was built by Gilles Bertholet, the finance minister of King François I, and his wife Phillipa. The elegant château so impressed the King that he pressured Bertholet to abandon it. The King then granted it to 'friends of the Crown'. It became property of France in 1905.
Villandry, Indre-et-Loire:
Le Château de Villandry was begun in 1532 by Jean Lebreton, the chancellor of King François I. The buildings form a U shape, surrounded by a 2-sided moat. The château at Villandry is not as impressive as the others in the Loire Valley, but its formal gardens are considered among the best in France if not in all of Europe. These garden were designed by Dr. Robert Carvallo, who was a founder of La Demeure Historique. The gardens represent the many faces of love. Pink tulips and dahlias symbolize sweet love; red signifies tragic love; yellow depicts unfaithful love; and all colors portray foolish love. One garden contains all the common French vegetables, except the potato which had not yet been introduced in France in the 1600s. The grounds also contain 17 kilometres (10.5 miles) of boxwood sculpture, which the gardeners must cut and style every September in only 2 weeks.
Amboise, Indre-et-Loire:
Le Château d'Amboise stands near the Loire River near the center of the city. It was built in the late 1400s by Charles VIII, who died in 1498 after he struck his head against a low doorway. Amboise is perhaps best known for the manor house Clos-Lucé, which was built in the 1400s. King François I invited Leonardo da Vinci to live here in 1516. Leonardo lived here for the last 3 years of his life, and he died in the house in 1519 at age 67. The King often visited Leonardo via an underground tunnel. The most interesting part of Clos-Lucé is actually in the basement, which contains displays of many of Leonardo da Vinci's inventions as reconstructed from his original drawings. These models include the first airplane, the first self-propelled vehicle, the helicopter, the parachute, the tank, the machine gun and the swing bridge.
Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire:
Le Château de Chenonceaux was built in the early 1500s. The gallery behind the château spans the Cher River. Chenonceaux, is also known as 'The Château of Six Ladies' for the series of 'grandes dames de Chenonceaux' who occupied it. Originally owned by the Marques family, Chenonceaux is usually associated with Diane de Poitiers. She was the mistress of King Henri II, and he gave the Château to her in 1547. After the King died in a jousting tournament in 1559, the jealous Queen Catherine de Medici seized Chenonceaux. Many of the interior walls are covered with Gobelins tapestry, and the chapel contains a delicate marble Virgin and Child.
Chambord, Loire-et-Cher:
My personal favorite château was the stupendous Chambord. Le Château de Chambord is the pinnacle of French Renaissance architecture and the largest château in the Loire River Valley. It was built in 1519-1539 by about 2000 workers for King François I and it is surrounded by the National Swan Park and Reserve. It became the property of France in 1932. Le Château de Chambord has 400 rooms, 365 windows and 6 monumental towers. It is surrounded by a 32,000-hectare (13,000-acre) park and enclosed by a 32-kilometre (20-mile) wall. It is also notable for its grand double spiral staircase, in which one person may descend at one end and another person ascend at the other end without meeting each other. The wooded estate is larger in area than the city of Paris. Whenever I think of France I think of le Château de Chambord.
Other notable sites in the Loire Valley include Le Château d'Usse, which inspired the legend of La Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty), as immortalized by the poet Charles Perrault. Le Château de Blois is noted for its King's Garden and dramatic spiral staircase. This was the site of one of the most famous assassinations in France, that of the Duke of Guise. On the morning of 23 December 1588, the Duke was summoned by his archrival, Henri III. Upon his arrival as the château, the King's guards overpowered the Duke and stabbed him to death. Orléans, midway between Paris and Tours, has no châteaux. It is the most famous town which Joan of Arc liberated, and an equestrian statue of her stands on the Place du Martroi. La Mans is most famous for its annual Grand Prix, a 24-hour sportscar race held each June just south of the city. La Mans also has the longest Roman wall in France, and an extensive Medieval quarter.
III. Summary.
A visit to the châteaux of the Loire River Valley provides a vivid experience of the rich history of France. The Roman ruins, the Medieval and Renaissance architecture, the Romanesque and Gothic churches and cathedrals, and the splendid art treasures are a fabulous heritage unsurpassed anywhere else in France, in Europe and on Earth. In contrast and complement to the magnificent châteaux are the many smaller towns and villages which provide a more modest human perspective.
In this region, history almost comes to life again. Filled with history, charm, beautiful landscapes and awesome architecture, the Loire River Valley may truly be called the heart and soul of France.
IV. Appendix.
Chantilly, Oise:
Although it does not lie in the Loire River Valley, le Château de Chantilly deserves a mention because it is very much in the same spirit. Chantilly is 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Paris. The history of the Château is rather complex. In the early 14th Century the estate consisted of a fortress and a chapel with houses and barns. Restoration of the living quarters and courtyard were begun in 1528 in the First Renaissance style with gables and domed towers. Le Petit Château was built about 1560 on l'Etang Sylvie (Sylvie Pond). Extensive reconstruction took placed from 1875 to 1885 and resulted in the Château de Chantilly in its present form. The Château is adjacent to a romantic forest which was once filled with deer and boars. In 1886 the owner of the Château, le Doc d'Aumale, bequeathed it and the parklands to l'Institut de France along with his art collection and library. The Château also contains le Musée Condé with a fine collection of paintings, jewels, manuscripts and miniatures. The stone stables were built to house 240 horses and 500 hounds. These have been restored as le Musée Vivant du Cheval (The Living Museum of the Horse). Rec.Travel Library
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