Playing princess 1.2

Here are all of the other castles that I visited. They get increasingly cooler, so keep reading! You can also read about the first castles I visited here. 

The castle of Langeais was one of the oldest castle. A castle on this site were originally built in the 10th century, but was destroyed during the Hundred Years War. It was rebuilt in 1465 and bridges the Medieval and Renaissance styles. It looks like a Medieval fortress, complete with ramparts and a drawbridge. However, it does not have the functional aspects of a fortress. It's built in the middle of a city, has large windows, and, most importantly, was never meant to be a fortress. The castle is famous for hosting the wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany in 1491, which paved the way for Brittany to become a part of France. The furnishings inside are from the 15th to 16th century and were excellently done. There is also a large garden behind the castle, along with some ruins from a tower built in 994.

Langeais from the gardens

Walking through the ramparts

Looking down on the drawbridge. It is still raised and lowered every day

The flooring in the castle was really cool! It had multiple different tiles and wood designs.

The next set of castles were in the same city. The first wasn't really a castle, more of a large house. It's the Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived out the last few years of his life and died. Invited to live at the castle of Amboise by François I, da Vinci replied that he needed to live in a quiet place, away from the intrigues of the court. So the king gave da Vinci the former royal summer residence in the same city. The beautiful home was built in 1471 and has lovely brick work on the outside. Inside, most of the house is a homage to da Vinci, with multiple paintings on display, as well as many of his most famous quotes. The basement is completely devoted to his inventions.

Just across the city from the Clos Lucé, is the castle of Amboise. Amboise became a royal residency in 1431. It's a wonderful example of French Renaissance architecture  The castle is in the middle of the city, but built up on a high terrace so that it overlooks the city and the Loire River. The castle was used by French kings until the 19th century, so the interior decorations are organized chronologically into different eras according to the building renovations, so the different styles of furniture and art are displayed with the right architecture. There is also a small chapel on the grounds where da Vinci is buried.

The castle of Amboise from the terrace

St. Hubert chapel

the detailing around the windows

I cannot take credit for this picture, but it shows the front of the castle and how it rises up over the city . I was in a  moving car when I saw this view, and couldn't snag a picture. The big tower on the left is a ramp all the way to the top that was made for carriages to get from street level to the terrace and the castle door.

Next was the castle of Chambord, which isn't just a castle, but a huge estate. Its construction was started in 1519 by François I. It was originally intended to be a hunting lodge, but is the biggest castle I visited, with over 426 rooms. It's not just the castle that's huge. The estate of Chambord, which has a 32 km stone wall surrounding it, covers 20 square miles (the same size as Paris!!). The original designs for the castle were done by da Vinci, but the design was changed substantially before construction. This castle has multiple stunning features, including the double-helix staircases, really big fireplaces (over 300 of them!), gorgeously carved ceilings, and a terrace on top where one can see both the immense detailing on the roof and the huge tracts of land surrounding the estate.

Chambord

The double helix staircases

The ceilings were carved with Fs and
salamanders to represent François I.

The central dome from the terrace

Looking from the top towards the long drive to the entrance

The final castle I visited was Chenonceau, which was my personal favorite, so it was good I visited it last. The first part of the castle was built in the early 16th century by a noble family. However, once the castle came into royal possession, it was consistently lived in by mostly women, starting with Henry II's mistress, then his wife Catherine de Medici, then his daughter-in-law, etc. Each oversaw additions and renovations and the feminine touch seems to give the castle a very different feel. It's expanse over the River Cher is incredible and the gardens are exquisite. Every detail inside, from the floors to the ceiling, is done very precisely and every room is visibly striking, but without seeming gaudy or tacky. As one of the most visited castles, Chenonceau's upkeep and presentation is also immaculate. From the tapestries and paintings to every small piece of furniture, it's just perfect! Oh, and there's a donkey farm. It can't get much cooler. 

The entrance. The door is the original wooden door, with the coat of arms of the 
husband and wife who built it.

The 2 fireplaces in the kitchen, for cooking
and for baking bread.

The meat room in the kitchen. There are
still knives, chopping blocks, and meat hooks on the walls.

The Five Queens' Bedroom, my favorite room in the house. It is named in honor of Catherine de Medici's 2 daughters and 3 daughters-in-law. The ceiling has each of their coat of arms.

The gallery, which is the room that spans the river. During WW 1, the entire castle,
including this room, served as a hospital.

Going over the River Cher. During WW 2, this river was the border between Occupied and Free France.  Since the castle has access on both sides of the river, it was used by the Resistance to move people across the border.

In addition to these, I also saw the castles of Blois, Chaumont, and Luynes, but just from a distance. Luynes still owned and lived in by the original family! I also spent a day visiting the city of Tours, which has a cathedral that rivals Notre Dame in Paris, ancient Roman ruins, and medieval houses in the historic center. It was an unforgettable trip!

From Tours with love