The best and the worst

This is our first time in the Loire Valley - a very pretty part of the world indeed.  We visited two Chateaux.  Chenonceau is thought to be the best, and I can see why.

The grounds and buildings are immaculate.  One of the most charming things about the chateau was the many beautiful flower arrangements throughout the castle.  The arrangements are prepared each day by local women.  The flowers are grown in the gardens within the grounds.

My favourite rooms within the chateau were those below stairs.  This is the servants' dining room and meat kitchen.

And I'm sure the horses were very happy to be housed in these stables.

The vegetable garden was a delight to see.

I don't think there would be many herb gardens neater than this:

All in all it was simply breathtaking.

Equally interesting though, was the Chateau de Breze.  It is still owned and lived in by descendents of the family who built it in the 11th century.  It has a collection of underground tunnels dug out of the rock beneath it.  It also has the deepest moat in Europe.

It's not until you visit a more humble chateau that it occurs to you the immense cost of maintaining such a building.  This chateau was a little ragged, with archaic heating systems, daylight to be seen through the ceiling in certain unused rooms and dated wallpaper and decor.  It had a very sombre atmosphere.

It was a complete contrast to Chenonceau.

The most interesting part of this chateau was the extensive wine cellar.  Still used today for the Count's wine label, it is all underground and accessed from the moat. 

 

This chateau is definitely worth a visit if you're in this part of the Loire.  It is the more interesting because it is someone's home, and not a state owned and funded public building.

Comments

[Amelia]

Wow! I think I have just found how I want my herb garden to look. Would you mind if I saved this photo for my home inspiration folder?
Sounds like you are having a wonderful trip, Kris. Enjoy the rest of it!

[corrie]

oh oh oh the photos....are killing me! and here I am going on about my weekend in melbourne and I come over here to see such gorgeous pictures of france. Just beautiful!

I think you're making us all very jealous in blogland!
Corrie:)

[A Facebook User]

We are working on the herb garden with the pots. Can anyone tell me what is around them at the castle - is it mulch or is it rock.

[Thelma]

looks like rocks

[heidi]

Does anyone know what kind of plant they used as a border in the herb garden with the pots?

[Cyndi2774]

Heidi, that border is made of rosemary. It's also in three of the pots. It's a perennial and it can grow quite large, so you will have to keep it trimmed if you want to have this arrangement. It's used in tons of dishes though, so you can use the clippings in your kitchen.

[Munismom]

Do you know the type of pots used in the herb garden?

[judith Jones]

What is the material the oots are made from? _

[prince obasi uko ogbuagu]

thanks

[1doterralady]

Hello!
These pics are so beautiful! I found you through Pinterest. Thank you for sharing.

Eva Suzuki

[Barbara]

Absolutely wonderful!!

[Laura]

The mulch may be coco hulls. My uncle usd them &it looked similar. Smells good too.

[davidfuller]

Pecan shells would be another choice for mulch.

[Peggy]

Corrie,the stuff around the pots might be small or crushed lava rock. I've seen both large and small lava rock. It has to be put over landscape fabric or plastic and looks nice and neat.

[jlove]

can anyone identify what is growing at the back of the pic- looks like it's some kind of vine on posts...

[MezzoBetsy]

probably grapevines (leaves look too big for berries), or even espaliered fruit trees, as the trunks are rather thick.