After a slow morning (not surprising after last night’s late night), everyone except Elaine and Tom, piled into two cars to go and check out a couple of local castles in the Loire Valley. Our first stop was Château de Langeais. The castle was situated right in the town and not up on a strategic high point as is usual with a stronghold, the reason being that this place was constructed more to be a home than a fort. After we waited by a butcher/baker’s for Charles to get a bite to eat (Jim jokingly asked if he needed to be fed every hour), we wandered up to the front gates but we were all put off by the 8.50 Euro entry fee and opted for a drink on a patio (yes, we hadn’t quite deserved it yet but oh well). We had other castles to check out, two more today, so we were just pacing ourselves...
The turret of Chateau Langeais:
Pretty stream near the castle:
Jim and Kate walking down the street:
The group in front of the castle:
My cousin Gemma and me:
The next castle was Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. It was by a river, also in a town, but it was obscured from view. We wandered down a few town streets and into a church with some beautiful stained glass windows. By now it was after 2pm so it was time for some lunch. We found a suitable patio and enjoyed a filling meal with many having moules (mussels) while Gem and I shared a pizza. With full bellies, we headed to the castle and once again, reaching the gates, the enthusiasm of the group waned and we decided to move on to castle number 3. Eleven year old Mia questioned whether we were going to go into any castle and we assured her we would...but I wasn’t too sure that it was going to happen today.
The river at Azay:
Charles, pleased as punch, with his large Affligem beer:
Kate, not so happy with the size of her wine:
The bit of Azay we saw:
Spot the stick bug:
Chinon was the final stop and we didn’t even get too close to this castle! We did however, shockingly, stop for a drink before wandering around the town streets. One street was truly from the medieval days and I loved the architecture. We walked about a kilometer or two circuit and just arrived back at the cars before the rain began to fall. Okay, so it wasn’t a hardcore day of castling but fun nonetheless!
Chinon:
Walking down the medieval street:
That night entailed another barbeque and some more Boules and card games...you can’t mess with a good thing...
Jim and Elaine's beautiful place:
Jim playing boules near Betty:
Uncle Steve hard at work, but in his element:
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