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The Royal Chateau Blois
Showing the outdoor spiral staircase Since yesterday was such a big day and we had missed seeing anything of Blois, we started with Blois. Close to the hotel was the Royal Chateau Blois and we had all opted for one chateau per day as there simply isn't the time to fit more than one in as well bike the distances between.
The Royal Chateau was well worth the visit it having been the residence of several French kings (too many to list). It is also the place where Joan of Arc went in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop before departing with her army to drive the English from Orleans. The chateau was built over the period from 13th to 17th century and is centred around a large courtyard. We were able to visit the royal apartments with huge rooms filled with wonderfully ornate furniture, huge tapestries, paintings, ornate walls and ceilings, large fire places and so much more. The paintings helped to depict life at the time and showed a much different way of life, of clothes, of hair styles, etiquette and religion. Imagine walking into our Queens palace in 400 years time and imagining what life was like back then. It is
The Kings chamber
Showing the ornate fireplace and throne quite strange to view the beds that kings and queens had slept in, and rooms lived in, danced in, eaten in, taken audiences in etc. Except, the people have gone and left their legacy. After the fall of royalty in France, most property reverted to the Government and are now mostly museums.
We left Blois as it was beginning to heat up. Yes, another hellish hot day. We biked on easy flattish roads initially through nice cool forest through to Chouzy sur Cisse where we bought fresh breads, fillings and fruit, then sat on some steps opposite in the shade and watched the world go by. Karilyn flooded her bike bag with her drinking water and soaked the camera. We're not sure if it will work after drying. Time will tell.
The area that we biked was supposed to be known for wine cellars but we think everyone had gone to sleep in all the villages. There was nothing open (wrong time of day) and there was virtually no one to be seen. So, we continued on biking arriving in Amboise around 3pm after 41kms. As yesterday, we were flushed and sweating profusely. Thank God there wasn't another
Queen Di
On her throne 20kms to do!
We tanked up on water and beer in the Hotel Garden, showered and washed clothes, and did our best to cool down. Dinner was at 7.30 at the Hotel so Linds and I wandered off for a slow walk somewhere. We thought the centre of town was some distance away but it was only a 20 minute walk - along our street, over two bridges over the Loire and we were there. We went into a nice cool church for a while and then walked beneath the chateau walls along the main street then back to the Hotel. There were the usual activities of shopping and many cafes and restaurants outside on the path. It's a lovely setting.
Our dinner at the Hotel turned out to be superb. If you're in this neck of the woods, have a meal at the Hotel La Breche. It was beautifully presented, had little extra touches, had local ingredients, good and pleasant service, and obviously a good chef.
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