Bike Trip to Chenonceau

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The great thing about staying in a B&B is the quaintness and the fact that the owner is usually extremely friendly. That's certainly how it is where I'm at. This morning I literally opened my door to the living room, and sat down to a home-cooked breakfast. The family dog, Farah, laid at my feet the entire time. And I think I definitely got on the host's good side by admiring her book collection, especially her prized book of Charles Baudelaire's poetry. She's letting me have breakfast earlier than usual tomorrow, since I have to leave early.

After hopping on my bike, I set off for the relatively leisurely ride down to Chenonceau, the absolute best of the many chateaux in the Loire. The ride was a little over an hour, and wound through a beautiful countryside full of sunflowers, farms, hay, and horses. Also went right through the dark and cool forest of Amboise. In at Chenonceau by around 10ish, and basically spent up until around 2 in the chateau.

It's not that Chenonceau is especially big, but it does attract tons of tourists. Going around its plush rooms usually required pushing my way through crowds of people. And yet oddly this didn't really bother me. People usually dispersed relatively fast, and there was never any horrible back-ups. Afterwards, the ride back was a bit slower, since the heat and fatigue got to me, but in at Amboise by around 4.

Rest of the day was spent enjoying my last night here, and relaxing. Tomorrow I continue North, going to Mont St. Michel, the great monastery island. Then, finally, Monday is Paris.

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Photos

Promenade to Chenonceau
10 minute walk leads right to chateau.

The River Cher
Chenonceau is built river over the Cher.

The Gallery
This is the stretch that goes over the Cher.

The Bread Oven
In the kitchens.

Francois I Room
Wonderful Renaissance fireplace.

View of Gardens
Gardens of Diane de Poitiers, a king's mistress who lived here.

Another Room
These flowers made the entire floor smell good.

Chateau View from Garden
From another garden, the Catherine de Medici.

Good View of Chenonceau
Really see how it spans the Cher.

Backyard of B&B
Room right on the lower floor, over to the left.