NEW ARTICLES  HOT ARTICLES  TOP RATED  ADD AN ARTICLE  UPDATE AN ARTICLE  GET RATED 
  HOME     MY ACCOUNT     POWER SEARCH     REGISTER     SUPPORT     SUGGEST CATEGORY  

Loire Valley Chateaux - If Their Walls Could Talk
14540 Reference & Education Apr 18, 2007 Loire Valley Chateaux - If Their Walls Could Talk Loire Valley chateaux are full of amazing tales. At Chateau Chenonceau you can hear 'The future king was twelve and he took a mistress aged 32.' The image of the chateaux of this region may be all towers, topiary, tapestries and faded furniture but for 200 years, these great palaces were host to world-class debauchery and many murders. Chateau Chenonceau has one of the most colourful pasts. Here not only did Henri II take a mistress 20 years his senior when he was 12, but Henri III also used the formal gardens for transvestite parties with his chums, 'the Sweeties'. In Chateau Blois, Henri III invited a rival to his ornate bed chamber then hid behind a curtain as twenty hired men jumped the wretch. The chateau guide can show you the exact spot in Chateau Blois where 23 knife stabs were planted in the unfortunate Duke de Guise the head of the Catholic League, by eight men armed with daggers and twelve with swords. You can even watch a black and white 12 minute silent movie re-enacting the murder at Chateau Blois. Today tourists at Chateau Blois can see the 237 secret cabinets, which opened by stepping on a hidden lever, where Catherine de Medici kept her personal papers, jewels and a collection of poisons. Catherine and her son Henri III instigated the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, which began in Paris and spread throughout France, resulting in the death of some 70,000 Protestants. In Chinon, aristocratic ladies bunged accidental babies down an 80ft shaft, also the castle toilet. And it was from his balcony at Chateau Amboise that Louis XII hung Protestant dissidents. Today because of cheap airfares to many exotic locations and perhaps because the curators of these celebrated chateau typically ignore the colourful elements in their history these chateaux are chasing the tourist dollar. Now chateaux across the Loire Valley region are hosting additional attractions: a Tintin exhibition at Cheverny, an international annual garden festival at Chaumont, horse show at Chambord, actors in period costume and son et lumiere shows at many. Most key chateaux are in the 100-mile stretch from Saumur to Orleans. The region around Blois is a perfect base for visiting Chambord, Cheverney, Blois, Clos Luce, Amboise, Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry, Chaumont, and our favourite Chateau Chenonceau which attracts over 1 million visitors each year, the most out of all of the Loire Valley chateaux. It is easy to overdose on chateaux, so or do not try and make any records by doing them all in one or two days. Two in a day is enough and allows plenty of time for relaxing and enjoying wine-tasting at a handful of vineyards sprinkled along the banks of the Loire River. Corina Clemence runs Chateau du Guerinet near Blois as a luxury chateau available for exclusive rent for up to 15 people perfect for visiting historic chateaux, vineyards, and simply relaxing with your family and friends. http://www.loirechateau.com Rent a castle in France - Rent a french chateau

Write a Review   Add to My Favorite   Refer it to Friend   Report Article  

Average Visitor Rating: 0.00 (out of 5)
Number of ratings: 0 Votes

Visitor Rating


Other links at Reference & Education
Parents know that children do not always follow the experts when it comes to physical and intellectual development. As the closest observers of their individual child's temperament and abilities, parents are the best judges on whether a child is ready for
Category:

When you choose a college major you want one that will give you a great chance to earn a good-earning income and will utilize your skills and interests. From that point of view we looked at major trends that are developing in our economy, that will greatl
Category:

There are several different ways to get educational toys for toddlers. The first, and most obvious, place to look would be your local toy stores. You'll almost certainly come across an educational toy between the aisles of Barbie and toy soldiers.
Category:

Ban the boring story. Teach kids how to write great tension scenes that keep the reader hooked. Home school or mainstream, gifted or not, kids all make similar writing errors over and over again. Small steps make learning writing skills easier. Tension sc
Category:

When you enroll for an online criminal justice program, a computer with the specified hardware and software as well as a reliable Internet connection is necessary. A high-speed cable Internet connection is the most preferred. It is up to you to ensure
Category:




Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics

Articles: 68228
Categories: 501

Yahoo Entertainment
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional   Valid CSS