More from the Loire Valley


The last few days have been full of varied sights, better weather, less wind  and lovely cycle paths. Here are some of the highlights.

Sunday was our biggest mileage so far at 80km, plus a great visit to Chambord, a magnificent and rather overwhelming chateau. Frank and I agreed we wouldn't want to live there - way too big and massive rooms that I don't know how they ever heated. I was frozen during our little tour there and it was far warmer outside! And that's not saying a lot. But it truly was like a castle from a fairytale, with all it towers, turrets, outside galleries and walkways, three floors and a maze of hallways, stairways, rooms with ante rooms off them, and even a large theatre room with a stage.


Chambord
The city of Orleans was exquisite! We were impressed by the cobbled streets and timbered house-fronts, the pedestrian-friendly "centre ville" and the Cathedral of Sainte Croix that dominates the town. It's magnificent, about the same size as Paris's Notre Dame. Amboise was all about Leonardo de Vinci, but this place is all about Joan of Arc. It was here in the Battle of Orleans in 1429 that the teenage peasant girl led France to history over the English.

Joan of Arc statue in Place du Martroi, Orleans

Cathedral of Sainte Croix, Orleans

Camping here continues to impress us. Yesterday we had our first experience of having your fresh bread delivered to the campground. You place your order the night before, and voila! You have your fresh baguette and croissants ready for you in the morning! Now this is very civilised.

Fresh baguettes and croissants delivered to CG


I'm not sure how it's going to be when we leave this Loire Valley and its well-signed and beautifully routed velo path, but I think we are being very spoiled - I don't see how anywhere else could live up to this, but we'll see. Here are a series of pictures from along the route.

Lots of flowers everywhere

Another Chateau. Sully-sue-Loire

Wheat fields and one of several nuclear power plants we passed

No not a campground, one of many gypsy camps we've seen


I.e. Pont Europe on the approach to Orleans

Comments

  1. SarahMay 27, 2019 at 7:39 AM

    How nice to have bread and croissants delivered to your campsite. We enjoyed that luxury at our camp in Chamonix.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DaphneMay 29, 2019 at 2:43 AM

    It is a real luxury isn't it!

    ReplyDelete

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