Wild camping at Chenonceau, Loire valley

Continuing our tour of the Loire valley, yesterday we headed for one of the chateau that many say is the prettiest. Chateau de Chenonceau is build quite literally on the river Cher, a tributary of the Loire.

We headed there late in the day, intending to strategically place ourselves in a nearby campground, and to visit the chateau the following morning. However, due to a bridge closure, the campground on our side of the river was closed when we reached it. To get to another one, we would have had to travel further to the next bridge and double back on the other side.

In the meantime, we travelled through a lovely wooded area along the river, very quiet and picturesque. So since it was around 8pm by then, we decided to wild camp. We had enough food and water so there was no problem. It turned out great, and we enjoyed the sounds of nature - frogs and birds, and in the morning, the splashing of some very large fish.
Preparing breakfast
Eggs with mushrooms, bread and smoked salmon, breakfast fit for a king!

Our "unofficial" campsite by the River Cher, just a short distance
from the Chateau de Chenonceau
Today we spent several hours at the Chateau. It was well worth the €14 per person entry fee. Many kings and queens, dukes and nobility and kings's mistresses made this their home since its construction in the early 1500s. Catherine de Medici was one of the queens who resided and ruled from here.

This portrait of Louis XIV was gifted to the
then owners after he visited the chateau


It is full of huge tapestries, fine art and Renaissance furniture. Interestingly, it served as a hospital during both World Wars.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Comments

  1. Iveta bxMay 17, 2019 at 9:31 PM

    Still not too hot, judging from your morning attire, so visiting a beautiful chateau is a perfect way to stay warm and dry.
    I love the yellow flowers along the river bank - is it buttercups?

    ReplyDelete
  2. DaphneMay 18, 2019 at 10:33 AM

    Yes it's still pretty chilly. The other morning it was 8 degrees when we got up! So we're not too anxious to get out of the tent in the morning's! And yes the flowers are buttercups. The pastures here are full of them and they add a lot of colour to the landscape.

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