Chateaus & Citadels
Can you visit too many chateaus in France?
Non!
CHENONCEAU
Not only are the arches over the waterway impressive - this chateau is nicknamed the Ladies' Chateau because of the many women who were owners and also oversaw design and renovations.
VILLANDRY
This chateau is known more for its elaborate gardens - which were still quite beautiful in October. On such a beautiful day, it was nice to walk around outside and enjoy the grounds.
D'AZAY LE RIDEAU
My favorite! This beautiful chateau is from the early 1500s and had an excellent audio guide of the interior. The calm pool of water was not actually there until 1950 - when the river was widened to slow down the flow and create 'mirrors' for the chateau.
CLOS LUCE
This is a "small" chateau where Leonardo da Vinci lived out his last days, with the Mona Lisa in tow. This was not an included tour, but our guide assisted those of us interested in going - others could roam the town of Amboise. It was an inexpensive, interesting extra that taught me a lot about Leonardo!
Highlights from each chateau visit
Chinon was a charming town that served as our base while we explored the area's chateaus.
Cité de Carcassonne
The circles on the walls seen at night are residue from an artist's display of many years ago (that was controversial). Patrick, our guide, offered an optional, free night walk of the fortress for anyone interested. It was a great way to walk off dinner, enjoy time with tour members and appreciate the quiet of Carcassone at night!
Carcassone is a beautiful walled citadel or fortress on a hill near Toulouse. It is also quite the popular site for tourists - so it was a bit packed during the day. We were given a wonderful walking tour and then had time to walk around on our own (or do whatever we wanted to do).
LES BAUX
This was another hilltop citadel that was a stop along the way to Arles. This location had breathtaking views across Provence. If you Google "Les Baux", you will learn it was also named one of the most beautiful villages in France (of which there are many). We were given about an hour to explore on our own and it was one of my favorite stops. Look at my Canoes, Caves & Canals page to learn about the Carrières des Lumières display that is located in a quarry here in Les Baux.
Connie's Clue #2
Use a phone lanyard: Best accessory I brought!
The reason? I knew to be aware of pickpockets but also heard that snatching phones from unsuspecting tourists (mostly in larger cities) is also prevalent. I have a cross-body anti-theft purse that I use but knew I would be pulling my phone out a lot for taking pictures and looking at maps. The lanyard was SO handy! I wore it like a cross-body bag and it was right there to quickly snap a picture or look at my map without worrying about how easy it might be to grab away. Plus, it kept me from worrying about leaving it somewhere or dropping it in the water or someplace that would be hard to reach to recover. There are many versions and I found mine on a popular online shopping site. This is an item I will now always use during my travels!