Loire Valley - Details

Coat of arms at Chateau du Cheverny

Door detail at Chateau du Cheverny

Boats waiting to be hired at the Chateau de Chambord

Part of the grounds of the massive Chateau de Chambord

 Chateau de Chambord in the background

Chateau de Chambord

Rain pipe at Chateau de Chambord

The making of....the shot above

Hauntingly beautiful gardens of the Chateau de Chenonceau, which once belonged to Diane de Potters, mistress to King Henry II.  She was made to surrender the castle to his wife, the Queen Catherine de Medici, upon his death, and given another smaller (probably less beautiful) castle in return. 

That's the Chateau de Chenonceau that she had to give up

Detail of an armoire inside the Chateau de Chenonceau 

The drawing room of the Chateau de Cheverny, just to give you an idea of the furnishings inside these castles.  They are pretty much the same, but I think this one is the best-looking of the lot.

A working clock from the 17th century that still tells the time, the season and day of week.

Coat of arms embroidered onto the curtains inside the Chateau de Cheverny

Rooftops in Blois

The salamander, next to the letter F, carved onto a door inside the Chateau du Chambord.  The salamader is the symbol of King Francois I.  You will see it in every major castle in the Loire Valley.