A Loire Sunset

Château château château.

Chenonceau: A lovely building with an extra gallery added in later life which just happens to stretch 60m over the Loire. But we've been spoiled recently I reckon during this holiday with everywhere we've gone being pretty quiet. Chenonceau wasn't. By a long shot. Which was a shame because for once the interior was really interesting, but the swarms of people drove the visit more than what we were looking at.

Amboise: Perhaps the point of most interest at Amboise is it's where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, and the chapel attached to le Chateau d'Amboise is allegedly where his remains were entombed. The views from the ramparts out over the Loire were fantastic, though it's possible a little bit of Chateau-fatigue may be setting in.

Clos-Lucé: This is where da Vinci lived out his last years, and it's a really pleasant large house/little castle. You do, however, have to wonder at what Leonardo would make of the beautiful park attached to the house being converted into some strange theme-parkesque effort, with some of his adventures sort-of-made-real; renaissance music playing from speakers in the trees; and an entrance fee of ?12.50 which felt completely over the top.

The evening was rounded off with an evening drive up to Bréhémont for a fantastic sunset, then another view of Ussé, this time lit up in the night. And back to the cottage to wonder what we're going to do with our last full day here before heading up to Versailles on Monday for a couple of nights. Wandering round castles, impressive though they are, is getting just a bit tiring...