| Discover
the Loire Valley and its châteaux |
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CHAMBORD |
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| Built
between 1519 and 1547 on a bend
of the Cosson, a small tributary
of the Loire, it is located about
6km from the left bank of the Loire,
and 14km north east of Blois. |
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| Chambord is without
a doubt one of the most recognisable
chateaux, with a remarkable skyline,
one of the architectural masterpieces
of the Renaissance: 128m of façades,
440 rooms, more than 80 staircases,
365 fireplaces, and 800 sculpted capitals. |
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CHEVERNY |
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| The
current château was built
between 1625 and 1635 for Henri
Hurault de Cheverny. Later remodelings
kept this building's décor
up to date. In its first version,
the château was enclosed by
a courtyard, with a gallery leading
to a chapel, and an enclosing wall.
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CHENONCEAU |
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| The
château has belonged
to six women, among whom Diane
de Poitiers and Catherine
de Médicis. |
| It was Catherine
who built the gallery crossing
the river. |
| Both a château
and a bridge, Chenonceau owes
its survival through the Revolution
and the second World War to
its dual status. During the
Occupation, the château-bridge
was used by the Resistance,
for its north side was in the
occupied zone, while the south
side was in the free zone. |
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VILLANDRY |
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| Built
during the Renaissance, the work
lasted from 1532 to 1536 under the
direction of Jean le Breton, secretary
of state for François 1er,
who also built Villesavin. |
| Famous for its gardens,
restored in the early 20th century
by Joachim de Carvallo, Villandry
reveals its originality. Vegetable
garden, ornamental garden, water garden:
all atypical. |
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THE TOURS BOTANICAL
GARDEN |
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| It
was created in 1843, replacing a
former monastery garden. Visitors
will find many points of interest,
scientific, visual, sensory |
| The garden covers
5 hectares, is very long and narrow,
and presents 4000 species and varieties. |
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DOMAINE DU CIRAN
IN SOLOGNE |
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| This
site offers a wide diversity of
natural environments: farmland,
meadows, woods, heaths and lakes.
300 hectares where can be found
the majority of species present
in Sologne. |
| But be careful!!!
The total liberty given to the animals
requires that visitors blend in to
the background to catch them unaware. |
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