The Loire Valley - Châteaus & Countryside
The above bridge, Pont du Maréchal Leclerc, spans the Loire River by the medieval town of Amboise, France. While the current structure is a 20th-century construction, a bridge has existed at this strategic crossing point since at least 1280. What makes this photo special is the time of day, sunset, and the mirror-like quality of the river reflecting the bridge and the coulds in the sky. The scene evokes feelings of calm and tranquility.
Château de Chenonceau is an architectural masterpiece of the French Renaissance, best known for its extraordinary design spanning directly across the River Cher. It is the second most visited château in France after the Palace of Versailles. Known as the "Ladies' Château," Chenonceau was shaped almost entirely by women. Katherine Briçonnet oversaw its initial construction. Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henri II, commissioned the iconic arched bridge over the river. Catherine de' Medici, the Queen Regent and wife of King Henry II, forced her rival Diane out after the king's death. She built the famous two-story Grand Gallery on top of Diane's bridge and ran the Kingdom of France from her study here. During World War II the château's Grand Gallery became a “safe house” on the escape route for refugees fleeing Nazi tyranny.
Claude Monet’s house in Giverny, France, is a vibrant, pink-stucco home where the Impressionist master lived and worked for 43 years (1883–1926). Starting as a rented farmhouse, he later purchased the property in 1890. The artist extensively remodeled the house and transformed the surrounding land into elaborate flower and water gardens, which served as the primary subjects for his masterpieces.
The swan and canoe above are on the grounds of the Palace of Fontainebleau. The swan is a fitting inhabitant of a royal chateau. They are universally celebrated throughout history, art, and folklore for their size, grace, and pristine white plumage. Swans were prominently featured in Greek mythology and are associated with Apollo (god of music and the sun) and Aphrodite (goddess of love). In Celtic and Irish folklore, swans represent the soul. Even though the swan is only a small part of the above photo, its presence is what makes the picture. Remove the swan and I would have discarded the photo.
A real wine cellar.
Château Royal d’Amboise is sits atop a medieval fortress that was built in 880 AD. The strategic high ground above the Loire River had been fortified since ancient and Roman times. It was transformed into a luxurious Renaissance palace in the late 15th century, but it retained its formidable fortified foundations, ramparts, and large defensive towers. The town of Amboise is known as the cradle of the French Renaissance. The château dominates the town. Leonardo da Vinci's final residence, Château du Clos Lucé, is just a short walk (see photos from a 2018 visit below). In the photo on the left the prominent gargoyles just below the roof line remind me of the monsters that hid under my bed as a child. Turns out they have a very practical purpose as water spouts for the rain water collected in the gutters. The photo on the right contrasts the old world with the new world.
Leonardo da Vinci spent his last three years (1516–1519) in Amboise at the invitation of King Francis I, who granted him the title of "Premier Painter, Engineer and Architect to the King". Francis brought Leonardo to Amboise to elevate the cultural prestige of the French court. Living in the royal manor of Château du Clos Lucé, he focused on organizing royal festivities, designing mechanical inventions, and teaching his devoted students. The château was built in 1471. In 1490, King Charles VIII acquired the property and transformed it into a royal summer residence. The object in the foreground is a full-scale model of Leonardo da Vinci’s aerial screw. Sketched in his notebooks around 1489, this machine is widely celebrated as the earliest historical precursor to the modern helicopter. Leonardo brought many of his inventions and paintings with him when he moved to France, including a painting known as the Mona Lisa.
PLACES / FRANCE Gallery Pages