Mont-Saint-Michel: The story has it that it was at the request of the Archangel Michel that Aubert, Bishop of Avranches had a small church built and consecrated on the island on 16th October 709. In 966 a community of Benedictines settled on the rock at the request of the Duke of Normandy and the pre-Romanesque church was built before the year one thousand. In 1421 this was later replaced with the current Gothic chancel. In the 11th century, the Romanesque abbey church was founded and the first monastery buildings were built up against its north wall. In the 14th century, the Hundred Years War made it necessary to protect the abbey behind a set of military constructions, enabling it to hold out against a siege lasting 30 years. During the French Revolution, the Abbey was turned into a prison. With the celebration of the monastic's 1000th anniversary, in the year 1966, a religious community moved back to what used to be the abbatial dwellings.
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| Mont-Saint-Michel |
We thought we were pretty early at the Mont-Saint-Michel but there were plenty of cars and a few busses there before us. There was one part of the car park closed off as it was expected that it would be flooded by the incoming tide. Happens all the time apparently. We spent some time wandering the streets and along the wall. There is quite a little city there, with most inhabitance on the lookout these days for the commercial dollar. It is a fascinating spot, with lots of little winding streets and alleyways, beautifully crafted buildings all inside a huge fortress wall. There is little wonder that they survived a 30-year siege, although goodness knows what they would have had to eat.
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| Mont-Saint-Michel |
From Mont-Saint-Michel we headed east towards Blois skirting Le Mans in the process. We didn’t call in to drive around the race track. Apparently it is June sometime that the 24hour race is held here. Lunch in Blois (a gallette) and then a walk down to the River Loire. We were surprised at how shallow it is. There are some very cute little streets in Blois that we had to negotiate to and from the car which was parked up the top of the hill near the cathedral.
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| River Loire at Blois |
Had a look at the exterior of Blois Château. Historically the château has been the residence of several French kings and comprises several buildings constructed from the 13th to the 17th century .It is also the place where Joan of Arc went in 1429 to be blessed by the Archbishop of Reims before departing with her army to drive the English from Orléans. No crowds queuing up here like there were in Versailles.
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| Blois Chateau |
From there we drove to Châteaux de Chambord, one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinct French Renaissance architecture. The building, which was never completed, was constructed by King François I from 1519-147, in part to be near to his mistress the Comtesse de Thoury. The largest château in the Loire Valley; it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for François I, who maintained his royal residences at Château de Blois and Château d'Amboise. It is indeed a spectacular building and it was nice to be able to pay our 3€ parking fee and be able to inspect the exterior of the building. They had an excellent apricot sorbet as well.
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| Chambord |
We drove back along the Loire Valley towards Amboise (our hotel for the night). Stopped to take some photos of Chaumont Châteaux from across the river. The current Châteaux on this site was built by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465–1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont from 1498–1510. It was quite pretty from across the river, added to by the appearance in the sky of 5 hot air balloons. Apparently, ballooning is a popular way to see the Loire Valley.
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| Chaumont |
To Amboise where we dropped our gear off at the motel and drove into the city to find some dinner. Had soup at a Thai restaurant right next door to the very large and impressive Amboise Château. Built on a promontory overlooking the Loire River to control a strategic ford, the Château began its life in the eleventh century.
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| Amboise |
In 1434 it was seized by Charles VII of France, after its owner, Louis d'Amboise was convicted of plotting against Louis XI. Once in royal hands, the château became a favourite of French kings; Charles VIII decided to rebuild it extensively, beginning in 1492. King Francis I was raised at Amboise and during the first few years of his reign, the château reached the pinnacle of its glory. As a guest of the King, Leonardo da Vinci came to Château Amboise in December 1515 and lived and worked in the nearby Clos Lucé, Henry II and his wife, Catherine de' Medici, raised their children in Château Amboise along with Mary Stuart, the child Queen of Scotland (and later Mary Queen of Scots) who had been promised in marriage to the future French Francis II. During the French Revolution, the greater part of the château was demolished and despite various attempts to restore it was further damaged during the German invasion in 1940.
