On the left are the outer walls of the Chateau d'Angers on the banks of the river Maine. The statue is René of Anjou (19 Jan 1409 – 10 Aug 1480) also known as René I of Naples & Good King René.
Maison Veuve Amiot winery just east of Saumur where our tour group stopped for a wine tasting.
Maison Veuve Amiot winery just east of Saumur where we stopped for a wine tasting.
Saumur city hall which used to be the bridge head when the Loire River ran right in front of the building.
Chateau de Saumur – Dukes of Anjou castle.
World War I and II monument on the banks of the Loire River in Saumur.
Our bus passed by the Château d'Ussé which is located in the commune of Rigny-Ussé in the Indre-et-Loire départment at the edge of the Chinon forest overlooking the Indre Valley.
Jim on bridge to Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. Built 1518 to 1527, it is one of the foremost examples of early French renaissance architecture and is set on an island in the middle of the Indre River.
Looking north from the 2nd floor above the entrance to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Interior roof "truss" detail of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Historic marker regarding roofing of the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau. The trees were felled in the winter of 1518-1519 from a forest of tall oaks.
Bedroom of Philippe Lesbahy, who married Gilles Berthelot, the owner of Château d'Azay-le-Rideau at the turn of the 16th century.
First floor bedroom at Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
Royal 17th Century bed Château D'Azay Le Rideau.
Biencourt Room. Château D'Azay Le Rideau.
King Francis I adopted as his badge the salamander in the midst of flames, with the legend, "Nutrisco et extinguo" ("I nourish and extinguish").
View of the Indre River from inside. Who else over hundreds of years has looked through these very windows at this scene? It is always intriguing to wonder about.
Blocked off fireplace at the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau.
On the left is salamander of Francis I with his devise, Nutrisco et extinguo, and on right is the ermine of his wife, Claude of France located on the pediment of the main entrance to the Château.
Our tour group dined at the Maison Errard in Langeais. L>R the owner and chef Yannick Errard and our tour guide Laura Spiers.
Francie Stoutamire Photography
