Champagne et Chateau

A day off in Verdun, so plenty of reading done by all.

We left Verdun after the fireworks feu d'artifice of Bastille day and passed by the WWI monument, which is really quite something.  I saw a gravestone number 12,557 so I shudder to think how many men it truly commemorates.

In the Champagne region you have to do champagne, and in the Loire you have to do Chateau, so we've tried to do both in the last few days.

We stayed overnight in the driveway of a small champagne producer, and bought a bottle of rose bubbly for the trouble.  This was our view from the van.

And the we moved on to the Loire and have seen more than a few Chateau, some more closely than others.  Actually, we've been into 2 and probably seen another 5 or 6...  Not enough for Fran, so we have promised ourselves we will come back to this area in the future

To the chateau.  Fontainbleu first, and lots of Napoleanic details - very big building and some gardens.  Actually, most of the grounds are public access for free, which is quite refreshing!  Spent a couple of hours going round the exhibition inside, which I felt gave more than enough access to the royal apartments etc.  Quite tired / bored by the end of this...

Stopped over in Jargeau, on the river and took a wander into town for a bite in the evening, and happened apon the "Grand Table" event.  This is where loads of tressles are arranged through the main streets and the restauants and bars put on food for modest charges and everyone comes and eats, from what seems miles around.  Very sociable, very french and very weird!  We had a drink and went back to the campsite for grub ;-)

Chambord next, with it's impressive architecture and big gardens.  I refused to go inside, but instead took a 2.5km stroll around the canal in the garden, with Fran waiting in the shade for my return!  Again, this was free access and we only paid to park the van here.  By not going in we missed out on the famous double helix staircase, boohoo.

Spent the night in the centre of Blois, which allowed us the chance to visit the chateau in late afternoon (including sword fighting), grab some food in the town (pizza on a bruschetta!) and then go back for Son et Lumierre after dark.  This was ok, but was basically a storyboard of french history with french narration, so I wasn't really able to translate quick or accurately enough for Fran.  I struggled myself although we had the advantage of having met most of the story in the afternnon tour of the chateau.  Some of the light show was impressive though.

This morning was a slow start with a walk around Blois, before carrying on past other chateau towards Tours.  Caught glimpses of Cheverny and Chenonceau, but no visits this time.  Then up to Le Mans and took in part of the circuit.  The plan is to return to the race track tomorrow and "do" the museum.