Entertablement Abroad – Sarlat

by Helen Kain | Apr 16, 2015 | Beautiful Towns, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

The following day we set out for Sarlat, in the Dordogne. Loading the luggage into the car, we bid farewell to the wonderful staff at Hotel de Minimes and settled in for the drive. The town of Sarlat has been around since Roman times, its fortunes waxing and waning...

Entertablement Abroad – Chateau de Chaumont

by Helen Kain | Apr 15, 2015 | Chateaux, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

It was our last day in Amboise, and we had time to see one more Chateau.  Anxious to see the “rest of the story” between Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici I voted for Chateau de Chaumont.  I was dying to see the...

Entertablement Abroad – Chateau de Villandry

by Helen Kain | Apr 14, 2015 | Chateaux, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

Another day, another Chateau…   Chateau de Villandry is rightly famous for its magnificent gardens, very much in the French parterre style. I’m more of an English Country perennial garden gal, myself, but these were something to behold. We...

Entertablement Abroad – Chateau de Chambord

by Helen Kain | Apr 13, 2015 | Chateaux, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

The next Chateau on our list was Chambord, probably the most photographed Chateau in the Loire Valley, if not all of France.  It is certainly the largest, and is a marvellous example of French Renaissance architecture, built by King Francis I (yes,the self same...

Entertablement Abroad – Chateau de Cheverny

by Helen Kain | Apr 13, 2015 | Chateaux, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

We finished up at Chateau de Chambord by having an excellent lunch in the restaurant on the grounds, and planned our afternoon. Glenn and Paul had discovered a vintage car museum not far away, so their plans veered in that direction. Chris and I decided to forgo...

Entertablement Abroad – Chateau de Chenonceau

by Helen Kain | Apr 12, 2015 | Chateaux, Entertablement Abroad, France, Gardens and Flowers

Our first Chateau visit was Chenonceau. Although it has origins in the 12th century, the current structure was built between 1514 and 1522 on the foundations of an old mill, and then later extended to span the river Cher.   In 1535 King Francis I seized it...