I was all set for cool and damp and then the sun came out quickly followed by my fedora and sunglasses. No complaints here and a good test of the car air conditioning. As the slightly comic title suggests it was “Four Chateaux and a Fortress” kind of day with plenty walking and little driving. I started the morning with a wander around Chinon on the Vienne river dominated by its thousand year old fortress, the last refuge of Henry II Plantagenate King of England. It is also where Jeanne d’Arc met for the first time with King Charles VII. A bit of history then and it is nice to se here commemorated in a statue in a square named after her surrounded by carnival attractions. Clearly she saved France so that children could play on a giant octopus. Here endeth the history lesson but just explaining why Chinon was on my itinerary. The rest of the day was devoted to Chateaux of the Loire valley at Ussé, Langais, Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry. I only looked at the outside at Ussé, the chateaux on the middle two and the specatular gardens on Villandry. The pictures, hopefully, give a glimpse of these impressive places and a look along the swollen Loire. I have chosen to caption the images individually for clarity.

These first set are from Chinon

Now on to Chateau d’Ussé on the river Indré

Next is Chateau de Langais the most complete medieval chateau in the Loire Valley after crossing a charning bridge

In the chateau there is a diarama representing the marriage of Anne of Brittany to King Charles VIII which took place in this room

We also find the weaving room and the obligatory relics room

Now we head to Chateau de Azay-Le-Rideau with its enormous rooms and its moat. No mirror effects today with the fast flowing water

This is the Royal bedroom 

The portrait over the fire is a mirror and depending on where you stand you see one of three pictures.

Who does not like sunshine through windows?

The day finishes with a wander around the gardens at Chateau de Villandry