Hotel Chaptal

We stayed at the Hotel Chaptal in town.

Hotel Chaptal is located at 13 Rue Chaptal.

The room was small but clean.

The bathroom was also small but serviceable.

2017 05 31

Amboise

Our next home base after Chinon was Amboise, 30 minutes east of Tours.

Amboise sits on the Loire.

The Eglise St. Denis sits on a hill west of town and dates from the 12th century.

On a hill to the east of town is the Amboise Chateau. God on 1 hill and king on the other.

Rue Nationale through the center of town is pedestrian only.

The Tour de l'Horlage (Clock Tower) on the eastern edge of Rue Nationale is built into the 15th century town wall.

At the end of Rue Nationale, turn right on Rue Victor Hugo. You'll see the chateaux on your left. Rue Victor Hugo is lined with restaurants and leads to Clos Luce (Leonardo da Vinci's last residence), a must-see in town.

2017 05 31

Au Coin Gourmand

In Vouvray, we found lunch at Au Coin Gourmand, a casual bistro, where you can also get food to go. They offered a €13.90 2-course lunch.

Salad & Zucchini Quiche

Dessert was apricot tart

or Strawberries with Chocolate.

2017 05 31

Caves Saint-Roch

The Loire Valley is France's 3rd largest producer of wine. Four main grapes are grown: gamay and cabernet franc (reds); sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc (whites). The wines are very reasonably priced.

On the way to Amboise, we stopped by Caves Saint-Roch--a sparkling wine producer.

You can take a self-guided tour of the caves.

The Loire Man carved into the limestone in the cave. Grapes surround him, signifying the grape-growing region.

Test your knowledge of wine bottle sizes: magnum (2 bottles), double magnum (4 bottles), Jeroboam (6 bottles), Imperial (8 bottles), Salmanazar (12 bottles), Balthazar (16 bottles), Nebuchadnezzar (20 bottles).

The ancient tanks--directly dug into the rocks.

They produce an ice champagne, which is quite good, for €5.90.

2017 05 31

Restaurant Chez Gerard

We chose dinner at Restaurant Chez Gerard, located at 20 Rue du Grand Marche in Tours. They had a 3-course dinner for €17.90. Each course had 4-6 choices.

One of the options for the starter was Salade Chèvre Chaud (hot goat cheese salad).

Rillettes sur Toast--this was my favorite--goose rillette.

One of the options for the main was Filet de Poisson du Jour

Boudin Noir--blood sausage

Tarte aux Pommes--apple tart

Fromage Blanc with Cherry Sauce

2017 05 30

Tours

After Villandry, we took a detour to see Tours, a university town between the Cher & Loire rivers.

Place Plumereau in the center of town is filled with outdoor cafes.

Half timbered houses dot the Old Town

The Old Town is mainly pedestrian.

Basilica of Saint Martin, a Roman Catholic basilica dedicated to Saint Martin, a bishop of Tours who died in 397.

The Clock Tower built at the start of the 11th century.

We came across this steel sculpture on the Place du Grand Marche--"Le Monstre" by Xavier Veilhan

After our quick walking tour, it was time for glace (ice cream) back on Place Plumereau. 

Get a cone, sit at one of the tables in the square and watch the world go by.

2017 05 30

Chateau de Villandry

Chateau de Villandry is located 32 km from Chinon. It's considered to have some of the best gardens in the Loire, if not in all of France. Entry to the gardens is €7; €11 includes a tour of the chateau. 

The Vegetable Gardens are arranged in elaborate geometric patterns.

The ornamental gardens represent 4 stages of Love: 1) Tender Love--hearts separated by flames of love in the corners, 2) Passionate Love--hearts broken out of passion, 3) Flighty Love--fans in the corners symbolize the fickleness of love and horns represent betrayed love, 4) Tragic Love--blades of daggers and swords 

Fountain in the Water Garden

The gardens are dotted with statues.

The Drawing Room

The Dining Room has salmon pink paneling, 

The place setting is a little more formal than at Azay-le-Rideau.

The kitchen is rustic because it is mainly occupied by servants.

Beautiful forged iron staircase

The bedroom of Prince Jerome, Napoleon's brother

The bedroom of Joachim Carvallo, a Spanish doctor who purchased Villandry in 1906. He restored the chateau and created the gardens.

2017 05 30