Studed with fairytale châteaux and storybook villages, Loire Valley is known as the “Garden of France” and needless to say, its various vineyards. The area has become a showplace of the pleasure castles that take on different architectural styles.

The Chateau of Villandry is the last of the great châteaux of the Loire built during the Renaissance of the Loire Valley. The elegance of its architecture combined with its expansive gardens make this one of the jewels of the world heritage.

 

 

Chateau D’Usse is known as the inspiration for Charles Perrault for his tale of Sleeping Beauty. This chateau is located at the edge of Chinon forest overlooking the Indre Valley.

 

Driving through on my way to Fontevrau, I came across the small village of Candes-Saint-Martin. The village sits on the banks of the Vienne River at the confluence with the Loire River. Saint-Martin arrived here towards the end of the 4th centurty and converted the residents to Christianity. The Church of Saint Martin was built in the 12th and 13th centuries in the gothic style.