Chambord…

The next châteaux we visited was about 30 km away and one of the most famous châteaux s in the Loire Valley – Chambord.  The châteaux is huge and intricate with a forest of towers, elegant bellcotes and decorated chimneys.  This Châteaux is as famous as the Pyramids in Egypt and much mystery still surrounds it’s construction and real purpose. 

Built by François I in 1539, the last great monarch of the medieval period and the first great French sovereign of modern times he wanted the building to reflect to the rest of Europe his power and majesty.  Chambord was a showcase of royal prestige. 

With our motorcycles, it was easy to find a parking place denied to cars but easily accessible  for motos, near to where we could easily walk in to the châteaux grounds to take our pictures.  We had not planned go in side and were content to take time walking the grounds and taking outside pictures. 

The Chambord Châteaux...

A closer look...

When done, we drove toward Tours using the levee road and stopped in some grass and had our lunch along the river.  Traveling the D-roads provides great views of the country-side and very little to no traffic to contend with.  You get a real feel for the countryside along with the smells of woods and ferns, wild onion, purple lavender and many different types of flowers.  In some places the wild red poppies stretched for as far as the eye could see. 

When we reached Tours we drove into the city and were totally unimpressed.  We quickly found our way out again and hit the road for the hotel.  We thought that we might be ending the day early but by the time we found a station to get gas and food, and then get back to the hotel, it was in the afternoon so we settled in again for the next night.