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| Lawrie enjoying the live music during dinner |
I have been struggling for a few days searching for a starting point for this week’s European holiday blog.
I wanted to write about Blois France, and I asked Lawrie what he remembered most about this beautiful city; “The best chicken Caesar salad that I’ve ever had.”
Huh. I can’t remember what I had for dinner that night, or most nights, only that outdoor restaurant was located in the centre of town, with musicians playing good tunes, and stars sparkling overhead. It’s interesting how we occasionally have different memories of the same location.
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| Entering Blois |
The ancient city of Blois is located on the Loire River between two other gorgeous and well known French cities: Orleans and Tours.
The famous French female warrior Jeanne d’ Arc, or Joan of Arc had a presence in this city as well as a few others that we have visited in France. On April 29th in 1429 she rode to Blois, to use the chateau as her base of operations.
At age seventeen she successfully led a military campaign to rescue the nearby city of Orleans from a lengthy English siege.
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| Inside the Royal Chateau of Blois |
Perhaps it is our fascination with ancient walled cities that leads us to places with such rich history, or perhaps it is that France and most of Europe has been settled for so many centuries that a number of interesting personalities re-appear from place to place.
Over the centuries the Royal Chateau of Blois has been home to seven kings, and ten queens of France. Other famous people who at various times have called Blois home include Charles of Orleans in 1140, Marie de’ Medici 1617-19, Gaston Duke of Orleans 1660’s, and Marie Louise the wife of Napoleon I lived there for a few years in the early 1800’s.
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| The King's Bedroom |
We happened upon Blois while wandering through our favourite country on a three-week journey; no plans, no hotel reservations, just driving wherever the whim led us.
The Royal Chateau of Blois takes up most of the centre of the city, rising vertically from the road that twists along its base. The views from the upper walls are spectacular. Inside the chateau is a stunning collection of furniture, paintings, china, and fabrics.
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| I want some of these for our house! |
But my all-time favourite things to see were the snarling gargoyles displayed at eye level. For once I could actually look at, and appreciated the intricate carvings. So often the gargoyles are forty or fifty feet up on the edges of a cathedral roof – functioning as rainspouts.
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| Supposed to scare parishioners into behaving. |
Eventually we located a hotel a short walk from the old centre of the city. We ambled along enjoying the warm evening. In the centre there were a number of open-air restaurants set under the cool shade trees. And live music. It’s a great spot to spend a few hours people-watching, enjoying the music – and apparently eating the “best chicken Caesar salad ever!”
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| Royal Chateau of Blois - walking back to our hotel |
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