Europe, with an Arctic cruise, a Balkan tour and bits of France and Malta

[TheRealTMA]

Chateau de Chambord w a big pile to choose as my first. ikipedia



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The front view

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The central staircase. The Chateau was overall a but cavernous, nit fully furnished.

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The Leonardo da Vinci staircase is fabulous.

 

[VPS]

The Leonardo da Vinci staircase is fabulous.

I was just posting I'm surprised it didn't appear in the wiki pages

The Chambord staircase is a notable architectural feature of the Château de Chambord, known for its double helix design, which allows two people to ascend or descend without ever seeing each other. While Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have inspired the design, there is no definitive proof that he designed it.

 

[RooFlyer]

Back to San Souci to check in. It was still hot - may be 32 degrees at 4pm. I had already chosen dinner the day before. A look around the place Pool put in 2023 ad landscaping by the same guy who did one of the local chateaux!





There are 5 accommodations, butone at the moment is occupied y family. Mine in the bottom corner.







Round the back

 

[RooFlyer]

My room. Small but good. Walls are very think (is a converted 15-16 century barn). Can't hear anything.





Reception area







Dinner was to be outside, so I regretted a bit my nomination of 6pm to eat. Still hot.

 

[RooFlyer]

The menu unchanged while I was there,. Not sure what the rotation was but easy to have something new each time. they do reccommend some restaurants in the area, but why would you bother?



I had the gnocchi and it was, naturally, very nice.





With a local white.



How could afters be anything but?

 

[FlyingFiona]

Wow, living the dream that place!! Gorgeous. (Both you, and the Aussies that run it. I'd LOVE to live in and run a B&B in France.)

 

[Pushka]

The menu unchanged while I was there,. Not sure what the rotation was but easy to have something new each time. they do reccommend some restaurants in the area, but why would you bother?

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I had the gnocchi and it was, naturally, very nice.

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With a local white.

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How could afters be anything but?

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So this is the place that @VPS suggested. Sorry I'm "just picture gazing" at the moment and not reading much text, but whereabouts are you? I'm very tempted. Next year I hope.

 

[ellen10]

I've been away and just caught up on all your magnificent photos!
Such a wonderful detailed report. Thanks for sharing.

 

[RooFlyer]

So this is the place that @VPS suggested. Sorry I'm "just picture gazing" at the moment and not reading much text, but whereabouts are you? I'm very tempted. Next year I hope.

San Souci Bed and Breakfast near Tours, Loire Valley

 

[RooFlyer]

Unfortunately updates will have to wait until after my current arctic cruise. Wifi is so weak ....

 

[VPS]

Wow, living the dream that place!! Gorgeous. (Both you, and the Aussies that run it. I'd LOVE to live in and run a B&B in France.)

I think it was a lot of hard work for them because they started from a very dilapidated barn and have done it very nicely. They also didn't speak much French but worked really hard to become fluent. When I was there they only did meals 5 days a week but I think because they are doing well they now just close for a week or so every now and then and just have a break. It's not very expensive either. The issue is because it is remote you can't walk anywhere to eat

 

[RooFlyer]

Brekky was amazing - as you'd expect.

Breads and fruit I took, but not any hot option - that weight loss stuff is still working (or at least the appetite suppression part).



However it failed in the face of fresh brioche and French toast, with home made maple syrup.



SO I hit the road. First, Château du Clos Lucé at Amboise

The Château du Clos Lucé, formerly called Manoir du Cloux, is a large château located in the center of Amboise, in the department of Indre-et-Loire, in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. It is located in the natural Val de Loire (formerly called Touraine) region. Built by Hugues d'Amboise in 1471, the palace has known several famous owners such as the French king Charles VIII and Leonardo da Vinci. Clos Lucé is 500 metres from the royal Château d'Amboise, to which it is connected by an underground passageway.

King Charles VIII bought the home from Étienne Le Loup in 1490 and during this time it became known as the ‘summer house’, housing French royalty. After a few decades Francis I gave it to Leonardo da Vinci when he invited him to live in France in 1516. The ageing polymath lived his last years in this house until his death on 2 May 1519.

The Death of Leonardo da Vinci, an 1818 oil painting by the French artist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, depicts Leonardo da Vinci on his deathbed at Clos Lucé on May 2, 1519 with Francis I of France holding his head. Another version of the painting created c. 1851 is held by the Smith College Museum of Art.

Outside views first. Entrance gate















Looking across to the Royal Chateau of Amboise, where da Vinci is buried.

 

[RooFlyer]

Leonardo's bedroom








His study and workshops









Moving hologram





In the basement is an exhibition and recreation of many of da Vinci's inventions - extremely well done.

 

[SYD]

Leonardo's bedroom

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Looks slightly better than your digs!