Bienvenue, castles, full of fairy-tales and perfume of a bygone age, charming scenery, a unique architecture in the world and exquisite wines, histories with kings and queens, dukes and duchesses, in ravishing interiors and universal patrimonies! Bienvenue on the Loire Valley ! Le jardin de France!

I have to begin my pleading (as the Loire Valley is definitely worth maintaining it as a reference point on the list of every traveler who is self-respecting) by recalling the moment when I made up my mind and bought my plane ticket: an impressive documentary about the culture of this blessed region which offered mankind a real visual, olfactory and especially emotional “feast”, with images and sensations that I will never, ever forget.

I saw them, I was fascinated by them, so, I made up my mind! Loire Valley, j`arrive! I set off and I saw a great deal. All is worth  sharing, revealing, little by little, but as the list is quite long, I`ll start from the very beginning, in an organized way. And I begin with a “colored top”; or, mieux, in Molière`s language “le top en couleurs”:

Top 5 castles:

1. Chenonceau - I wouldn`t like to sound like a cliché, but Chenonceau is TRULY the most beautiful castle I have ever seen, not only by its structure or its cultural richness, but particularly by its atmosphere, emotion and state of mind…It is not without reason that it is the second most visited castle in France, after Versailles. Chenonceau means Renaissance, Catherine de Médicis, an exceptional “Château des Dames”, a fabulous historical monument, so romantic that I couldn`t help going boating on the lake.
   
   

2. Chambord is the biggest castle on the Loire Valley. And, obviously, absolutely unique. A mix of Italian Renaissance with medieval details, a bit of gothic here and there, a kind of combination between a fortress and a palace; it was built by the king François I of France, and seems to be helped by Leonardo da Vinci. I was nuts about the interiors, but I irremediably fell in love with the gardens, parks and nature that hosts it, being the biggest close estate in Europe!
   
   

3. Villandry - I felt like Alice in Wonderland when I walked in here, I swear! Picture some Pleiades of vegetable mazes, extremely beautiful and sophisticated at the same time, in a Renaissance style. That`s what is really special about Villandry, so, it clearly counts among my colored favs.
   
   

4. Azay-le-Rideau - one pleasant summer afternoon, I arrived in a little town which seemed to be buried in oblivion, not far from Villandry. And I looked for the so famous castle, through narrow, little streets and simple houses, without being able to imagine what was going to happen… And suddenly, it came out: a wonder in the middle of a small island, an example of a 100% early French Renaissance architecture, romantic and impressive at the same time. Azay-le-Rideau… The carved decorations in the rooms are of an absolute refinement and the tapestries, with landscapes dominated by floral and vegetable motifs or hunting scenes, or interesting compositions are also absolutely superbe. The name, maybe a little bit odd, comes from the Lord Ridel or Rideau d'Azay
   
   

5. Chaumont - the last, but not least, is the castle which watches over the Loire and seems to belong to an old book of glorious, bygone histories, but never forgotten…it's an old fortress rebuilt by Pierre d'Amboise, Charles d'Amboise and Charles II, and a favorite spot of Caterina de'Medici also.
   
   

Charmant, n’est-ce pas?