14.04.2019 - Châteaux of the Loire (F)
14.04.2019 - Châteaux of the Loire (F)
Bestemmingen
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Sunday, 14 April 2019 - 10 am: we're leaving… again. This time to the Loire region with its numerous castles. The route will go from castle to castle. Why is it that there are so many castles along the Loire? Well, in the 15th century, the region was taken over by the French court; this explains the presence of so many castles. Most were only in use for a few days a year and were mainly used as hunting locks.

We spend our first night on the road, after a quiet ride, at the camper stop in Evreux.
Day 2
We continue our journey towards Tours. It's a cold and drizzly day. The intention was to visit the city, but there was no suitable parking space available in the centre! After half an hour of driving around, we called it a day and decided to continue driving to the next camper place. This is within walking distance of the first castle we visited: the “Château de Villandry”. We do a tour of the beautiful interior designers. However, the castle is best known for its beautiful Renaissance gardens in the 16th century style. The gardens of the castle, which are divided into three terraces, are the reconstruction of a garden from the 14th century. Really beautiful. You will be short of eyes to view all parts. The many rare and old plants are maintained with great care.
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm (garden until 7pm) and the visit costs 11 € / person: castle + garden - 7 € garden only.
Day 3
After a fresh and very wet night we continue our tour towards the castle of Langeais. It is an imposing medieval fortress from the 15th century with towers, a walkway and a drawbridge. This in the middle of the town.
We only visit the outside and after a walk in the streets around the castle we drive to the “Château d'Ussé”.

With its fortified towers, turrets and bells, it looks like a castle from the fairy tales. This beautiful castle is said to have inspired Charles Perrault for his famous children's fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle of Ussé is still inhabited and open to the public from February to November. Here too we only looked at the outside.

It was not our intention to visit all the castles on our route. In our opinion, we made a wide selection, which included all the most famous castles.
We then park our motorhome on the camper place within walking distance of the next castle. Via the narrow streets of Azay Le Rideau we reach the "Château Azay le Rideau".
This small palace is built on an island of the Indre River. Built in such a way that when the sun shines, you get to see a perfect reflection in the river.
A masterpiece of the early French Renaissance, the castle is in some aspects reminiscent of the medieval fortresses of the 15th century. It was built in the 16th century by the financial expert Gilles Berthelot on an island of the Indre.
The interior spaces are beautiful and feature interiors from different periods in history, starting with the Renaissance.
The gardens around the castle resemble a large park full of landscapes. There are many rare trees and plants present, such as e.g. the imposing sequoia (giant sequoia).
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm - € 10.5 / person.
Day 4
Finally, the weather is very nice today. We install ourselves at the campsite of the town of Chinon. From our pitch we have a view of “La Fortresse de Chinon”, which overlooks the city. Largely a ruin, the tower of which has been renovated. The fort reached after a tough climb. Or you can do what we did… we just took the elevator! But for a change, no visit to the castle, but we stroll around the city that afternoon. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The historic centre, which is called the “Grand Carroi”, still has many medieval half-timbered houses and typical small streets that lead up to the castle. You will find some nice little shops where you can even buy medieval manuscripts. On the squares are some attractive terraces where you can enjoy a nice wine or a cosy dinner.
In the evening we could still relax in the evening sun.
Day 5
On our way to our next stop for the night in Céré La Ronde, we pass the “Chartreuse de Luget”, a dilapidated monastery. We stopped in Montrésor.
There we discover a gem: the “Château de Montrésor”. This castle domain is still inhabited by a Polish family. The castle was built by Polish refugees who married French nobility. In the castle we can walk freely between the beautiful interiors. You felt and smelled the presence of the residents. This castle is not well known, but definitely worth a visit!
In Céré La Ronde we settle down for the night. No other motorhome in sight. Peaceful among the trees, fields and the singing birds. Later on, another German camper entered the site. It was a good opportunity to get together and empty the necessary beers!
Day 6
We wake up among camels, lamas, ponies and donkeys… A circus had settled on the meadow next to the camper place!
Time to move on. The next castle on the program is the “Château de Chenonceau”, the water castle, one of the most visited castles in the region.
Walking along the wide access lane you can see the Renaissance castle sparkling. The main building is built on the pillars of an old mill and thus stands on the river.
The special feature of the castle is a two-storey gallery that Catherine de 'Medici had built on the bridge that crosses the River Cher.
The interiors clearly show the splendour of that time. We stroll along the charming furniture and decorations from room to room. The rooms are so fully equipped that it sometimes seems as if time has stood still.
The park and gardens are perfect and have a striking symmetry. They are, of course, beautiful.
This castle is also open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and costs 14 € / person.
In the evening we book, in view of the coming Easter weekend, a place for the weekend at a campsite in Amboise.
Day 7
Under a radiant sun we arrive at “l'Ile d'Or” in Amboise, an island in the Loire, where the campsite is located. This is our place for the coming days. We walk across the bridge to the other side of the water.
Amboise is a pleasant town. The castle towers over the city. Worth a visit. There is a pleasant bustle in the town. The stalls got a lot of attention and the terraces are packed. The “Clos Lucé” is located on the outskirts of the city, the last residence of Leonardo Da Vinci. He is also buried there. We did not visit this castle! There was a lot of interest in it. Especially Americans, Chinese,… Thursday May 2, 2019 it will be 500 years ago that he died.
Day 8
Easter day. Today we visit the “Château d’Amboise”. The beautiful building is a combination of a medieval fortress and a Renaissance style. The knight tower “des Minimes” is very special. The tower has no stairs but a stone ramp through which the knights could reach all the way to the top… on horseback! Down in the city they entered the tower, at the top they entered the domain high above the city.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4.45pm - 11.70 € / person.
The rest of the afternoon and evening: sit on a terrace and enjoy.
Day 9
In the morning we visit the "Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire", also a mixture of Medieval and Renaissance. From the terrace you have a view of the beautiful "English garden". It is pleasant to walk in the garden. The stables are located at the end, in the middle of the farm.
The afternoon is reserved for the “Château de Cheverny” (castle Windmill in the Tintin albums, which means there is a permanent exhibition of Tintin).
The parking lot at the castle is also a camper place, but to stay overnight we will drive to a camper place of Camping-car Park (with pass'Etapes card).

There are waiting times to enter the castle, partly due to the many visitors, but more because you can only visit the first rooms via a corridor with only a view through the doorway.
The interiors and the coffered ceilings (waffle pattern) are very beautiful and sumptuous. They perfectly reflect how people lived at that time.
The park of 100 ha. invites for a long walk. Be sure to take a look at the dog kennels. Traditional hunting is still maintained at the castle by breeding about a hundred dogs. It is a cross of the French Poitevin breed and the English Foxhound.
The castle is open daily from 9.15 am to 6.15 pm - 12 € / person.
In the town of Cheverny (just like in other towns along the Loire) you can be tempted to a wine tasting. As many of you know, the Loire region has very tasty wines. In the tasting you buy a tasting glass with a chip at the bottom. Depending on the amount you pay, you can taste four or more wines. You just hold your glass under the tap of your choice. All wines are described on the barrels. You can of course keep the glass.
Day 10
On the program: the largest, most impressive and the star of the Loire châteaux… the hunting lodge “Château de Chambord”. But personally we don't think it's the most beautiful castle. Accessible via a driveway of… 6 km! The domain of 5440 ha. is demarcated by a wall of 32 km long. Nowadays there are still about 800 deer and 1500 wild boars living on the domain (which is classified as a reserve).
Chambord Castle was commissioned by the French King Francis I who wanted a luxurious building to display his power and strength. It was built as a medieval fortress with a square keep flanked by four towers. However, all decorative elements are strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance. The best example is the famous double spiral staircase. The emblem of King Francis I, the salamander, can be found throughout the building.

As already mentioned, the castle was only intended to impress the court. They only stayed for a short time. The rest of the year the castle was empty!
Most of the furniture in the 40 apartments is gone. So you have to imagine what it must have looked like. With the help of a tablet with “augmented reality” technology, you can discover the Chambord of five hundred years ago. This system is not really for us. Yet we were impressed by this stately monument.

We end the day with a walk in the park. We spend the night at the rear of the castle in the parking-camper area. From our place we had a beautiful view again. The illuminated castle glowed at night.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 6pm and the cost is 14.5 € / person.
Sunday, 14 April 2019 - 10 am: we're leaving… again. This time to the Loire region with its numerous castles. The route will go from castle to castle. Why is it that there are so many castles along the Loire? Well, in the 15th century, the region was taken over by the French court; this explains the presence of so many castles. Most were only in use for a few days a year and were mainly used as hunting locks.

We spend our first night on the road, after a quiet ride, at the camper stop in Evreux.
Day 2
We continue our journey towards Tours. It's a cold and drizzly day. The intention was to visit the city, but there was no suitable parking space available in the centre! After half an hour of driving around, we called it a day and decided to continue driving to the next camper place. This is within walking distance of the first castle we visited: the “Château de Villandry”. We do a tour of the beautiful interior designers. However, the castle is best known for its beautiful Renaissance gardens in the 16th century style. The gardens of the castle, which are divided into three terraces, are the reconstruction of a garden from the 14th century. Really beautiful. You will be short of eyes to view all parts. The many rare and old plants are maintained with great care.
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm (garden until 7pm) and the visit costs 11 € / person: castle + garden - 7 € garden only.
Day 3
After a fresh and very wet night we continue our tour towards the castle of Langeais. It is an imposing medieval fortress from the 15th century with towers, a walkway and a drawbridge. This in the middle of the town.
We only visit the outside and after a walk in the streets around the castle we drive to the “Château d'Ussé”.

With its fortified towers, turrets and bells, it looks like a castle from the fairy tales. This beautiful castle is said to have inspired Charles Perrault for his famous children's fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle of Ussé is still inhabited and open to the public from February to November. Here too we only looked at the outside.

It was not our intention to visit all the castles on our route. In our opinion, we made a wide selection, which included all the most famous castles.
We then park our motorhome on the camper place within walking distance of the next castle. Via the narrow streets of Azay Le Rideau we reach the "Château Azay le Rideau".
This small palace is built on an island of the Indre River. Built in such a way that when the sun shines, you get to see a perfect reflection in the river.
A masterpiece of the early French Renaissance, the castle is in some aspects reminiscent of the medieval fortresses of the 15th century. It was built in the 16th century by the financial expert Gilles Berthelot on an island of the Indre.
The interior spaces are beautiful and feature interiors from different periods in history, starting with the Renaissance.
The gardens around the castle resemble a large park full of landscapes. There are many rare trees and plants present, such as e.g. the imposing sequoia (giant sequoia).
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm - € 10.5 / person.
Day 4
Finally, the weather is very nice today. We install ourselves at the campsite of the town of Chinon. From our pitch we have a view of “La Fortresse de Chinon”, which overlooks the city. Largely a ruin, the tower of which has been renovated. The fort reached after a tough climb. Or you can do what we did… we just took the elevator! But for a change, no visit to the castle, but we stroll around the city that afternoon. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The historic centre, which is called the “Grand Carroi”, still has many medieval half-timbered houses and typical small streets that lead up to the castle. You will find some nice little shops where you can even buy medieval manuscripts. On the squares are some attractive terraces where you can enjoy a nice wine or a cosy dinner.
In the evening we could still relax in the evening sun.
Day 5
On our way to our next stop for the night in Céré La Ronde, we pass the “Chartreuse de Luget”, a dilapidated monastery. We stopped in Montrésor.
There we discover a gem: the “Château de Montrésor”. This castle domain is still inhabited by a Polish family. The castle was built by Polish refugees who married French nobility. In the castle we can walk freely between the beautiful interiors. You felt and smelled the presence of the residents. This castle is not well known, but definitely worth a visit!
In Céré La Ronde we settle down for the night. No other motorhome in sight. Peaceful among the trees, fields and the singing birds. Later on, another German camper entered the site. It was a good opportunity to get together and empty the necessary beers!
Day 6
We wake up among camels, lamas, ponies and donkeys… A circus had settled on the meadow next to the camper place!
Time to move on. The next castle on the program is the “Château de Chenonceau”, the water castle, one of the most visited castles in the region.
Walking along the wide access lane you can see the Renaissance castle sparkling. The main building is built on the pillars of an old mill and thus stands on the river.
The special feature of the castle is a two-storey gallery that Catherine de 'Medici had built on the bridge that crosses the River Cher.
The interiors clearly show the splendour of that time. We stroll along the charming furniture and decorations from room to room. The rooms are so fully equipped that it sometimes seems as if time has stood still.
The park and gardens are perfect and have a striking symmetry. They are, of course, beautiful.
This castle is also open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and costs 14 € / person.
In the evening we book, in view of the coming Easter weekend, a place for the weekend at a campsite in Amboise.
Day 7
Under a radiant sun we arrive at “l'Ile d'Or” in Amboise, an island in the Loire, where the campsite is located. This is our place for the coming days. We walk across the bridge to the other side of the water.
Amboise is a pleasant town. The castle towers over the city. Worth a visit. There is a pleasant bustle in the town. The stalls got a lot of attention and the terraces are packed. The “Clos Lucé” is located on the outskirts of the city, the last residence of Leonardo Da Vinci. He is also buried there. We did not visit this castle! There was a lot of interest in it. Especially Americans, Chinese,… Thursday May 2, 2019 it will be 500 years ago that he died.
Day 8
Easter day. Today we visit the “Château d’Amboise”. The beautiful building is a combination of a medieval fortress and a Renaissance style. The knight tower “des Minimes” is very special. The tower has no stairs but a stone ramp through which the knights could reach all the way to the top… on horseback! Down in the city they entered the tower, at the top they entered the domain high above the city.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4.45pm - 11.70 € / person.
The rest of the afternoon and evening: sit on a terrace and enjoy.
Day 9
In the morning we visit the "Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire", also a mixture of Medieval and Renaissance. From the terrace you have a view of the beautiful "English garden". It is pleasant to walk in the garden. The stables are located at the end, in the middle of the farm.
The afternoon is reserved for the “Château de Cheverny” (castle Windmill in the Tintin albums, which means there is a permanent exhibition of Tintin).
The parking lot at the castle is also a camper place, but to stay overnight we will drive to a camper place of Camping-car Park (with pass'Etapes card).

There are waiting times to enter the castle, partly due to the many visitors, but more because you can only visit the first rooms via a corridor with only a view through the doorway.
The interiors and the coffered ceilings (waffle pattern) are very beautiful and sumptuous. They perfectly reflect how people lived at that time.
The park of 100 ha. invites for a long walk. Be sure to take a look at the dog kennels. Traditional hunting is still maintained at the castle by breeding about a hundred dogs. It is a cross of the French Poitevin breed and the English Foxhound.
The castle is open daily from 9.15 am to 6.15 pm - 12 € / person.
In the town of Cheverny (just like in other towns along the Loire) you can be tempted to a wine tasting. As many of you know, the Loire region has very tasty wines. In the tasting you buy a tasting glass with a chip at the bottom. Depending on the amount you pay, you can taste four or more wines. You just hold your glass under the tap of your choice. All wines are described on the barrels. You can of course keep the glass.
Day 10
On the program: the largest, most impressive and the star of the Loire châteaux… the hunting lodge “Château de Chambord”. But personally we don't think it's the most beautiful castle. Accessible via a driveway of… 6 km! The domain of 5440 ha. is demarcated by a wall of 32 km long. Nowadays there are still about 800 deer and 1500 wild boars living on the domain (which is classified as a reserve).
Chambord Castle was commissioned by the French King Francis I who wanted a luxurious building to display his power and strength. It was built as a medieval fortress with a square keep flanked by four towers. However, all decorative elements are strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance. The best example is the famous double spiral staircase. The emblem of King Francis I, the salamander, can be found throughout the building.

As already mentioned, the castle was only intended to impress the court. They only stayed for a short time. The rest of the year the castle was empty!
Most of the furniture in the 40 apartments is gone. So you have to imagine what it must have looked like. With the help of a tablet with “augmented reality” technology, you can discover the Chambord of five hundred years ago. This system is not really for us. Yet we were impressed by this stately monument.

We end the day with a walk in the park. We spend the night at the rear of the castle in the parking-camper area. From our place we had a beautiful view again. The illuminated castle glowed at night.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 6pm and the cost is 14.5 € / person.
Day 11
On the way to Blois. The camper place in the middle of the city, which we found via the camper stop app, is… closed! We had to look for another parking space. We found it just outside the city, a parking area along the water.
In Blois we visit the last castle of our selection: the “Château Royale de Blois”. The royal castle, which towers stately above the city, was home to no fewer than 7 French kings and 10 queens. This is reflected in the many architectural styles that the castle has. Like Chambord, the castle has a special Renaissance spiral staircase. Inside, the castle is very special. Unique interiors. Beautifully decorated walls in combination with the ceramic floor tiles.
A wonderful example of this is the "gallery of the queen", in which the paintings of the kings and queens show off in all their glory.
14.04.2019 - Châteaux of the Loire (F)
Sunday, 14 April 2019 - 10 am: we're leaving… again. This time to the Loire region with its numerous castles. The route will go from castle to castle. Why is it that there are so many castles along the Loire? Well, in the 15th century, the region was taken over by the French court; this explains the presence of so many castles. Most were only in use for a few days a year and were mainly used as hunting locks.

We spend our first night on the road, after a quiet ride, at the camper stop in Evreux.
Day 2
We continue our journey towards Tours. It's a cold and drizzly day. The intention was to visit the city, but there was no suitable parking space available in the centre! After half an hour of driving around, we called it a day and decided to continue driving to the next camper place. This is within walking distance of the first castle we visited: the “Château de Villandry”. We do a tour of the beautiful interior designers. However, the castle is best known for its beautiful Renaissance gardens in the 16th century style. The gardens of the castle, which are divided into three terraces, are the reconstruction of a garden from the 14th century. Really beautiful. You will be short of eyes to view all parts. The many rare and old plants are maintained with great care.
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm (garden until 7pm) and the visit costs 11 € / person: castle + garden - 7 € garden only.
Day 3
After a fresh and very wet night we continue our tour towards the castle of Langeais. It is an imposing medieval fortress from the 15th century with towers, a walkway and a drawbridge. This in the middle of the town.
We only visit the outside and after a walk in the streets around the castle we drive to the “Château d'Ussé”.

With its fortified towers, turrets and bells, it looks like a castle from the fairy tales. This beautiful castle is said to have inspired Charles Perrault for his famous children's fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.
Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the castle of Ussé is still inhabited and open to the public from February to November. Here too we only looked at the outside.

It was not our intention to visit all the castles on our route. In our opinion, we made a wide selection, which included all the most famous castles.
We then park our motorhome on the camper place within walking distance of the next castle. Via the narrow streets of Azay Le Rideau we reach the "Château Azay le Rideau".
This small palace is built on an island of the Indre River. Built in such a way that when the sun shines, you get to see a perfect reflection in the river.
A masterpiece of the early French Renaissance, the castle is in some aspects reminiscent of the medieval fortresses of the 15th century. It was built in the 16th century by the financial expert Gilles Berthelot on an island of the Indre.
The interior spaces are beautiful and feature interiors from different periods in history, starting with the Renaissance.
The gardens around the castle resemble a large park full of landscapes. There are many rare trees and plants present, such as e.g. the imposing sequoia (giant sequoia).
The castle is open daily from 9.30am to 6pm - € 10.5 / person.
Day 4
Finally, the weather is very nice today. We install ourselves at the campsite of the town of Chinon. From our pitch we have a view of “La Fortresse de Chinon”, which overlooks the city. Largely a ruin, the tower of which has been renovated. The fort reached after a tough climb. Or you can do what we did… we just took the elevator! But for a change, no visit to the castle, but we stroll around the city that afternoon. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The historic centre, which is called the “Grand Carroi”, still has many medieval half-timbered houses and typical small streets that lead up to the castle. You will find some nice little shops where you can even buy medieval manuscripts. On the squares are some attractive terraces where you can enjoy a nice wine or a cosy dinner.
In the evening we could still relax in the evening sun.
Day 5
On our way to our next stop for the night in Céré La Ronde, we pass the “Chartreuse de Luget”, a dilapidated monastery. We stopped in Montrésor.
There we discover a gem: the “Château de Montrésor”. This castle domain is still inhabited by a Polish family. The castle was built by Polish refugees who married French nobility. In the castle we can walk freely between the beautiful interiors. You felt and smelled the presence of the residents. This castle is not well known, but definitely worth a visit!
In Céré La Ronde we settle down for the night. No other motorhome in sight. Peaceful among the trees, fields and the singing birds. Later on, another German camper entered the site. It was a good opportunity to get together and empty the necessary beers!
Day 6
We wake up among camels, lamas, ponies and donkeys… A circus had settled on the meadow next to the camper place!
Time to move on. The next castle on the program is the “Château de Chenonceau”, the water castle, one of the most visited castles in the region.
Walking along the wide access lane you can see the Renaissance castle sparkling. The main building is built on the pillars of an old mill and thus stands on the river.
The special feature of the castle is a two-storey gallery that Catherine de 'Medici had built on the bridge that crosses the River Cher.
The interiors clearly show the splendour of that time. We stroll along the charming furniture and decorations from room to room. The rooms are so fully equipped that it sometimes seems as if time has stood still.
The park and gardens are perfect and have a striking symmetry. They are, of course, beautiful.
This castle is also open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm and costs 14 € / person.
In the evening we book, in view of the coming Easter weekend, a place for the weekend at a campsite in Amboise.
Day 7
Under a radiant sun we arrive at “l'Ile d'Or” in Amboise, an island in the Loire, where the campsite is located. This is our place for the coming days. We walk across the bridge to the other side of the water.
Amboise is a pleasant town. The castle towers over the city. Worth a visit. There is a pleasant bustle in the town. The stalls got a lot of attention and the terraces are packed. The “Clos Lucé” is located on the outskirts of the city, the last residence of Leonardo Da Vinci. He is also buried there. We did not visit this castle! There was a lot of interest in it. Especially Americans, Chinese,… Thursday May 2, 2019 it will be 500 years ago that he died.
Day 8
Easter day. Today we visit the “Château d’Amboise”. The beautiful building is a combination of a medieval fortress and a Renaissance style. The knight tower “des Minimes” is very special. The tower has no stairs but a stone ramp through which the knights could reach all the way to the top… on horseback! Down in the city they entered the tower, at the top they entered the domain high above the city.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 4.45pm - 11.70 € / person.
The rest of the afternoon and evening: sit on a terrace and enjoy.
Day 11
On the way to Blois. The camper place in the middle of the city, which we found via the camper stop app, is… closed! We had to look for another parking space. We found it just outside the city, a parking area along the water.
In Blois we visit the last castle of our selection: the “Château Royale de Blois”. The royal castle, which towers stately above the city, was home to no fewer than 7 French kings and 10 queens. This is reflected in the many architectural styles that the castle has. Like Chambord, the castle has a special Renaissance spiral staircase. Inside, the castle is very special. Unique interiors. Beautifully decorated walls in combination with the ceramic floor tiles.
A wonderful example of this is the "gallery of the queen", in which the paintings of the kings and queens show off in all their glory.
Opposite the castle, in the tourist office, we obtain a city map.
In fact, you don't need a plan to visit the city. You just have to follow the stepping stones in the sidewalk. On this are the images of a porcupine, an arrow, boat or lily. With the umbrella at the ready we walk into the centre. We largely follow the circuit of the arrows. This is the area around the cathedral with many old houses with beautiful carvings in the facades. We also stroll through the streets of the old Pit-Châtel district. For this we followed the lily. We then stumbled upon a special attraction. As an ode to Leonardo Da Vinci there is a very specially painted staircase. On the steps Denis Papin (inventor of the steam engine) you can see from a distance a monumental image of "La Gioconda" - the Mona Lisa.

Time now to drive home. In Azé we find a beautifully landscaped camper place at a winery. We were the only camper there. After the aperitif at the lady of the house, we reminisced about our successful trip and sought the rest of the night.
Day 12
When opening the draw eclipse in the morning, I see a pheasant happily hopping past our motorhome! What a rest.
We leave after breakfast. No, not home yet. After 350 kilometres we stop in Le Tréport, on the canal. There was just one place available on the motorhome stopover (next to the municipal campsite)!
It's cold and stormy. Still we decide to go to the sea. It is a beautiful coastline with high chalk cliffs.
We arrive at the dike via the harbor. There we take the free cable car, which leads along and through the chalk cliffs above the town. Despite the threatening clouds, we had a beautiful view. Just like Dover (Great Britain) you see houses built against the rock face.
Back down we walked through the old quarter. Fishermen and craftsmen used to live here. The houses are built back to back and many are decorated with ceramics.
We will certainly visit this town on a next trip.
Day 13
After a stormy night we drive home. The first traffic jam in 13 days and the bad road surface remind us that we are back in Belgium.
Opposite the castle, in the tourist office, we obtain a city map.
In fact, you don't need a plan to visit the city. You just have to follow the stepping stones in the sidewalk. On this are the images of a porcupine, an arrow, boat or lily. With the umbrella at the ready we walk into the centre. We largely follow the circuit of the arrows. This is the area around the cathedral with many old houses with beautiful carvings in the facades. We also stroll through the streets of the old Pit-Châtel district. For this we followed the lily. We then stumbled upon a special attraction. As an ode to Leonardo Da Vinci there is a very specially painted staircase. On the steps Denis Papin (inventor of the steam engine) you can see from a distance a monumental image of "La Gioconda" - the Mona Lisa.

Time now to drive home. In Azé we find a beautifully landscaped camper place at a winery. We were the only camper there. After the aperitif at the lady of the house, we reminisced about our successful trip and sought the rest of the night.
Day 12
When opening the draw eclipse in the morning, I see a pheasant happily hopping past our motorhome! What a rest.
We leave after breakfast. No, not home yet. After 350 kilometres we stop in Le Tréport, on the canal. There was just one place available on the motorhome stopover (next to the municipal campsite)!
It's cold and stormy. Still we decide to go to the sea. It is a beautiful coastline with high chalk cliffs.
We arrive at the dike via the harbor. There we take the free cable car, which leads along and through the chalk cliffs above the town. Despite the threatening clouds, we had a beautiful view. Just like Dover (Great Britain) you see houses built against the rock face.
Back down we walked through the old quarter. Fishermen and craftsmen used to live here. The houses are built back to back and many are decorated with ceramics.
We will certainly visit this town on a next trip.
Day 13
After a stormy night we drive home. The first traffic jam in 13 days and the bad road surface remind us that we are back in Belgium.
Day 9
In the morning we visit the "Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire", also a mixture of Medieval and Renaissance. From the terrace you have a view of the beautiful "English garden". It is pleasant to walk in the garden. The stables are located at the end, in the middle of the farm.
The afternoon is reserved for the “Château de Cheverny” (castle Windmill in the Tintin albums, which means there is a permanent exhibition of Tintin).
The parking lot at the castle is also a camper place, but to stay overnight we will drive to a camper place of Camping-car Park (with pass'Etapes card).

There are waiting times to enter the castle, partly due to the many visitors, but more because you can only visit the first rooms via a corridor with only a view through the doorway.
The interiors and the coffered ceilings (waffle pattern) are very beautiful and sumptuous. They perfectly reflect how people lived at that time.
The park of 100 ha. invites for a long walk. Be sure to take a look at the dog kennels. Traditional hunting is still maintained at the castle by breeding about a hundred dogs. It is a cross of the French Poitevin breed and the English Foxhound.
The castle is open daily from 9.15 am to 6.15 pm - 12 € / person.
In the town of Cheverny (just like in other towns along the Loire) you can be tempted to a wine tasting. As many of you know, the Loire region has very tasty wines. In the tasting you buy a tasting glass with a chip at the bottom. Depending on the amount you pay, you can taste four or more wines. You just hold your glass under the tap of your choice. All wines are described on the barrels. You can of course keep the glass.
Day 10
On the program: the largest, most impressive and the star of the Loire châteaux… the hunting lodge “Château de Chambord”. But personally we don't think it's the most beautiful castle. Accessible via a driveway of… 6 km! The domain of 5440 ha. is demarcated by a wall of 32 km long. Nowadays there are still about 800 deer and 1500 wild boars living on the domain (which is classified as a reserve).
Chambord Castle was commissioned by the French King Francis I who wanted a luxurious building to display his power and strength. It was built as a medieval fortress with a square keep flanked by four towers. However, all decorative elements are strongly influenced by the Italian Renaissance. The best example is the famous double spiral staircase. The emblem of King Francis I, the salamander, can be found throughout the building.

As already mentioned, the castle was only intended to impress the court. They only stayed for a short time. The rest of the year the castle was empty!
Most of the furniture in the 40 apartments is gone. So you have to imagine what it must have looked like. With the help of a tablet with “augmented reality” technology, you can discover the Chambord of five hundred years ago. This system is not really for us. Yet we were impressed by this stately monument.

We end the day with a walk in the park. We spend the night at the rear of the castle in the parking-camper area. From our place we had a beautiful view again. The illuminated castle glowed at night.
The castle is open daily from 9am to 6pm and the cost is 14.5 € / person.
Day 11
On the way to Blois. The camper place in the middle of the city, which we found via the camper stop app, is… closed! We had to look for another parking space. We found it just outside the city, a parking area along the water.
In Blois we visit the last castle of our selection: the “Château Royale de Blois”. The royal castle, which towers stately above the city, was home to no fewer than 7 French kings and 10 queens. This is reflected in the many architectural styles that the castle has. Like Chambord, the castle has a special Renaissance spiral staircase. Inside, the castle is very special. Unique interiors. Beautifully decorated walls in combination with the ceramic floor tiles.
A wonderful example of this is the "gallery of the queen", in which the paintings of the kings and queens show off in all their glory.
Opposite the castle, in the tourist office, we obtain a city map.
In fact, you don't need a plan to visit the city. You just have to follow the stepping stones in the sidewalk. On this are the images of a porcupine, an arrow, boat or lily. With the umbrella at the ready we walk into the centre. We largely follow the circuit of the arrows. This is the area around the cathedral with many old houses with beautiful carvings in the facades. We also stroll through the streets of the old Pit-Châtel district. For this we followed the lily. We then stumbled upon a special attraction. As an ode to Leonardo Da Vinci there is a very specially painted staircase. On the steps Denis Papin (inventor of the steam engine) you can see from a distance a monumental image of "La Gioconda" - the Mona Lisa.

Time now to drive home. In Azé we find a beautifully landscaped camper place at a winery. We were the only camper there. After the aperitif at the lady of the house, we reminisced about our successful trip and sought the rest of the night.
Day 12
When opening the draw eclipse in the morning, I see a pheasant happily hopping past our motorhome! What a rest.
We leave after breakfast. No, not home yet. After 350 kilometres we stop in Le Tréport, on the canal. There was just one place available on the motorhome stopover (next to the municipal campsite)!
It's cold and stormy. Still we decide to go to the sea. It is a beautiful coastline with high chalk cliffs.
We arrive at the dike via the harbor. There we take the free cable car, which leads along and through the chalk cliffs above the town. Despite the threatening clouds, we had a beautiful view. Just like Dover (Great Britain) you see houses built against the rock face.
Back down we walked through the old quarter. Fishermen and craftsmen used to live here. The houses are built back to back and many are decorated with ceramics.
We will certainly visit this town on a next trip.
Day 13
After a stormy night we drive home. The first traffic jam in 13 days and the bad road surface remind us that we are back in Belgium.
Summary overnight stays
Camping-car park - Evreux: 6 places - 9.20 € per night, with pass'Etapes card - all amenities - urban centrally located, noisy - city 500m - supermarket 150m. Nice motorhome stop for transit. Please note, we noticed that not a single restaurant was open in Evreux on Sunday!

Camping-car park - Villandry: 35 places - 13 € / night pay with pass'Etapes card (see tips page to find out everything about this card and its possibilities) - all amenities included - located directly at the castle

Camping Onlycamp Le Sabot - Azay-Le-Rideau: 17 € per night (acsi) - all amenities available on the campsite - quiet campsite - lots of shade - on the river Indre

Camping municipal de l'Ile Auger - Chinon: 15 € per night (tourist tax (TT) included) - all amenities - very quiet campsite on the river Vienne - beautiful view from our site over the river and the castle of Chinon - city accessible over the bridge immediately to the campsite

Camping-car park - Céré-la-Ronde: 10 places - € 10.80 pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - a block with toilets available - rural and very quiet (if no circus is present)

Camping-car park - Montrichard: 40 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - supermarket 450m

Camping municipal de l'Ile d'Or - Amboise: 32€ for 2 nights - all facilities on the campsite - quiet campsite (although full) with very spacious pitches - is within walking distance of the city

Camping-car park des Montils - Les Montils: 45 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included, for electricity there are only 24 connections! - outdated camper place, but very spacious places between the trees - located at a water treatment plant which regularly emits odours - in the neighbouring ponds there are a lot of frogs, resulting in the croaking concerts at night

Official motorhome stopover Place St. Louis - Chambord: 100 places - 11 € - service station, water: 2 €, electricity: 5 € / 8h. The service station was not maintained (the drain for the toilet cassette to be emptied was clogged and overflowed) - parking immediately at the castle - narrow places, but it is certainly doable for 1 night. It is best to look for a place in the morning. The parking lot is full in the afternoon!

Official camper stopover - Azé: at winegrower - 6 places - 10 € - very nicely laid out places and there is also a place for large motor homes - very quiet - all amenities available and included in the price - very friendly owners - it is aperitif time at 7 pm in the log cabin of the owners!

Official motorhome park Parc Sainte Croix - Le Tréport: 61 places - 10 € at payment machine - all amenities included - comfortable places and quiet - You will not find a place in the evening - there are several motorhome stops nearby and a municipal campsite. One camper stop is located on top of the chalk cliffs; is free without facilities, but with a phenomenal view!

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
Summary overnight stays
Camping-car park - Evreux: 6 places - 9.20 € per night, with pass'Etapes card - all amenities - urban centrally located, noisy - city 500m - supermarket 150m. Nice motorhome stop for transit. Please note, we noticed that not a single restaurant was open in Evreux on Sunday!

Camping-car park - Villandry: 35 places - 13 € / night pay with pass'Etapes card (see tips page to find out everything about this card and its possibilities) - all amenities included - located directly at the castle

Camping Onlycamp Le Sabot - Azay-Le-Rideau: 17 € per night (acsi) - all amenities available on the campsite - quiet campsite - lots of shade - on the river Indre

Camping municipal de l'Ile Auger - Chinon: 15 € per night (tourist tax (TT) included) - all amenities - very quiet campsite on the river Vienne - beautiful view from our site over the river and the castle of Chinon - city accessible over the bridge immediately to the campsite

Camping-car park - Céré-la-Ronde: 10 places - € 10.80 pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - a block with toilets available - rural and very quiet (if no circus is present)

Camping-car park - Montrichard: 40 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - supermarket 450m

Camping municipal de l'Ile d'Or - Amboise: 32€ for 2 nights - all facilities on the campsite - quiet campsite (although full) with very spacious pitches - is within walking distance of the city

Camping-car park des Montils - Les Montils: 45 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included, for electricity there are only 24 connections! - outdated camper place, but very spacious places between the trees - located at a water treatment plant which regularly emits odours - in the neighbouring ponds there are a lot of frogs, resulting in the croaking concerts at night

Official motorhome stopover Place St. Louis - Chambord: 100 places - 11 € - service station, water: 2 €, electricity: 5 € / 8h. The service station was not maintained (the drain for the toilet cassette to be emptied was clogged and overflowed) - parking immediately at the castle - narrow places, but it is certainly doable for 1 night. It is best to look for a place in the morning. The parking lot is full in the afternoon!

Official camper stopover - Azé: at winegrower - 6 places - 10 € - very nicely laid out places and there is also a place for large motor homes - very quiet - all amenities available and included in the price - very friendly owners - it is aperitif time at 7 pm in the log cabin of the owners!

Official motorhome park Parc Sainte Croix - Le Tréport: 61 places - 10 € at payment machine - all amenities included - comfortable places and quiet - You will not find a place in the evening - there are several motorhome stops nearby and a municipal campsite. One camper stop is located on top of the chalk cliffs; is free without facilities, but with a phenomenal view!
E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018.
All right reserved.
Summary overnight stays
Camping-car park - Evreux: 6 places - 9.20 € per night, with pass'Etapes card - all amenities - urban centrally located, noisy - city 500m - supermarket 150m. Nice motorhome stop for transit. Please note, we noticed that not a single restaurant was open in Evreux on Sunday!

Camping-car park - Villandry: 35 places - 13 € / night pay with pass'Etapes card (see tips page to find out everything about this card and its possibilities) - all amenities included - located directly at the castle

Camping Onlycamp Le Sabot - Azay-Le-Rideau: 17 € per night (acsi) - all amenities available on the campsite - quiet campsite - lots of shade - on the river Indre

Camping municipal de l'Ile Auger - Chinon: 15 € per night (tourist tax (TT) included) - all amenities - very quiet campsite on the river Vienne - beautiful view from our site over the river and the castle of Chinon - city accessible over the bridge immediately to the campsite

Camping-car park - Céré-la-Ronde: 10 places - € 10.80 pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - a block with toilets available - rural and very quiet (if no circus is present)

Camping-car park - Montrichard: 40 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included - supermarket 450m

Camping municipal de l'Ile d'Or - Amboise: 32€ for 2 nights - all facilities on the campsite - quiet campsite (although full) with very spacious pitches - is within walking distance of the city

Camping-car park des Montils - Les Montils: 45 places - 10.04 € pay with pass'Etapes - all amenities included, for electricity there are only 24 connections! - outdated camper place, but very spacious places between the trees - located at a water treatment plant which regularly emits odours - in the neighbouring ponds there are a lot of frogs, resulting in the croaking concerts at night

Official motorhome stopover Place St. Louis - Chambord: 100 places - 11 € - service station, water: 2 €, electricity: 5 € / 8h. The service station was not maintained (the drain for the toilet cassette to be emptied was clogged and overflowed) - parking immediately at the castle - narrow places, but it is certainly doable for 1 night. It is best to look for a place in the morning. The parking lot is full in the afternoon!

Official camper stopover - Azé: at winegrower - 6 places - 10 € - very nicely laid out places and there is also a place for large motor homes - very quiet - all amenities available and included in the price - very friendly owners - it is aperitif time at 7 pm in the log cabin of the owners!

Official motorhome park Parc Sainte Croix - Le Tréport: 61 places - 10 € at payment machine - all amenities included - comfortable places and quiet - You will not find a place in the evening - there are several motorhome stops nearby and a municipal campsite. One camper stop is located on top of the chalk cliffs; is free without facilities, but with a phenomenal view!

E-mail: info@dmcamperreizen.be

Copyright © DMCamperreizen 2018. All right reserved.