Pyrenees : Part 9 - Day 4 Evening : Chateau de Chambord in Blois

Day 4 (Evening) of Pyrenees Drive

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 4.

Route: Orleans -- Blois -- Ambois (sleep the night) 

Must-Incur Costs : None for the evening

The Story

040915: After the very heavy and late lunch in Orleans, we continued our drive towards Blois. The initial plan was to visit Chateau de Chambord in Blois and Chateau de Ambois in Ambois, but we were too late to visit either. We chose to see Chateau de Chambord though, but we know we won't be going in. The Chateau closes by 6pm and we arrived at 5.40pm. This Chateau happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site too. We arrived at the Chateau, parked a short distance away, and walked to the Chateau. It is about a 500metre distance path and along the way, saw a lot of view huts (a place where one could sit and wait for animals like wild boars or deers to appear). There are also families cycling and walking on the pathway too. We did not have to pay any entrance (EUR11) or parking fees (EUR4) because the place is already closed.

The royal Château de Chambord at Chambord, Loir-et-Cher, France, is one of the most recognizable châteaux in the world because of its very distinctive French Renaissance architecture which blends traditional French medieval forms with classical Renaissance structures. The building, which was never completed, was constructed by King Francis I of France. Chambord is the largest château in the Loire Valley; it was built to serve as a hunting lodge for Francis I, who maintained his royal residences at the châteaux of Blois and Amboise. (Source from Wikipedia)

 

The Chateau is simply gorgeous! It looks like a Cinderella Castle. We walked close to the structure, and my friend knocked on the door. Shortly after, the door knocked back and I stared at my friend. He seems excited by it, and I hurriedly walked away.

We spend about 2 hours enjoying the ambience of the Chateau and its garden. Continued our drive towards Ambois where we slept the night in the car at a rest stop by the road side. I did notice that traffic lights are designed in a helpful manner for the first car waiting at the traffic light. Can you see another set of traffic light at the lower end of the pole? It aids the driver in the first car in not stretching his or her neck to look out for the traffic light changing colour. Also, can you see how practical the name of the next place is placed at the border of the previous place? I like it.