The Loire Valley

Tyler and I went on a Bike Tour in the Loire Valley. We took a train from Paris to the town of Blois (about 1.5 hours away). From there we rode our bike 16 kilometers to the town of Chambord. Blois is home to the valley’s most historically important château, the royal palace during the golden age of the renaissance. The medieval town spills down the hillside surrounding the château: white stone, red brick chimneys, and roofs of blue slate.

Chambord is the valley’s biggest château, though built as a “mere” hunting lodge. A veritable jewel of renaissance architecture, 440 rooms of royal excess surrounded by a forest. Da Vinci designed the staircase in the center of the castle, which is a double helix.

We ate lunch in Chambord and walked through the château and around the grounds before making our 16 kilometer trek back to Blois. We biked through the French countryside and farm lands, we felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. The scenery was beautiful.