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From Antiquity to Middle Ages

In the course of two thousand years of history the Valley of the Loire has  brought together a very exceptional cultural heritage. Along the shores  of the various rivers are to be found landscapes full of powerful fortresses such as Loches or pleasure  chateaux such as Chenonceau.

However, the history of the Loire Valley started way back in time: even during Antiquity was to be found strong commercial and artistic activities.

Roman occupation played its own important part and can still be seen in some local urban development such as Tours.
Townships developed during the Middle Ages near to monasteries (Fontevraud). Elsewhere villages and towns grew up within the protection of fortified chateaux (Blois).
All along the Vallée de la Loire many religious establishments with their Romanesque windows and arched vaults were created during this period (800-1200).
This refined and beautiful architecture is often found decorated with frescoes and wall paintings, many a fine example is to be found in the churches along the Loir Valley (Lavardin). To be also admired in these churches are the beautifully decorated capitals. Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher offers a magnificent example of these medieval religious types of architecture. Not far from the Zoo de Beauval, home of our own pandas!

The use of the gothic vault originates from the next architectural period. Starting in the XIIth century and lasting until the XVth century, gothic churches were first built in the Valleys of the Loire and the Cher. Indeed many of the original old churches were rebuilt during this time. The Trinity church in Vendôme, St Nicolas in Blois is magnificent examples of this gothic style.
During The Renaissance very few churches were built from scratch as compared to “civil” buildings. Concerning the Classical period between the XVIIth and XVIIIth century, very few churches were ever buit. The St Vincent church in Blois is of the classic style of architecture. The abbey of Fontevraud is on the other hand is an outstanding example set of religious buildings dating from the Middle Ages to the classical period.

Civil architecture was closely linked to the military style of building. On the borders of the great medieval estates or counties, are still to be seen huge impregnable keeps, built proudly on the summit of a hill or a cliff, with signs saying “keep out, private property!” ; Lavardin, Beaugency or Montrichard evoque a thousand years old military architecture style.
Progressively, following a long period of internal wars, medieval fortresses underwent important structural innovations. From the outside the chateau maintains the aspect of a strong medieval castle even if Alienor of Aquitaine had a few windows put in!
The interiors were improved with galleries, rooms were put to specific uses (bedrooms, kitchens…) and stairways were built on the frontage. They were called “open wide stairways”. Blois is a magnificent example of this. Fougeres-sur-Bievre and Talcy show galleries in their courtyards also.

The Renaissance

A few hundred years ago the Valley of the Loire was where the French kings came to live. In the XVth century the king’s household frequently came to stay in Tours Blois or indeed Amboise. The Loire Valley was the ideal setting for the French kings to introduce their version of the Renaissance. Chateaux were built along hillsides, on the banks of the Loire, on top of well defended sites or built in the midst of… land and forests. In the Middle Ages the bulk of these comfortable chateaux impressed the people telling of the importance of their owners but were however still being able to be used in defense.
The great Italian adventures of Charles VIII to Italy, birth place of the Renaissance, brought in great changes in the art of building.

Louis XII and Francis Ist followed in this enterprise and brought to the existent military style of French architecture a new esthetic, that of the pleasure of comfortable living : the kings of France found this in Italian castles, villas, churches.
As his predecessors Francis Ist introduced this style adding it in his many new constructions, as architecture was one of his great passions.

During your trip with me, most of the chateaux you will see on your trip to the Loire were built from the XVIth century and were the scene of many important events of our local and national history.
Let us follow the Loire towards Amboise. Amboise, romantically built at the foot of its chateau. This charming town welcomes us with its medieval houses over which the little St Hubert chapel offers its protection. The chateau of Amboise has played an important role in our history as Louis XI followed by Charles VIII and their various successors spent time in this chateau and its beautiful gardens over- looking the Loire . My guided visit of the chateau will transport you through the centuries.
Invited by Francis Ist, Leonardo da Vinci came to live not far from here, staying in the Chateau of Clos Lucé, property of the king. The artist accepted the French invitation and for his last three years, he died on the 2nd of May 1519, working in the service of the young Francis Ist. Today, the Clos Lucé were Leonardo died, wich we can visit, it contains very interesting illustrations, works and artifacts proving Leonardo’s wide ranging genius.
Let us now travel up river eastwards:
Chaumont-sur- Loire majestically perched atop its hill . Today the reputation of the international Garden Festival housed at Chaumont-sur-Loire has earned international recognition. In times past, Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers and many other historical personages spent many happy times in Chaumont.
Further along the river there is Blois; the size of its classical façade of its chateau immediately draws one’s attention. As your licensed guide I will be with you to visit Blois and its castle. The various architectural styles which are to be found in the royal courtyard of the chateau are the witnesses of the presence of Louis XII and Francis Ist. During our visit, we will discuss the many different themes concerning Middle Ages right up to the XVIIth century. King Louis XII born in Blois will rebuild on this same site a completely new chateau in the new Renaissance style. Here, local brick and local stone come together with style on this façade pierced by many fine windows and balconies.
Francis Ist now king, sets about building yet another wing which carries his name to this day. This new wing dominates regally the town with its Italian influenced Renaissance architecture.

Thanks to the presence of the royal court in the Loire Valley several important personages will also build castles and manor houses in the same style for themselves. Villesavin is a lovely example of this type of smaller chateau.
Soon around these new chateaux new towns grew up ; building material was plentiful : the local limestone called tuffa (tuffeau), clay, from the nearby Sologne, for the bricks, locally found wood for the decorated frames, slate from Angers for the roofs as found in half timbered houses.
Local manor houses of stone of the XVIth century were now built with large windows and balconies; inner courtyards and an openwide staircases allowing as much light into the buildings as possible. However these buildings were still often protected by some sort of defensive walls.
After Blois you should travel through the Sologne and its many forests and marshes to reach the Chateau de Chambord. You cannot help to be amazed by this huge edifice! Without doubt, Chambord is different from anything else. With my help, we will decipher, together with my help and with a recent scientific study of the sculptures, this Monument planed according to a preset building program. We will have time to be curious and to learn about this chateau from a different angle. Chambord is definitely Francis Ist lifetime Masterpiece.

After the XVIth century

In the following century the royal courts left the Val de Loire; they had all understood that political power and political life was based in Versailles and Paris. Later visits of Louis XIVth to Chambord became few and short. However the absence of the kings court did not mean that economical activity ceased: new bridges were thrown across the Loire, new roads were built which helped the Loire Valley importance in the transport of grain, wines, fruit and vegetables.

During this period ( XVII-XVIII) the Loire Valley saw a new style of architecture emerge (such as Versailles), classical style, with more straight, more regular feature, symmetric  façades with large  pediments appeared in  and around Blois. The chateau o Cheverny illustrates absolutely this evolution.

The exile of Marie of Medici to the chateau of Blois by her son Louis the XIIIth followed by his brother ‘s sown stay to rebuild the chateau left their mark on the town all along the XVIIth century.

Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV, also lived nearby at the Chateau de Menars where during the XVIIIth century she undertook vast building works on the chateau and its magnificent grounds.

The XIXth century saw in Blois the founding of the Poulain chocolate factory and Napoleon III implemented vast projects to improve farming in the Sologne bordering the Rivers Loire and Cher.

In the course of the XIXth century the new railways brought a new boost to local industries. New large steam powered textile mills opened in places such as Romorantin and  as early as  1848 theses new transportation systems permitted  Auguste Poulain to receive hi raw materials coming from around the world  directly to  his chocolate factory situated in Blois.