Chateau Chenonceau
Chateau Chenonceau. I am going to call it a lady's chateau because of the many feminine influences throughout its grounds. Car parking was particularly easy at this chateau - more than adequate. We selected the full tour--castle, garden, maze, wax works and Ipod guided tour. The stroll along the avenue of trees leading to the chateau created a ceiling of green, leafy foliage. To the l
eft of this walk stood a maze of foliage; a brilliant use of hedging plants. Another building further along to our left housed the wax museum, a self service cafe and secreted beyond this the most elegant garden that hosted a fine dining restaurant. A significant tower stood to the immediate right forecourt of the chateau. Some distance to the left was a cottage of impressive proportio
ns and known as the Chancellery. Upon entering the chateau you note the high ceilings, the resplendent wall hangings and the vast collection of antiques. This chateau boasts original decor and furnishings along with fabric of the finest quality to line its walls. The Ipod spoken and video text greatly assisted each of us to interpret the history surrounding the items of furniture and so too the paintings. Despite its age the chateau has withstood t
he ravages of revolution and two world wars rather well. The bed chambers reflected the individual taste for colour and furnishings of occupants through time. Various owners have successfully and tastefully made additions to the original building in a manner that compliments rather than detracts from the original architecture. The guard's room, the library, the study, the galleries, bed chambers and the kitchen did not disappoint the tourist in me. Perhaps my favourite was the kitchen with its shiny brass cooking utensils adorning the walls or the original meat chopping blocks and knives placed as they might
have been when in actual use by the butchers, chefs or cooks of the day. One could not help but notice the floral tributes and arrangements designed to highlight the functionality of every room that we entered. For 
example, the kitchen staff's dining room table was laden with fresh produce of every size, shape and colour. Floral arrangements were created on site with fleurs from the chateau's garden. I speculate that the fresh produce was similarly 
sourced. For me the points of interest - size of the gardens and the estate and of course, the authentic ambiance.
eft of this walk stood a maze of foliage; a brilliant use of hedging plants. Another building further along to our left housed the wax museum, a self service cafe and secreted beyond this the most elegant garden that hosted a fine dining restaurant. A significant tower stood to the immediate right forecourt of the chateau. Some distance to the left was a cottage of impressive proportio
ns and known as the Chancellery. Upon entering the chateau you note the high ceilings, the resplendent wall hangings and the vast collection of antiques. This chateau boasts original decor and furnishings along with fabric of the finest quality to line its walls. The Ipod spoken and video text greatly assisted each of us to interpret the history surrounding the items of furniture and so too the paintings. Despite its age the chateau has withstood t
he ravages of revolution and two world wars rather well. The bed chambers reflected the individual taste for colour and furnishings of occupants through time. Various owners have successfully and tastefully made additions to the original building in a manner that compliments rather than detracts from the original architecture. The guard's room, the library, the study, the galleries, bed chambers and the kitchen did not disappoint the tourist in me. Perhaps my favourite was the kitchen with its shiny brass cooking utensils adorning the walls or the original meat chopping blocks and knives placed as they might
have been when in actual use by the butchers, chefs or cooks of the day. One could not help but notice the floral tributes and arrangements designed to highlight the functionality of every room that we entered. For 
example, the kitchen staff's dining room table was laden with fresh produce of every size, shape and colour. Floral arrangements were created on site with fleurs from the chateau's garden. I speculate that the fresh produce was similarly 
sourced. For me the points of interest - size of the gardens and the estate and of course, the authentic ambiance.
Dad, Your pictures are soooo much better than mine. When are you going to send me a copy?
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