Chenonceau chateau - known as the ladies' chateau. It was given to Diane de Poitiers, mistress of King Henry II, and taken away from her on his death by his widow Catherine de Medici. A beautiful design and the only chateau built over the river Loire.
The Royal Abbey of Fontevraud, an abbey run by an Abbess not an Abbot, was the last place where Eleanor of Aquitaine lived. She is the only woman to have been both Queen of France and Queen of England. An amazing woman - also the mother of Richard the Lionheart, both of whom are buried here.
This garden gate forms an entry to the formal gardens from the forest area of this beautiful chateau in the Loire valley. The gate was designed by Leonardo da Vinci while he was living out his last days at his chateau in Amboise.
The delightful chateau Beaudaisiere has some unusual gardens with over 300 species of tomatoes and a superb dahlia garden. One of many chateaux to visit in the Loire valley
