Time to be a Princess

This weekend we went to the Loire Valley to shop for houses—just kidding —we were just looking at the castles. It was a beautiful weekend of visiting castles I don't remember visiting before and new ones altogether. Our first stop was Château de Sully:

"La Loire": Window in Château de Sully

Château de Sully

Then we spent part of the afternoon in Orléans to visit the town and get lunch. We walked around and went in a huge, beautiful cathedral.

Cathédrale St. Croix d'Orléans

In every town that we visited there was a plaque recognizing Jeanne d'Arc for whatever battle that was in that town. Orléans was no different from the other towns:

Statue of Jeanne d'Arc

Our last stop for Friday was Chambord, which I think we visited when I was six, but to tell the truth I don't remember it at all. Chambord is a huge, gorgeous castle, and each floor is designed for a different century because so many different kings spent time there since it is only a hunting lodge and not a permanent residence for the king.

Chambord

One of my favorite pictures I took from Chambord

We stayed in a hotel in the town of Tours and it rained the first night as we were walking back to the hotel after dinner. We ate at a Moroccan restaurant which was really good. Then on Saturday, we first went to Blois to visit the castle there. We also walked around the market in Blois and had lunch there.

Château Blois is different because there are four distinct styles of architecture from the different kings adding onto the castle.

Our next visit was to the royal lodging and donjon, which is just the main living area, in Loches. The royal lodging was used as a place to going hunting, but it was built for a kings mistress named Agnes Sorel. The donjon was originally a living area, but then part of it was changed into a prison.

Donjon (main living area) de Loches

It was a long hike up to the top of the donjon, but I made it, and the view was worth it.

The last castle we visited was my personal favorite, and I am pretty sure that we have been there before. I think I remember being on a row boat in the river with my cousins at Chenonceau. This castle was also made for a mistress, but after the king died, his queen took it for herself. We understand because it is absolutely gorgeous.

Chenonceau

Our favorite picture from Chenonceau: the four of us walking in the garden

It was truly a great weekend. We saw a lot, but it was not as hectic as the Paris weekend at the beginning of my time in Dijon. 

I loved seeing the sunflower fields along the side of the road as we drove through the Loire Valley.

At the beginning of my trip here, I thought I would have so much time to see so much and do so much and learn so much, but now I leave Dijon on Saturday and then I will be going back to the States shortly after. I am not ready to leave, but I am ready to be done with these hard classes. I have made some really good friends on this trip and met some amazing people. I will miss the people who are from other countries that I have become friends with, but I look forward to continuing the relationships with other Augustana students that have started because of this trip. If only I really could become a princess and live happily ever after in one of the châteaux here in France.