Cheverny and Chambord

Two weekends ago, the Loire Alive program took us to two chateaux:  Chambord and Cheverny.  Both of them were amazing!  Chambord was used as a hunting chateau.  Cheverny also has a neat little history that I'll share latter.  I had been to other chateaux via Loire Alive, but these two had a home-y feeling to them (except for the fact that they're massive).

Chambord
To the future Abbey students, go to the chateaux when you aren't traveling on the weekend.  They are all amazing for different reasons.  You learn a lot of French history too.  You may even see some things that trace back to PONTLEVOY!  Learning in the classroom is easier too because chateaux such as Blois and Chenonceau will be referenced in class a few times. 

Chambord was very pretty.  The architecture is amazing.  Especially on the roof.  The view is beautiful too.  There is one road that stretches to the horizon between rows of trees that is so picturesque. There is a porcelain oven in Chambord that is said to have been here in the Abbey a long time ago.

Cheverny is a chateau that was built by a wealthy family, but not royalty like most of the others.  The family still owns and resides in the chateau.  The amazing thing about Cheverny is that it was owned by the same people who once owned the Abbey!  Their names are on a plaque at the bottom of the staircase.  One that cannot go unnoticed.  You would recognize their names if you saw them after living in the Abbey for two months!  One of the most exciting things about Cheverny, other than its beautiful gardens, was finding a drawing of the Abbey!  I was so excited that we found 'our house'.  I showed everyone my window even thought they all knew I lived there.  They showed their windows too (unless they live on the back side of the hall).

                                                                   Cheverny

I write this so you know that there are cool things about everything you will do in and around Pontlevoy.  Don't be afraid to stay home from a weekend in a different country and neglect France.  There is so much to see and discover here!  Take advantage of it! 

For more info about the chateaux:
Chambord
Cheverny