Chenonceau

 Chenonceau should be in the running for the most spectacular Loire Valley chateau.  It is sometimes called the Ladies' Chateau because King Henri of France gave it to his lover, Diane of Poitiers.  On Henri's death his wife, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane out and made Chenonceau her favorite residence.

The chateau is approached through a long allee of plane trees.

The best view of Chenonceau is from the gardens.  The chateau serves as a bridge over the River Cher.

There are beautiful floral displays in each room that bring out something about the room's furnishings.

This is Catherine de Medici.

Tours

On one side of Tours' central square are half-timbered buildings from the14th century. 

One of those buildings was a money lender's office.

St. Martin stands atop Basilique Saint-Martin.  He was much beloved in Tours.  The present Basilica (1886-1924), designed by the Touraine architect Victor Laloux, is built on the tomb of St Martin (in the crypt) which was discovered in 1860 in the cellars of houses built on the site of the old Basilica. 

A 20th century reproduction chateau hides behind gates.

Along the riverfront, a statue of the philosopher Delacroix looks over the happenings.

A morning back in Bordeaux

 I was back in Bordeaux for a morning before leaving for the Loire Valley.

I love the heads carved into the limestone buildings.

A statue of Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc), the heroine of France in the country's wars with England, stands int a small park.   Someone with a sense of humor placed it in the historically English part of Bordeaux.

The wonderful Monument aux Girondins is a spectacular feature at one end of the Place des Quinconces, one of Europe’s largest city squares.  It honors the Girondins, a moderate faction that supported the French Revolution, but many of whom were executed by a more radical faction.

My group visited the 18th century home of a man whose family had occupied it since 1850.  

He gave us a tour of the ground floor, then served up a wine that his family sells.

I passed the Miroir d'eau (Mirrored Pool) on the way back.

The Markets at Cadillac

Cadillac (pronounced CAD-ee'yak), a small town 45 minutes southeast of Bordeaux, has markets on Saturdays.

Cadillac is in a region noted for sauternes wine.  We passed Chateau d'Ychem, which is noted for its fine -- and very expensive -- sauternes wine.

The cheeses, fruits and vegetables at the Cadillac markets were mouth watering.

Cadillac has fewer than 3,000 residents, and it has never been bigger.  It always amazes me how the churches in small French towns like this can have such expensive embellishments.

A pretty local girl smiled for me as she left the markets. 

Medoc and Margaux

 Driving around two big wine regions in southwestern France, we passed numerous stunning chateaux, wineries, vineyards and churches..

This is a pretty chateau in the commune of Margaux-Cantenac.  We just drove past and I didn't catch the name.

Chateau Cos d'Estournel, a winery in the Saint-Estephe region, with Indian inspired architecture.  The winery dates back to 1791.

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, a winery in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux.

Just passed this chateau and was attracted by the red roses.

Chateau Margaux is a 19th-century, neo-Palladian style villa, designed by Louis Combes, on a renowned wine estate.

Grape vines everywhere.

The Citadel at Blaye

Louis XIV -- the Sun King -- ordered that fortresses be built at the edges of his kingdom.  The Citadel at Blaye was completed in 1689, at a wide section of the Gironde Estuary. 

A wide moat surrounds the fortifications.

The citadel was designed by Vauban, the king's lead engineer, who designed many other fortifications in France.  The citadel's role was to protect the city of Bordeaux, 50 kilometers upstream, from enemy attacks.  The Vauban fortifications have been a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008.

Saint-Emilion

 Saint Emilion is, of course, a noted wine city.  It is also a hilly place with appealing medieval limestone architecture.  But, it was a visit to the Monolithic Church of Saint-Emilion that I liked best.

Around the inner courtyard, a modern mural fills the eyes and blows the mind.  It is a modern interpretation of the Apocalypse of the New Testament, completed in 2018 by Francois Peltier.

I can't interpret all of the symbolism, but I can admire the beauty.

The church's peaceful courtyard offers a quiet counterpoint to the dazzling mural.

Saint-Emilion has very steep roads winding down to the lowest levels.

At the bottom, there is a cul-de-sac surrounded by art galleries.

Libourne

Libourne is at the confluence of two tidal rivers in the Southwest of France, the Dordogne and the Isle. 

It was formed in the 13th century under the authority of King Edward I of England.  Today it is the center of wine-making in this region,

This is the Gate of the Port, with a machicolated tower, a survivor of the 14th century defensive walls.

 On Tuesdays, there is a market in the main square, the Place Abel Surchamp.