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2017-07-15-16 - Villandry, Chenonceau, Balloon

After war memorials, we headed down the the Loire valley to see the chateaux, starting with Villandry and Chenonceau.
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John the Baptist, patron saint of Chenonceau, in the entrance hall.
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John the Baptist, patron saint of Chenonceau, in the entrance hall.

  • The main cooking area of the kitchen in Chenonceau.
  • The spit and rotissary.
  • View of the gardens from Francois I's drawing room.
  • Fireplace with Salamander (on left) and Stoat (weasel on right) for François I and Queen Claude. King Louis 14th visited his uncle who owned Chenonceau on 14 July, 1650. Many years later Louis gave his uncle this picture of himself as a remberance of the visit.
  • Rib vaults in entrance hall, made in 1515.
  • John the Baptist, patron saint of Chenonceau, in the entrance hall.
  • Stairway off of the main entrance hall.
  • View of Diane's gardens from second floor balcony.
  • View of Catherine's gardens from second floor balcony.
  • Bedroom of the 5 queens (2 daughters and 3 daughters in law of Catherine de' Medici).
  • Catherine de' Medici's bedroom.
  • Bedroom of Cesar of Vendôme, son of King Henry 4th and Gabrielle d'Estrées. He became owner of Chenonceau in 1624.
  • And now, for something completely different - a hot air balloon ride over Chenonceau (the château) and Chenonceaux (the town).
  • I let a balloon into the air... (watching for how the wind blows)
  • Will this hold 15 people plus the pilot?
  • Our rides to and from the launch and landing sites.
  • Our meeting spot.
  • At the first launch site - another (small) balloon launch. Wind still good? (Answer: No, need to go to a second launch site.)
  • Unloading at the second launch site.
  • These are what makes the air hot. Well, these, propane and a spark.
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