March 30, 2010

Loire Valley chateaux, a coment from Anais

An excellent week-end at the Loire Valley

« Waste a day at the Loire Valley when visiting Paris ? No way…” This is what I used to say before last week-end.
If you are staying one week or more in Paris, do not miss the Loire Valley, it is a very good choice!

We leaved Paris Saturday afternoon and had time to visit 3 castles during 2 days: Chambord, Chenonceau, and Amboise (half day per place).

What can I say about the castles? Well, there are no words to describe their beauty. It is a must do in France. The landscapes are also marvellous.
My favourite? Chambord, thanks to the marvellous guide we had.
Also people are helpful and reserved us a very nice welcome there.

Something is sure: If you go there by your self you must prepare well your days. You will have to rent a car, wake up early, prepare your routes in order to have nice landscapes and count lots of money (it is expensive).
There is a very good web (English) to prepare your visit : chateauxtourisme

You can also take a guided tour with Cityrama, VisitFrance…

And of course have a great visit!

I am thinking about going back there for one week but in one or two years during summer… That is the privilege about living in Paris…

Anaïs
Regetel

Amboise, Loire Valley


Amboise
Rampe du Château
37403 Amboise
Tél. +33 (0)2 47 57 00 98
chateau.amboise@wanadoo.fr
Website: www.chateau-amboise.com

It is a castle transformed along the centuries… But thanks to revolution and Napoleon, the building is like half it should be!

Amboise is famous because of Leonard de Vinci who lived in the city until his death.
We loved Amboise because of its history, but we really preferred Chenonceau and Chambord.

Opened Every day except January first and December 25.
From 02/01 to 31/01 : 9am to 12h30 & 2pm to 4.45pm
From 01/02 to 28/02 : 9am to 12h30 & 1pm to 5pm
From 01/03 to 31/03 : 9am to 5.30pm
From 01/04 to 30/06 : 9am to 6.00pm
From 01/07 to 31/08 : 9am to 7.00pm
From 01/09 to 01/11 : 9am to 6.00pm
From 02/11 to 15/12 : 9am to 5.30pm
From 16/11 to 31/12 : 9am to 12h30 & 2pm to 4.45pm

Prices : 9 €; children(7 to 14 years) 5,3 €.

Anaïs
Regetel


Photo : Ville d'Amboise © Legnitanais

Chenonceau


Chenonceau
37150 Chenonceau
Tél. +33 (0)2 47 23 90 07
info@chenonceau.com
Website: http://www.chenonceau.com/
It is a really small chateau. When arriving there we were disappointed. Compared to Chambord is like a small house compared to a big building. But after the visit we came to the conclusion that both are very interesting. Chenonceau is plenty of tales about Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medicis…
Also it is better to visit on summer and spend half day there for the gardens and surroundings.

Opening hours
The Castle is open every day of the year.
From January 1st to February 5th : 09:30am to 5:00pm.
From February 6th to March 14th : 09:30am to 6:00pm.
From March 15th to My 31st : 09:30am to 7:00pm.
From June 1st to June 30th : 09:00am to 7:30pm.
From July 1st to August 31st : 09:00am to 8:00pm.
From September 1st to September 30th : 09:00am to 7:30pm.
From October 1st to November 7th : 09:00am to 6:00pm.
From November 8th to December 31st : 09:30am to 7:30pm.

Prices
Single Entrance: 10,50 €.
Children (7 to 15) and Students: 8 €.
Wax Museum "The Ladies' Gallery": 12,50 €.

Anaïs
Regetel

Photo : Chenonceau-Galerie © Legnitanais

CHAMBORD


CHATEAU DE CHAMBORD
41250 Chambord
Tél. +33 (0)2 54 50 40 00
Website: Chambord.org
info@epchambord.fr
Built for François 1er. Count 2 or 3hrs for the castle and few more for the surroundings as it is very nice seen from the out side.
The castle is really cold during winter.
We took a French speaking guide and she explained us lots of things about this place: The history and the true-false links with Leonard de Vinci. We were also told that lots of decoration is similar reconstitutions and not the real furniture that was there at the 16th c.*. We loved the visit. The stairs are really funny. The castle is plenty of French history and recalls to François 1er.
There is video explaining the chateau (subtiteled in English) it is also interesting.

*She explained to us that the Kings court used to travel and the furniture travelled with them. So the places used to be empty for a while.

The Château is open all year round except on New Year’s Day, 11 november and Christmas Day.
From 02/01 to 31/03: 9am – 5.15pm
From 01/04 to 10/07: 9am – 6.15pm
From 11/07 to 16/08: 9am – 7.30pm
From 17/08 to 30/09: 9am – 6.15pm
From 01/10 to 31/12: 9am – 5.15pm

Prices:
Low season (02/01 to 31/03/2010) & (01/10 to 31/12/2010) €8.50
High season (01/04 to 30/09/2010) €9.50
Anaïs
Regetel


Photo © Legnitanais

March 12, 2010

Restaurant in Paris Polidor


Polidor
41, rue Monsieur Le Prince
75006 Paris
Métro : Odéon (ligne 4 et 10), RER B Luxembourg
Tél : 01-43-26-95-34
lepolidor@aol.com

Restaurant open for over a century with vocation to become a canteen. The prices are very reasonable. It’s good, it's like at home. I took the menu at 22 euros : As starter tomatoes mozzarella bufalla. Then the beef tongue and mash potatoes housemaid and for dessert a very vanilla-tasty vanilla ice. For drink I had sparkling water at 3 euros.
There are the specialties of the house written in marker on white Venetian mirrors, wooden furniture, and water glasses that bring us back to childhood when we used to ask our friend "how old are you?" and read the answer at the bottom of the glass. The answer is still there.
In addition staff proves to be careful.

Geraldine
Hotel des Nations St Germain

Photo © Legnitanais