Chenonceau, Chambord and Cheverny

We arrived yesterday at a beautiful bed and breakfast in Nazelle-Negron!  Here is a picture looking up at it from the street below.  Yes, it the building at the top and our room is the one where the windows are open.

It was built in 1518 by Thomas Bohier who also constructed the famous and beautiful castle of Chenanceau (that we visited today).  The grounds are so pretty-set against a mountain.  Here's the inner courtyard

and part of the grounds

and the pool

and the breakfast room

and here is Elva starting  a lovely petite dejeuner

Breakfast was delightful featuring wonderful cheeses and delicious croissants!  I don't know why the French make croissnats so much better than anyone else!!

We then headed off the visit the 3 chateaux!

First was Chenonceaux (built by the same man as our B & B)--very beautiful, even with a little rain

The inside was a pretty as the outside, sprinkled with gorgeous flower arrangements amongst the furnishings, etc.  This chateau was protected from the French Revolutionaries by the owner at that time converting the chapel, at least for a while, into a wood storage facility.  The Revolutionaries were out to destroy anything religious.

Chambord was the next chateau--the huge project of Francis I but ransacked during the revolution so not nearly as beautiful as Chenonceaux

Finally we saw Cheverny, which has been in the same family with only a couple of exceptions since built in the early 1600s.  And protected mostly from the revolution as it was used to receive foreign ambassadors 

We were surprised on our travels today to see a bit of "California" in this part of France.  (Not quite the same--ha ha)

Very tired (at least Elva) and hungry, we picked up dinner in Blois

and, when we got back to our B & B, we saw some balloons--adding to the beautiful view we enjoy.