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By Corina Clemence
 What child reading about fairytale castles in Europe doesn't dream of being a handsome prince or beautiful princess, being waited on hand and foot and living a life of complete romantic luxury. Now you are an adult, you can realise this childhood fantasy by renting a luxury Loire Valley chateau for your next vacation. Here you can totally relax and unwind and feel like royalty.
The Loire Valley is one of France's best kept secrets, located some 200km south of Paris. The Loire River is over 1000 kilometres long and it is the longest last wild river of Europe.
The Loire Valley is actually France's third most popular tourist destination after Paris and the French Riviera. But the Loire Valley is so vast, that families return year after year and never tire of its many attractions. It has something to offer every tourist.
Firstly it is famous for its renaissance chateaux: town chateaux like Chateau Blois and Chateau Amboise, Chateau Usse the original inspiration for Sleeping Beauty, Chateau Cheverney with the best collection of furniture in the Loire Valley and Herge's
inspiration for mythical Moulinsart from the Tin Tin cartoon, Chateau Chenonceau spanning across the River Cher mirroring her beauty, Chateau Chambord the largest hunting lodge in the world
Francois I was not content with just Chateau Blois and Chateau Amboise as his residence, he commissioned Chateau du Chambord the largest chateau in the Loire Valley as a mere hunting lodge. It took 20 years to build and then he spent only seven weeks there hunting.
Then there are also Chateau Chaumont with its incredible summer long international contemporary garden festival, and Chateau Villandry with its famous gardens. If you need inspiration for a vegetable garden you must visit Chateau Villandry.
Gardening in the Loire Valley takes on a mystical quality, and even Mick Jagger, gyrating thick lipped lead singer of the Rolling Stones who has his preferred second residence, a 16th chateau he purchased 26 years ago called La Fourchette at Pose-sur-Cisse near Amboise, is a keen gardener. Artistic historian John Richardson says of Mick Jagger and his new walled garden "he became completely part of the garden, knew every single thing about all the plants, the flowers, the way the fruit trees were espaliered".
Fans of Leonard Da Vinci can visit Chateau Clos Luce and admire his bedrooms, kitchen, salons and the chapel and see frescoes painted by his pupils. His paintings and drawings are set out in the park of the castle with giant models of the most incredible machines he invented with voice-overs of Leonardo da Vinci and his disciple Melzi.
There is so much more to the Loire Valley than turrets, towers, topiaries and tapestries. The Touraine region also has the reputation for being the region where the best French is spoken in the world.
The Loire Valley is also a popular destination for followers of the Knights Templar and Holy Grail because of its close association with Leonardo Da Vinci and because it is so seeped in history.
The combination of vineyards and chateaux make the Touraine region of the Loire Valley an incredible destination for any wine lover and his or her family. The Loire Valley really is the most beautiful wine region in the world.
The Loire is France's last great unrecognized wine region. The Val de Loire wine area is located south west of Paris typically a little over 2 hours drive from the Paris peripherique and extending out as far as Nantes. It is a region blessed with rich soil and a gentle climate, allowing for the production of diverse appellations with vast degrees of character.
Some of France's best winemaking occurs in the Loire though few Americans are aware of it. Even many French are unaware of some of the gems now being produced in the Loire Valley. No other wine region in France welcomes visitors with such warmth or simplicity. Sommeliers, wine-shop and wine-bar owners, the wine press from Brussels, London, Paris and Tokyo in the know spend their vacations visiting the Loire Valley.
White wines of the Loire Valley typically improve with being aged from five to fifteen years depending upon the vintage and the AOC. A new bottle of French Loire Valley white wine may be fine, but a properly aged bottle is even better.
Then there is the food. French cuisine is famous and flourishing in the Loire Valley. Little village bistros whip up amazing dishes at incredibly cheap prices. Goat's cheese is a speciality. The local produce is divine. And the glorious local food is best accompanied with a glass or two of Loire Valley wine.
The Loire Valley is especially well-appointed for two wheels because of the gentle gradients and intricate network of back roads that are refreshingly free of motorised traffic. The Loire et Velo track is heaven for cyclists.
The Loire Valley offers everything the travelling golfer requires. If you are a golfer and you bring your clubs you will not be handsomely rewarded.
In France there are 280,000 registered golfers for 340 courses. This translates into lots of available tee times and no crowds on a course. Many golf courses are designed around magnificent chateaux. The finest course in the region, is Les Bordes near Chateau Chambord, consistently ranked in the top five of France's best courses.
This fine relaxed living is one of the reasons why Mick Jagger holidays at his chateau every summer. With his wealth and his connections he could holiday anywhere.
Don't just visit a french castle - rent a castle in France and truly experience the grandeur of living in a castle in France. You will be absolutely amazed.
Corina Clemence runs a luxury french chateau in the Loire Valley near Blois, for up to fifteen people perfect for touring vineyards and chateaux and relaxing french holidays. It is also ideal for a french wedding, party or event. Rent the whole castle or rent a suite. Rent a castle in France. Hire castle - hire chateau Rent castle http://www.loirechateau.com Rent chateau France Which French Loire Valley Historic Castles Should You Visit on a Family Holiday
By Corina Clemence
 The Loire Valley in France is a spectacular destination for a family holiday. There are many historical castles to see, so many that it can be difficult to decide on which ones to see before it becomes too much for the children to bare. Each of the Loire Valley castles listed below have their own special attraction.
We would highly recommend Chateau Close Luc and its gorgeous park and working models of over 40 of Leonardo Da Vinci's amazing creations. Chateau Chaumont is worth a visit in the summer months for the garden festival alone. Many of the gardens are highly interactive and highly sensory designed to capture the imaginations of adults and children.
Chateau Chenonceau is architecturally breathtaking and a must see. There is a maize for children to get lost in for a little while. Chateau Cheverney has spectacular furniture and a working pack of dogs. Chateau Chambord is the largest of the Loire Valley castles and you can hire bicycles or pedal boats to make it more child attractive. Chateau Blois is interesting architecturally because it is like 4 castles rolled into one. It has the added benefit of being located opposite the Maison de la Magie which is a magic museum in honour of Robert Houdin who was Houdini's inspiration. Children delight at the exhibits and simulations and the magic show is very entertaining.
Chateau Blois (minimum visit 2-3 hours) Hours- 9:00-6:00 Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet . You can book a free guided tour even available in English. This castle dominates the town of Blois and was the home of royalty for over 400 years, including Charles the VIII and Francois I. Parts of the building, composed of 4 wings each of a different architectural style joined by a large central courtyard, date back to the 10th century.
Interiors include luxurious period design and floors stamped with fleur-de-lis motifs. One of the highlights is a Renaissance exterior spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci. In summer they have a son et lumiere show at night and on Wednesdays it is in English.
Chateau Chenonceau (minimum visit 2.5 hours) Hours- 9:00-7:00 Cost- $8.00 includes an English pamphlet. This castle is one of the most striking of the Loire Valley castles. It was built for Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of King Henri II. In 1559 when the King died his wife, Catherine de Medici, forced Diane into exile (to the smaller chateau of Chaumont).
After Catherine moved in she had the beautiful gallery added, which is 180 feet long, 18 feet wide, with 18 windows and set on arches over the Cher River. It was originally used as a ballroom, and in WWI it became a hospital and the wounded soldiers used to fish out the windows. During WWII it was a means of escape as the castle sat in occupied territory but the door at the end of the gallery opened to the Free Zone.
The kitchen is very popular with children. Today the gallery holds art exhibits. Also worth a note are the Marques Tower, the two formal gardens (each named for the two ladies who ruled the house), the sixteenth century working farm and the flower shop.
Chateau Amboise (minimum visit 1.5 hours) Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $7.00 includes an English pamphlet. The chateau towers over the town and offers a mix of architectural styles including 17th century classical and 16th century gothic. Six Kings of France lived here including Francois the 1st, who had an underground tunnel built to the home of Leonardo da Vinci, located nearby. Using this passage they could visit each other without mingling with commoners. In the 15th century this castle was 4 times its current size, but it has been reduced by war and neglect.
It is worth combining a trip to Chateau Clos Luce with a visit to Chateau Amboise as they are nearby.
Chateau Chambord (minimum visit 2.5 hours) Hours- 9:00-5:45 Cost- $7.00 for entrance and $4.00 for an audio guide. Chambord was commissioned by the young (then 25) King Francois in 1519 to help establish his power and feed his ego. The building we see today was not completed until 1685, and by far it is the largest chateau in the Loire. The style is a combination of traditional French and Renaissance Italian with a variety of towers and turrets.
The facade alone is 470 feet wide and over 168 feet high (18 stories), with 440 rooms and 365 chimneys. The highlight inside the chateau is the double helix staircase which serves as the axis for the entire building, and is thought to have been designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
Originally built as a meeting place for hunting and later used for royal celebrations, today it is surrounded by a 19 mile wall that encloses the largest forest park in Europe. During its 500 year history, it was only used as a residence for 20 of those years. If you have time to spare, you can rent boats or bikes to explore the park. There is a 2 hour evening light and sound show at dusk on weekends from mid-April to June and September, and nightly in July and August.
Chateau Usse (minimum 1.5 hours) Hours- 9:00-6:30 Cost- $8.00 includes English pamphlet. This fairytale chateau with lots of turrets was the inspiration for the chateau in Sleeping Beauty. Construction began in 1455 on the foundation of an 11th century chateau, and subsequent remodels took place in the 16th and 17th centuries. The chateau has been owned by the Blacas family since the 18th century and the family still occupies one of the wings. The grounds include several centuries old trees and a cedar that was given to the family in 1808.
There is a chapel from 1528 with a sparkling white interior made from local stones, and a garage with antique vehicles and a wicker carriage. The castle interior is filled with 18th century antiques. Finally you can climb the round tower to see wax figures depicting characters in Sleeping Beauty. If you are travelling with young children they will probably love the fairy tale scenes in the round tower depicted by wax models.
Chateau Cheverny (minimum visit 1.5 hours) Hours- 9:15-6:45 Cost- $6.00, includes English pamphlet. This chateau was built in 1634 and has been owned and occupied by the same family ever since. Today family members occupy the third floor. This castle has the best furniture of the Loire Valley Chateaux open to the public because the family that owned Cheverny was very popular with the local villagers and as a result the castle was not stripped of it's treasures during the French Revolution.
The current interior is the most lavish and complete in the Loire Valley. This castle was built as a hunting palace and today hunts still take place on the grounds. You can visit the seventy dogs in their kennel, or watch the daily feed at 5:00 PM. The trophy room proudly displays the antlers from more than 2000 animals.
Chateau Chaumont (minimum visit 1 hour and another 2 hours for the garden festival) Hours- 9:30-5:30, plan on 1 hour for your visit Cost- $6.00 includes an English pamphlet. Located between Amboise and Blois, this chateau is set high above the Loire River and commands spectacular views. Its placement was for strategic reasons, since it was built as a fortress stronghold in 1465. Later it became a home for royalty and then the merely rich.
The most famous resident was Diane de Poitiers, the former mistress of King Henri II who lived in exile here, after Catherine de Medici demanded Chateau Chenonceau when King Henri II died.
Today the interiors represent the lavishness of the rich people living here until the 1930's when the stock market crash caused the last owner to sell the property to the government. Of particular interest are the elaborate horse stables.
Chateau Azay-le-Rideau (minimum visit 1.5 hours) Hours- 9:30-6:00 Cost- $6.00 for entrance and $4.00 for an audio guide. This chateau is less grand in size than many of the others listed here, but is all the more beautiful for it. Built in 1515, this is a wonderful example of early Renaissance.
In the high season there are often evening sound and light shows at the castle. It is best to visit this chateau late in the afternoon in summer so you can enjoy the son et lumiere show in the evening.
Beware because most chateaux have shorter hours in low and shoulder seasons and may even be closed for lunch during that time. Conversely in late July and August there are usually extended hours.
Corina Clemence runs a luxury french chateau in the Loire Valley near Blois, for up to fifteen people perfect for touring vineyards and chateaux and relaxing french holidays. It is also ideal for a french wedding, party or event. Rent the whole castle or rent a suite. Rent a castle in France. Hire castle - hire chateau Rent castle http://www.loirechateau.com Rent chateau France Top Campsites In France
By Daniel Johansson
 Each year millions of tourists from all over the world choose to spend their holidays sleeping under canvas or in static mobile homes in fantastically equipped campsites throughout France. With a staggering 11,000 to choose from it can be quite a daunting task to find the campsite or holiday park that ticks all the boxes for your holiday. So, here is a suggested list of top 10 campsites in France drawn from Normandy, Atlantic Coast, the Mediterranean Coast and central regions. This is by no means a definitive list but highlights 10 of the campsites that have fantastic facilities for the entire family.
Let's start in the North and head to the Normandy coast. Definitely making it into our top 10 campsites in France is the illustrious two-star Domaine de Litteau in Calvados. If you love the past this is the place for you; close to the historic town of Bayeux and the beaches of World War Two's Normandy landings, this intimate park is situated in beautiful woodland, and is easily accessible from the UK. Also worth serious consideration in this area is the compact site at Chateau Lez Eaux.
Further west, down the coast in beautiful Brittany we find the stunning Domaine de Kerlann holiday park. With great accommodation options this park has fantastic facilities that appeal to all the family, and benefits from a superb location too! In the same region you'll find another great park at La Pointe St. Gilles featuring a great selection of water slides to keep the little ones amused!
Moving south down the Atlantic Coast, and offering a sublime combination of sun, sand and surf, we find the magnificent La Reserve Park based on the beautiful coast with an enormous pool complex providing the focal point. Surrounded by lush pine forests in a fantastic rural setting, you will need your own transport to reach it, but it is well worth the drive. Also worth special mentions in this area and making our top ten are the glorious campsites at Le Ruisseau, Biarritz and Le Vieux Port, near Messanges.
France's Mediterranean coast has long been associated with opulence and glamour and would not, at first glance, appear to be the ideal place to enjoy a cost-effective camping holiday, but you'd be wrong! One of our top 10 campsites in France found in the heart of Languedoc is located only a short drive from the bustling centre of Argeles sur Mer and the sleepy fishing village of Le Racou. Le Bois du Valmarie is a four-star park that offers stunning views of the Mediterranean from its fantastic split-level pool area.
In central France, around Paris and within easy reach of both the capital city and Disneyland Paris, we find two of our favourite campsites and parks. Les Etangs Fleuris is set in the heart of Brie country, has superb on-park facilities and also boasts an extensive fishing lake. Finishing our top ten, glorious International is beside the Seine, just outside Paris and all the attractions.
Daniel Johansson writes article travel related market. Siblu the new name for Haven Europe, offer superior family holidays in France, Spain and Italy. We also offer a selection of France camping holidays for you to enjoy. Lista de significados de palabras urbanas o callejeras de Rep. Dominicana
By Beto Romero
 Lista de significados de palabras urbanas o callejeras de Rep. Dominicana, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico y mas. Tambien, chistes, cuentos, musica, cultura, refranes, poemas, piropos, informacion y/o noticias. Que pagina mas completa, callejeras, noticias, musica, piropos, refranes, poemas, informacion, video juegos dominicanos, tambien te ensena como hablar y/o entender el ingles callejero, o mejor dicho ingles de la calle, aporta mucho a la cultura de los paises latinos. La verdad es que es un diccionario muy completo e importante. Ya se esta considerando como la pagina mas importante para los Dominicano, Boricua, Mexicano, De espana, Venezuela, Colombia y agregando mas paises. Ya hacia mucho tiempo que se necesitaba un diccionario callejero online como ese. Es que ahora con el regaeton tan popular y toda esa frases de puerto rico que se usan en el regaetton, uno necesita saber o entender lo que los regaettoneros dicen. Y con esa ligadera de nacionalidades que hay en puerto rico, estados unidos, dominicana, y demas paises, se puede entender mejor a los amigos. Y para mas completo, tambien incluye traductor de varios idiomas, de ingles a espanol, frances a ingles, espanol a frances, italiano tambien y hasta chino jejeje, wao!!! que completo. Ya no hay que comprar diccionario otra vez.
Beto Romero is the author of this article on Lista de significados de palabras urbanas o callejeras de Rep. Dominicana.
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