Category: Loire Valley

Château of Azay-le-Rideau: A Gem of the French Loire Valley

April 18, 2023
Arts & CultureArts & TraditionBrightChâteau of Azay-le-RideauGilles BerthelotHonoré de BalzacLoire Valley
0 Comment

French-writer Honoré de Balzac described the Château of Azay-le-Rideau as “a faceted diamond set in the Indre.” A gem among the numerous châteaux of the Loire Valley, it is also one of the earliest examples of French Renaissance architecture. The primary structure was built between 1518 and 1528 by Gilles Berthelot, a financier of King…

Read More

Epoch Cinema Documentary Review: ‘Passport to the World: Chateaux of the Loire’

December 16, 2022
EpochTV ReviewsFrenchJoan of ArcLoire ValleyOpinion
0 Comment

Commentary The world-renowned Loire Valley is one of the most visited regions in all of France, and in Dreamscape Media’s excellent 2019 documentary, “Passport to the World: Chateaux” (available to watch on Epoch Cinema), those of us who haven’t been there will get to find out why. There are over 3,000 grand chateaus scattered throughout…

Read More

Grazing on Châteaux in France’s Lush Loire Valley

December 14, 2022
BrightFranceLifestyleLoire ValleyTravel
0 Comment

The Loire Valley, about two hours southwest of Paris, offers France’s greatest array of châateau experiences. Wander through sumptuous interiors, cared for by noble families who’ve lived there for centuries. View packs of carefully -bred hounds yelping for red meat as they await their next hunt. Standing on a rooftop the size of a cathedral…

Read More

Winter Wonders: Château-Hopping in the Loire Valley

December 24, 2021
BrightDestinationsFranceLoire ValleyRadiant LifeTravel
0 Comment

The scale of these gardens was so sweeping that when I climbed the final step to the top of the belvedere, I drew a breath. The size, yes, but also the remarkable attention to detail. Hemmed in on all sides—by a storybook village, a 12th-century church, a forest, and its namesake château, the gardens at…

Read More