Loire Valley-Cheverny

The chateau at Cheverny, built in the early 1600s, is unusual because it is still occupied by the descendants of the original owners.  The family lives in the far right quarter of the chateau.  They have three children, ages 11 to 16, and the youngest, the only boy, is the one who will inherit the chateau.

Kate at Cheverny

Wedding Photo of the Marquis de Vibraye and his Wife

It was beautifully furnished with original furnishings.  Most chateaux have period but not original furniture because the king's court would move with all the tapestries and furnishings from one chateau to another every few weeks.  But a king didn't live in this chateau.  However, it had to have a special room for the king in case he did come to visit at Cheverny so there was a king's bedroom filled with tapestries and paintings and a pretty bed. 

Kelly in the King's Bedroom

The King's Bed

In fact, according to our tour guide, King Henri IV actually slept in the bed, but not when the bed was in this bedroom.  There were serious weapons in the Arms Room--Kelly is standing in front of spears on one small part of one wall.

Drum in the Arms Room

Sedan Chair in the Arms Room

Wouldn't you like to be carried around in this sedan chair like Benjamin Franklin?

The Students at Cheverny
Hillary, Danielle, Christina, Audrey, Brooke, Rebecca, Madeleine, Sydney, Kate, McCall, Samantha
Mary Claire, Paola, Phoebe and Ashlie

Cheverny is also known for its hounds.  A pack of about 70 dogs is kept on the grounds and taken out to hunt twice a week.  And even the back of the chateau was beautiful.  The chateau is made of white limestone from the Bourré quarries in the area.  The stone becomes harder with time.

The Hounds

Dad and James on the Other Side of Cheverny

That evening Dad, James and I went to the Old Town in Tours to eat dinner.  There were small winding streets and half timber buildings.  Kate on the other hand decided to order Pizza Hut Pizza with a bunch of the other students and eat it in the hall of our Hotel Etap, much to Kelly's chagrin.

Jeanene, James and Dad in Tour Old Town

Pizza in the Hall

One final picture from Tours.  The French love a good jeu de mots--a play on words.  Kelly found this hair salon when he was out for an early morning run in Tours.  It was on rue Voltaire--get it?