Today we traveled to Chinon, a castle most famous for its history with Jeanne d'arc, or Joan of Arc.  It was raining and quite cold, but the tour was immensely interesting.

Joan of Arc came to this castle in 1429.  It was here that she picked out the true Dauphin — Charles VII — from a crowd of peasants.  It was due to this amazing clairvoyance that he gave her the right to command an entire army against the English.  We were amazed at this feat achieved by a woman, when most at this time simply had children.

Upon leaving the castle, our wonderful driver, Guy, parked the bus at the shore of the river so that we could get a good shot of the chateau.

After leaving Chinon, we traveled to Azay-le-Rideau.  This chateau was given to an Italian comrade of Francois I in 1527.  This was only after the original owner, Gilles Berthelot fell under suspicion of treason and was threatened with Bastille imprisonment — at which time he promptly left the country, leaving even his Italian wife, Phillippa, behind.

Finally, we went to Langais, a place famous for the wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Britagne. What a spectacular day!!!

Au revoir!

— Kathy Gardner