There are actors role playing various scenes, this one the raising and lowering of the drawbridge.
This is the view from the inside of the castle, where Karl was stationed.
The chimney breasts are finely sculpted.
Each room has different tiling, based on original 15th century patterns.
Look! The shell symbolic of the pilgrimage on the St. James of Compostela Way.
This piece of furniture is particularly interesting. It has 7 tiers, and each compartment holds precious items that are made to impress visitors and demonstrate the great wealth of the owner. They can be separated for easier transportation.
The salons and bedrooms are decked with more than 30 tapestries. Notable among them: Les mille fleurs (the thousand flowers), 15th c. The flowers are so intricate that they appear to be painted rather than woven.
The beds, the chests with their elaborately worked locks, the chairs and sideboards, are all in Flamboyant Gothic style (15th c. to mid 16th c.).
The initials are A and K but look like M and K, don't you think? This must be made for Marguerite and Karl! No one told us this was our château!
In 1491, the Château was the site of the marriage between Charles VIII, the son of Louis XI, King of France, and the young Duchess Anne of Brittany - an event which paved the way for the independent Bretons' eventual union with France.
The highest ranking bishops in the land were in attendance.
As were the notaries to make it all legal. This was an important union politically.
Anne of Britanny
Charles VIII
The marriage is commemorated with a strikingly realistic "son et lumière" in which the Duchess is seen in a representation of the gold robe fabric, edged with 160 sable furs.
Some of the high chairs for babies, and an early "walker" with wheels.
The baby crib was kept close to the fireplace for warmth and close to the parents' bed. Note that the adult bed is set on a wooden platform to avoid the chill of the floor and the humidity.
Unfortunately, babies often died young. Paintings were commissioned to remember them.
There was a video playing in this room that described all the pieces of clothes a woman needed to get dressed. There were 23 pieces! I loved the metal belt that fit around the hips with tiny hooks that allowed the woman to hang all sorts of necessities, including her money purse. She had garters that tied above her knee in a bow, stockings, and "pantouffles", which we call slippers to this day. The head gear had three different parts: a netting to protect her hair from flying out, a cap to keep the dust out, and her hat which was often made of velvet.
The loom where weaving techniques are demonstrated
There is a "moquette" of the cathedral in Cologne, Germany. I'm not sure I understand the link, but this is made so well. What a time-consuming and accurate reproduction.
In the "Saints" room are to be found statues representing the Virgin Mary, Ste. Anne, the Holy Mother and Child, and other saints. This elaborate holder of holy relics has been painstakingly repaired with gold leaf and precious stones.
A knight in shining armour.
Being knighted.
Aurore, which is the dawn of day. You can see her pushing the night away.
The Lion King, or at least a king riding a lion...
In the dining room, this copper basin held fires to warm the room.
Look at the handles on this "portable table". One never knows when a picnic is in order!
More of those locks found throughout the château.
A weighty and significant door knocker.
Foulques Tower, oldest fortress in France. Foulques Nerra, the ferocious Comte d'Anjou, seized Langeais in 994. From there he attacked Tours, held by his rival the Comte de Blois. Within the walls erected by Foulques, a large tower served as his residence. Its lofty bulk still looms over the later château's courtyard.
Since 2008, you can access the windows of this old fortress and discover how it was built, thanks to the genuine reconstruction of the scaffolding as it was used in 994.
A tree house for the kids. Wow!
The bell in the Château.
***
The town of Langeais
This is the restaurant where we ate lunch outside, then returned for coffee inside in late afternoon.
When we stopped for lunch, this Italian gentleman was sitting next to us, rolling his own cigarettes. I asked if I could take his photo because he had an interesting face. He drove a very big and very powerful motorcycle.
This is the sink in the bathroom of the little coffee shop. (No, it is not a urinal.) I thought it looked so elegant and the rose and white is reminiscent of a royal pattern.
We had a cross between a tiramisu and a chocolate mousse, and it was delicious!
An antique doll was standing in the corner of the coffee shop. So beautiful! Made me want to be a little girl again since I always loved playing with dolls.
The "Halles" is where the open market is held.
A small town, very attractive, very clean.
Inside of the church.
"The angel is a dreamer" is the very appropriate name for this delightful boutique.
***
"The important thing is not to think much, but to love much;
and so do that which best stirs you to love."
~ Ste. Thérêse de Lisieux
Beautiful castle, and love the tree house!
ReplyDeleteThey built that tree house to entertain the kids, but it sure was getting a lot of attention! Nobody is allowed on the scaffolding, so the kids have something else to climb.
DeleteThis must have been a wonderful day. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed. Please do not hesitate to add your name since I enjoy knowing who is reading my blog.
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