Historical Highlights
Enlightened Chartres
Around 96 km southwest of Paris, the market town of Chartres is the capital of the Eure-et-Loir department or county. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, its cathedral is the central attraction and worth pottering around for an hour or so preferably with an English-speaking guide. (Guides arranged via the tourist office next to the Cathedral
+33(0)237182626 - www.chartres-tourisme.com to make a booking). The cathedral’s magnificently restored stain-glass windows are among the finest in Europe.
An evening stroll around the city is equally illuminating. Most of the historic buildings and bridges in Chartres are lit up through the summer evenings to spectacular effect. The Chartres en Lumières sees twenty different sites throughout the city highlighted in this way, ideal for a slow, entertaining, after-dinner amble.
Enlightened Chartres
Around 96 km southwest of Paris, the market town of Chartres is the capital of the Eure-et-Loir department or county. Listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, its cathedral is the central attraction and worth pottering around for an hour or so preferably with an English-speaking guide. (Guides arranged via the tourist office next to the Cathedral
+33(0)237182626 - www.chartres-tourisme.com to make a booking). The cathedral’s magnificently restored stain-glass windows are among the finest in Europe.
An evening stroll around the city is equally illuminating. Most of the historic buildings and bridges in Chartres are lit up through the summer evenings to spectacular effect. The Chartres en Lumières sees twenty different sites throughout the city highlighted in this way, ideal for a slow, entertaining, after-dinner amble.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots, an early proponent of the game of golf in her native Scotland spent a lot of time here in the Loire. Betrothed to the Dauphin François at the age of five, Mary left Scotland and grew up in the French court travelling with the royal entourage between the great châteaux such as Le Louvre, Fontainebleau, Blois, Anet, Chenonceau and Chambord. In 1558 she married the Dauphin at Notre Dame in Paris and at the age of 17, became Queen of France. Two years later she was widowed when the young François died of an ear infection. Mary set sail with her 'caddies' for Scotland soon after and took up her new post as Queen of Scotland and a keen interest in the game of golf.
Mary, Queen of Scots, an early proponent of the game of golf in her native Scotland spent a lot of time here in the Loire. Betrothed to the Dauphin François at the age of five, Mary left Scotland and grew up in the French court travelling with the royal entourage between the great châteaux such as Le Louvre, Fontainebleau, Blois, Anet, Chenonceau and Chambord. In 1558 she married the Dauphin at Notre Dame in Paris and at the age of 17, became Queen of France. Two years later she was widowed when the young François died of an ear infection. Mary set sail with her 'caddies' for Scotland soon after and took up her new post as Queen of Scotland and a keen interest in the game of golf.
The Loire Valley has a total of 33 golf courses so you could have a proper golfing holiday here but, going at a more gentle pace and realising what a wonderful, cultured, gastronomic Shangri La I had found, I thought it prudent to take a few days off from golf and simply soak up the good life.
