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Are You In Need of a Luxury Vacation? A Charming Chateau Is Ready For You in the Beautiful Loire Valley in France A luxury chateau vacation awaits you in France's Loire Valley Rent a Castle in The Gorgeous Loire Valley - Go Ahead And Spoil Yourself What child reading about fairytale castles in Europe doesn't dream of being a handsome prince or beautiful princess, being waited on hand and foot and living a life of complete romantic luxury. Now you are an adult, you can realise this childhood fantasy by renting a luxury Loire Valley chateau for your next vacation. Here you can totally unwind and relaz and feel like royalty. The Gorgeous Loire Valley and Its Food And Wine - Oh La La A fairytale wine-tasting adventure awaits the wine connosieur touring the Loire Valley as wine-tasting can be enjoyed together with visits to many spectacular historic chateaux sprinkled throughout the region. The Spectacular Loire Valley and Its Gorgeus Gardens at Chateau Villandry The gardens at Chateau Villandry are an absolute delight. They are enthusiastically and lovingly tended by Henri Carvallo, curator of the chateau and great-grandson of Dr Joachim Carvallo who purchased the chateau in 1906. At that time Villandry when Dr Carvallo purchased the property it was on the point of being demolished. It had been disfigured by the walling up of the arches, fake windows and additions and the moat had been filled in. Joachim Carvallo envisaged the harmonious renaissance architecture and the original design. He gave up an impressive career in science under the tutelage of a professor who later went on to win the Nobel Peace Prize and devoted himself to the restoration of Vchateau Villandry and its magnificent gardens. Great Gardens of the Beautiful Loire Valley The Loire Valley is a wonderful delight for garden enthusiasts. Not only can you admire the spectacular chateaux and sample fine French cuisine and great Loire valley wine, tourists can also marvel at some fabulous gardens. The whole valley is now a world heritage site listed by UNESCO. France's Spectacular Loire Valley - Golf and the Good Life – a Great Combination It is impossible even for the most jaded globetrotter not to be impressed by the flamboyant architectural one-upmanship that has made this area the playground of French royalty since the 16th century and a haven for tourists in-the-know in more recent times. Which Adaptors and Transformers to Bring On Your French Holiday - Some Words of Wisdom When preparing your French vacation, don't forget to do a little research and pack the right adaptors and or transformers for your small appliances. Otherwise you will get yourself into trouble and blow up your appliances. Great Time Saving and Sanity Saving Tips For Travelling with Your Family to The Magestic Loire Valley in France Easter and Summer are approaching fast. This is the time of year for family holidays. Going on holiday with children can be a bit daunting and test your patience. Fancy a Vacation in The Beautiful Loire Valley in France – Consider Chartering a Private Airplane for Your Journey During the renaissance, The Loire Valley became the favourite residence of French kings who entertained in lavish style while enjoying the amazing beauty of the landscape. The chateaux still stand in all their glory representing the grandeur and majesty of the architecture of that period and the enchanting charm of France's incredible past. The Incredible Loire Valley in France and What You Need To Know To Drive Through It France has one of the densest road networks in Europe. All of the motorways throughout France are a fast efficient way to travel and once you are on them they are easy to navigate. They are normally expensive and the locals prefer to avoid them where possible and stick to the national routes (the RN and D roads). Autoroutes or french motorways are a delight to drive on, as they are all relatively new and incredibly well maintained. French roads are always very well maintained and the road network includes 4960 miles of motorways constructed in the last 20 years (most with tolls) which link Paris and the main provincial towns and cities. France Woes Cyclists To The Stunning Loire Valley In 2000, the central part of the Loire Valley was named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural landscape and historic towns and villages. In 2005, France suffering from a minor slump in American tourism, introduced the "Loire à Vélo" biking program, designed to allow travellers to explore the 880 kilometers of breathtaking cycling trails and roads that wind along Europe's last wild river past ancient churches, mysterious troglodyte homes (limestone caves), vineyards, picturesque french villages and monasteries. When the whole trail is eventually completed it will stretch approximately 500 miles from St.-Brevin-les-Pins in the Atlantic region to Cuffy in the Cher region, near Sancerre. Da Vinci's Last Home - Chateau du Clos Luce in France's Splendid Val de Loire Chateau du Clos Luce is where Leonard de Vinci spent the last 3 years of his life. King Francois I invited Leonardo da Vinci and he bestowed on him an annual pension of 700 golden crowns and gifted him Chateau du Clos Luce. Sir Mick Jagger's Secret Hideaway – France's Splendid Loire Valley When Mick Jagger thick-lipped lead singer of the Rolling Stones (affectionately also known as the Strolling Bones) finishes a world tour, where does he head to unwind? He heads for the stunningl Touraine region in the centre of France in a sleepy little backwater where he can relax with his friends and family preferring the simple life. The Amazing Regal Loire Valley in France Renowned for its sumptuous chateaux, the relics of royal days gone by, the glorious valley of the Loire is rich in both architecture and history. Like the Loire river, this huge region runs through the heart of French life. Its spectacular cities, luxuriant landscape and magnificent wine and food add up to a bourgeois heaven. The lush Loire valley is supremely regal. French Cookware – How to Enjoy your Cooking The best place to buy french cookware is in France. However, if you can not travel to Paris, do not fret, you can start your French cookware collection by surfing ebay for le-creuset pots new and old. Do not be put off by purchasing a second hand le creuset pot, because they last and last and last. How Not to See Everything on A Vacation in France – An Often Forgotten Important Art So you're travelling to France for your next vacation. You've have selected a location, booked your accommodation, organised your travel. That is the easy part of the "where" and the "how." The trickiest part of planning and enjoying your vacation begins next when you need to tackle the "what" issue. That is what are you going to do and what are you going to see. Please do not even contemplate "everything". A Focus for Any Room - The Beauty of A French Chandelier When you hang a chandelier in your home you acquire something practical and beautiful and an object that will become a focus for the room. All other decorations will revolve around it. It will become a talking point, the centrepiece. A fireplace draws attention to a lower level in a room; whereas a chandelier is the highest point of a room's decoration. Boost Your Enjoyment of your Holiday in the Scenic Loire Valley With a Ride in a Hot Air Balloon One thing that every person should do whilst holidaying in the Loire Valley visiting the spectacular historic chateaux is to go for a hot air balloon ride. Although most of us have glanced out at the world below from a window seat in a plane, there is nothing quite like ballooning and feeling the wind in your hair as you glide above the earth looking at these amazing architectural treasures. Imagine spectacular renaissance chateaux, charming villages, and sun-flower-filled hillsides viewed from a hot-air balloon. The perspective is amazing. Golf and Loire Valley Chateaux - Can a Vacation Get Any Better This valley of the Kings route has been plied for centuries along the longest river in France, the Loire River which remains the last of the wild rivers in Europe. The French Kings literally chateau hopped from one royal castle to another along the banks of the Loire River. Glorious Gastronomy and the Enchanting French Loire Valley The Val de la Loire known as "the Garden of France" is a fertile place where a rich farmland stretches on both sides of the enchanting Loire river. The region became the favourite residence of French Kings from the middle ages to the Renaissance. Little by little, strongholds became magnificent chateaux of the Renaissance, which had been restored during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Most Beautiful Wine Region in the World - Loire Valley in France For lovers of great wine and all finer things in life, one would be hard-pressed to find a more perfect setting than the spectacular famous fertile valley of the Loire River; a region seeped in rich history from regal castles to its long viticulture tradition. The Loire Valley – an Incredible Gastro-Cycling Paradise Envisage a land of mile after mile of nearly flat bike routes that gently sluice through a fertile river valley irrigating some of the world's finest acclaimed vineyards. Imagine magnificent renaissance chateaux, quaint villages, and sun-flower-filled hillsides. Then, combine all this with cuisine that would make even the most seasoned chef salivate. The few drivers you encounter are courteous and pleasant showing an admiration for the cyclist. Do you know where you are? This is not fantasyland - it is the beautiful Loire Valley. Delicious Food and the Enchanting French Loire Valley Everyone knows French cooking is one of the best in the world if not the best. With more than three hundred and sixty-five cheeses, thousands of different wine producers, foie gras, sea food, fishes and good meat, and of course specialties like snails, frogs' legs, bouillabaisse, pot au feu, and boeuf bourguignon, France is heaven for those who like quality and innovative cuisine. 5 Reasons to Holiday at a Chateau in France If you have never vacationned in a French castle before, here are some reasons why you should book one today. The famous tale of Diane de Poitiers and you thought your marriage was complicated The story of Diane de Poitiers should serve as a motivation to all of us who feel not-as-young-as-we-used-to-be. Diane was born in 1499, the daughter of Jean de Poitiers and thus a member of a very ancient line. A beauty from a very young age, at 13 she married into another distinguished line when she became the spouse of Louis de Breze who was 39 years older than Diane and a grandson of Charles VII. The splendid Loire Valley of France – Picturesque Golf Holiday Destination In France there are 280,000 registered golfers for 340 courses. This means lots of available tee times and no crowds on a course. Tourists to France who bring along their golf clubs will not be disappointed or have to face the challenges of arranging tee times as they typically do when visiting Ireland and Scotland. Touring in the Loire Valley in France - The Ten must see chateaux The royalty of France, seduced by the mild climate and the game-filled forests built their sumptuous homes here in the Loire Valley. They surrounded themselves with the greatest artists and architects of this era. This is the country of a thousand castles. The valley is full of not only royal chateaux and renaissance palaces, national museum and large magnificent chateaux, but also medieval castles and fortresses, small fairy tale manors, private chateaux, medieval cities, churches, abbeys, and cathedrals. Many chateaux and stately homes are open to the public: some are state owned, such as Chambord and Blois; others are private, and still lived in. A huge proportion of them run son-et-lumiere shows during the tourist season. Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord are definitely worth a visit and are close to Blois. The Ten best castles to visit in the Loire Valley of France The royalty of France, seduced by the mild climate and the game-filled oak forests built their sumptuous homes here in the Loire Valley. They surrounded themselves with the greatest architects and artiests of this era. This is the country of a thousand chateau. The valley is full of not only royal chateaux and renaissance palaces, national museum and large magnificent chateaux, but also medieval castles and fortresses, small fairy tale manors, private chateaux, medieval cities, churches, abbeys, and cathedrals. Many castles and stately homes are open to the public: some are state owned, such as Chambord and Blois; others are private, and still lived in. A large percentage of them run sound and light spectacles during the high season. Chateau de Chenonceau and Chateau de Chambord are definitely worth a visit and are close to Blois. The Father of Modern Magic - Robert-Houdin Robert-Houdin who was born in Blois is regularly credited as being "the father of modern magic". Before him, magicians performed in marketplaces and at fairs, but Robert-Houdin performed magic at private parties and in theatres. He wore formal clothes, like those of his audiences. Many magicians today mimic this by wearing tail-coats, though some magicians consider this as old-fashioned and prefer contemporary clothes. He is widely considered the pioneer in the modern performance art of illusion. The stage name of Harry Houdini was taken in tribute to him, though Houdini later denounced Robert-Houdin. Delicious Goat's Cheese from the Loire Valley in France The Loire Valley offers goat's cheese enthusiasts a paradise. It is a perfect location for a vacation meandering alongside the Loire River, visiting famous historic chateaux, cheese producers and caves for wine tasting and even staying in a boutique chateau hotel if you chose. This region is justly called the Garden of France, and is sprinkled with majestic Renaissance castles open to the public and an abundance of fine wines and cheeses. Chateau du Guerinet near Blois is a perfect base for a cheese lover's Loire Valley vacation. Wines of the Loire Valley – 5 Wine Appellations Scattered Amongst the Historic Castles France's Loire River winds through the Touraine area for almost one hundred kilometres dotted with many amazing French castles open to the public and a wonderful location for a holiday. There are 5 AOC wines (Appelations d'origine Controlees - wines of controlled origin and quality) awarded throughout this area: Touraine, Touraine Amboise, Touraine Azay-le-Rideau, Touraine Mesland and the latest being Touraine Noble-Joue awarded its AOC status in 2001. The combination of vineyards and chateau make the Touraine region of the Loire Valley an incredible destination for any wine lover and his or her family. Exceptional White Wine from the Loire Valley for Aging Most people are aware of the general rule that white wines should not be aged. For example most Californian wines are meant to be consumed without delay and should never ever be aged. Generally white wines should not be aged because they are low on tannis and it is the tannis present in red wine which permit it to age so comfortably. Chateaux of the Loire Valley - If Their Walls Could Only Speak Loire Valley chateaux are bursting with amazing tales. At Chateau Chenonceau you can hear 'The future king was 12 and he took a mistress aged thirty-two.' The image of the chateaux of this region may be all towers, topiary, tapestries and faded furniture but for two hundred years, these great palaces were host to world-class debauchery and many murders. Which French Loire Valley Historic Chateaux Must You See on a Family Holiday The Loire Valley in France is a spectacular destination for a family holiday. There are many historical castles to see, so many that it can be difficult to decide on which ones to see before it becomes too much for the children to bare. Each of the Loire Valley castles listed below have their own special attraction. The Incredible Benefits of your own Infra-Red Sauna – You won't believe it As you relax in the gentle heat of an infra-red sauna, your body is hard at work, producing sweat, burning calories and pumping blood. Conventional saunas need high air temperature to pull impurities from your body, but our infrared heated sauna can directly penetrate up to 45 millimetres inside the body for a great detox treatment. So You Want to Get Married in France France the land of over 30,000 castles is an amazing country to choose to hold your wedding ceremony. However a civil wedding in France requires legal requirements and advance planning, as well as a minimum stay of 4 weeks and blood tests to complete the necessary documentation prior to the wedding. 3 Enchanting Delicious Recipes for a French Dinner for Saint Valentines Day When you cook for Valentine's Day, love radiates from your heart, seeps into the food and gives it the magical quality that ignites the soul. When you serve your Valentine an elegant meal do it with some attractive candles, good wine or champagne if you like, and a loving and warm smile. The real aphrodisiac is you! The Playful Past-Time of Castle Hopping in France's Magnificient Loire Valley France's Loire Valley has the grandest assemblage of 15th and 16th century castles. With fifty to sixty "must see" castles sprinkled on both sides of a 100-mile sweep of the Loire River, the first-time tourist can feel overwhelmed. Below are five of the best-known castles. Live Like Johnny Depp in a Castle in France You might not pay $16,000 for one bottle of 1978 Romanee Conti in a London restaurant and hang with Rolling stones bad boys Keith Richards and Ron Wood, but you can spend a week or two living like Johnny Depp in a French castle. The Reality Behind Valentine's Day – Then and Now In a blink Rudolph and Santa are replaced with red ribbon and pink hearts and mass produced Valentine's Day cards in thousands of designs and sizes – large, small, serious, silly, inexpensive, expensive, musical (my least favourite because they sound so tinny) and traditional ones. Valentine's Day is the biggest single 24 hour period for florists, a huge event for greeting card companies and a blessing for candy makers. Do Something Surprising This Year – Steal Away Some Place Intimate For Valentine's Day Valentine's Day is quickly approaching, a day that each year terrifies men. Every year, you promise yourself that next year; you are going to do something different. If you still do not have any creative ideas for a special surprise, do not panic, but you had better start giving it some serious thought. Here is a Valentine's Day gift idea that is sure to please your love on that special day. New Year to Valentine's Day – National Break Up Season Accordingly to general research on dating, the period between the December holidays and Valentine's Day is National Break-up Season when people are more than twice as likely to think about breaking up than at any other time of the year. Try Something a Little Different This Saint Valentine's Day - Vouvray Are you tired of the same old Valentine's Day dozen long-stemmed red roses and box of chocolates and dinners out that make you feel like a gold-fish in a gold-fish bowl. This is the year to do something unique, something different that tells the person you love that took the time to think of something different this year and that you care. Facts You Never Imagined About Saint Valentine's Day Saint Valentine's Day is one of the major retail days in the calendar year. In 2006, the average American spent around US$100 on his or her significant other, totalling $13.70 billion. Men typically spend about twice as much as women (in 2006 $135.67 and $68.64 respectively), mostly on cards, chocolates, flowers, and dinner at a swish restaurant. Around 180 million cards are given industry-wide annually (excluding packaged kids' valentines for classroom exchanges), making Valentine's Day the 2nd largest holiday for giving greeting cards, according to Hallmark.

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