A TREASURE CALLED MONTRESOR

An exhausted head seen by Michel
This morning my head feels this way..Michel must know it well. I am looking forward to seeing something like this in Paris rather than churches and chapels. 

Oh for modernity, n'est-ce pas Michel ?




Yet there is still so much to see if I want to...


Yesterday was another day of discoveries. Not those I expected as the one Chateau I had intended visiting Azay Le Ferron was about to close when I arrived and when I went back later in the afternoon there was a wait of nearly and hour before I could visit. Even the gardens it would seem were «controlled».

After the first deception, looking at the map some 20 kilometers further north there was a cluster of chateaux, abbeys  and monasteries to visit. Not all of course. 

The drive was as usual in La Touraine, sheer beauty. Post card countryside and yet again because of the twists and turns, the ups and downs it was difficult to stop. 

The only flat land I drove accross



Then stop I did in a little village called Montrésor. Would it be possible NOT to stop in such a place? Looking the map there was a Chateau perched high on the hill and a collegiate church - sigh of relief, the Chateau was open all day.

I’ll take you on a visit.


Montrésor
In 1849 a Polish noble-man, Count Xavier Branicki (impossible for me to forget that name!) acquired the castle, restored it and endowed it with an impressive collection of stuffed animals which he had probably hunted and works of art. Of course the chateau was built long before Barnicki acquired in. Around 1005 by Foulques Nerra, the Duke of Anjou.  The chateau overlooks the Indrois valley. The walks around the village and next to the river were so peaceful. So many different birds sang and no-one around but me to disturb then.

Dinner first and please do not mind those animals looking you. 


In the entrance hall, the dining room....

See those animals in the corner ?
Before playing billiards, look down at the Salon after climbing the stairs.



Wooden stairway with only one bar to hold it
And then after into the library


Coffee after dinner















Go along the hallway to the Grand Salon where Chopin will play for you as he did for the count.


Grand Salon
Hall way to the Grand Salon




tr>
Chopin and a musical score of his...





Finally a walk around the garden. Visit the Collegiate 



Down to the river

The Collegiate where the family is buried
and then go down to the river. Isn’t the castle beautiful? It feels lived in too. Even more so when you wander around alone taking in the history of the Branicki family. 


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Commentaires

Lo a dit…
Cute... What do you call the inhabitants of Montrésor? Mes trésors?? No, I have checked (you know me), they are called Montrésoriens! How unimaginative!
4/4/12 18:49
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