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France Trip, April, 2008
Saturday, April 6
Ate a delicious breakfast at the chateau. Left to go visit a vineyard, LeLais, where we did some winetasting. The eastern side of the Loire region is known for Sauvignon Blanc grape varietals, and the western side for Chenin Blanc. The vineyard storage areas were built into caves dug in the side of the hill.
Winetasting in one of the caves at LeLais
Storage caves at LeLais
Drove to the forest to eat lunch at l'Hermitiere, a terrific little inn-like place where we had a marvelous lunch of quail and trout. Then we went for a walk (between rain showers). Turns out the forest was where the royal navy used to get its oak for ship-building. The trees were much taller than the average height of trees in Ohio or the eastern U.S. Tall, straight oaks. They still pull lumber out of the forests, but you can tell it's very controlled.
Where we ate lunch in the forest
A wishing well, like something out of a Grimm's fairy tale
Enjoying the walk through the forest area
Drove to Le Mans. The road we were on is actually used as part of the raceway, so they have to shut it down for normal traffic during the race. It will be taking place this month sometime. While in Le Mans, we toured the Cathedrale St. Julien. This was where Henry Plantagenet (Henry II of England) was baptized. He was born in a building nearby, now called the Hotel de Ville. Henry was the son of Mathilde and Geoffrey, the Count of Anjou, and the father of King Richard the Lionheart.
The Cathedrale St. Julien
The cathedral
There was a large area in the old city of Romanesque ruins and a whole section of medieval town that looked like some kind of movie set. It got very cold, even snowed a bit. It was bitter walking around in the wind. Sat in a café that was built into the old city wall, and we drank tea and coffee.
Old town Le Mans
Ate dinner at the Fontainebleau restaurant, right across from where Henry II was born. The best salmon I've ever had.
Where we ate dinner