chenonceau et blois

we had our second bucknell excursion on saturday to two more châteaux of the loire valley. it was quite rainy and cold but i think i managed some decent pictures nonetheless.

catherine de medici was pretty big on her monogram being plastered everywhere (think ceilings, fireplaces, beds, floors, etc.). it bears a remarkable similarity to the chanel logo, non?

the great hall at chenonceau.

the ceiling of one of the staircases.

pretty room and pretty flowers.

moat! my new favorite feature. mom and dad, may we build a moat around our house?

the queen's gardens. i can only imagine how much prettier these would be on a sunny spring day.

chenonceau was built on the water of the cher river.

more of the moat.

the entrance to blois.

the staircase was built on the outside of the château so as not to take away any space from the living quarters inside the building.

this bed looks like it came out of the latest anthropologie catalogue. thoughts?

the interior of the exterior staircase, if that makes sense.

the great hall at blois — really cool ceiling in royal blue with gold fleurs-de-lys.

a view of blois from across the street.

a quick tour of a chocolaterie on our way out of town.