Deaux Chateau

 

The pile at Le Lude was a step up from yesterday's. As was the receptionist who actually seemed keen to help. Photos weren't allowed inside (presumably to make casing the joint harder) so you'll have to follow the link to see the Library and Salon in particular. It's still lived in so less than half was on display.

Originally a 14th C castle, it was upgraded to a chateau mostly in the 15th and 16th C. It survived the Revolution somehow, was bought by a bourgois French India Company trader and his (quelle horreur!) Chinese wife. 

At this point the camera battery died and I'd left the spare behind, so other photos are from our phones. Mine is crap as you can see.

19th C kitchen used until the 1940s

The base of a tower housing canons

15th C facade, apparently one of the few left in France

Old carriages

New carriages

The front lawn.

Beautified pump-house

Working kitchen gardens

So that's how the other half live...

Next stop was a archaeological site with 1st-3rd C Roman remains: Theatre, forum, two temples and baths. Apparently it was only a seasonal settlement so a bit like the camps and other businesses we find closing up around us.  

A Roman caterpillar. Hopefully not a pine precession moth which we are seeing signs of all over the place.

The Roman theatre. Seating for 3000

We stopped for the night at a small town but there were youfs on whiney motorscooters so we moved to a supermarket parking space instead. At least it had a view, looking out over a valley.