The Loire Valley
Each quarter, Stanford in Paris organizes a weekend trip to some region of France intended to promote a cultural understanding of France as a whole. It allows students to step out of the big city and see parts of France that aren’t as well known to the rest of the world. The trip is made possible by the generosity of Madame Bing, the patron of Stanford study abroad programs; to her, we owe her a tremendous amount of gratitude!
The Bing Trip for the Fall of 2008 was scheduled for the Loire Valley. I must admit, at first I was slightly disappointed. Having seen pictures of last year’s students frolic in the sand and tan under the Corsican sun, I was left with an off taste in my mouth. Yet I decided to approach the weekend with an open mind. I recalled how I had learned about the chateaux with Mr. Jourcin at St. John’s and thought that they might be somwhat interesting to see.
I was soon to learn that this was quite the understatement!
We left Paris early Friday afternoon, and after a three hour bus ride, arrived in Amboise, a little village bordering the Loire River. After dropping our bags off at the hotel we drove down to the river and were let out at the foot of the Chateau Amboise. Chateau Amboise is situated on a hill overlooking the river and provides a sweeping panoramic view of the surrounding lands. Upon entering, I was awestruck! Mouth agape, I snapped some quick photos of the area before our guided tour began.
As we walked, the chateau came to life. The history I had learned in school, photos I had seen, the language I had studied jumped off the page and into my soul. We went into a small chapel on the edge of a cliff where reside the eternal remains of Leonardo da Vinci. After stepping back out into the cool fall air, I understood why so incredible a genius as da Vinci would want to rest here. The natural beauty abounded. As our time at the chateau waned, I found myself standing atop a tower overlooking the Loire River, a scene which will forever be imprinted upon my mind’s eye.
The weekend continued. We were blessed with three days of exquisite fall weather, such that I was reminded of home. We awoke in the mornings to cold air and visible breath. As the day wore on, however, the air warmed, until it was only a crisp breeze that ruffled the branches of the trees. Leaves were just starting to change: reds, yellows, oranges, and greens, hung in the air and blew gently across the ground.
Our visits took us to Azay-le-Rideau and Chambord- two more remarkable chateaux- as well as the town of Chinon, an open-air market, a high class lunch, and a labyrinth of mushroom caves. At the luncheon I tried foie gras, a French delicacy, for the first time. Although I though it was quite good, I must admit I do not think I will ever have a craving for it. I enjoyed, however, the opportunity to engage in such an important part of French gastronomy.
The other part of the trip that I found most memorable was our visit to Chambord. Originally designed for hunting purposes, the chateau was one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. It’s green grasses spread all around and a beautiful strip of water lined by trees off to the right of the castle contribute to the country feel. Yet the chateau itself is so majestic that it appears magical. Standing on top of the roof looking out, one cannot help but be inspired by the grandeur which surrounds you.
We returned to Paris on Sunday night. I did no homework this weekend, yet somehow I think I became a little more educated anyways. I will post some pictures to give you a sense of the beauty of these chateaux and perhaps you will feel the some of the awe that I still feel.
À bientôt!
Austin
