Could hardly wait to get up and go bicycling along the Loire River. We stayed in the Louis the 15th room in Muides Sur Loire at the Chateau du Colliers, right along the river. The spot had been in the families home for over 150 years and they now kept as a bed and breakfast so that I am sure they could maintain the upkeep. The rooms were very vintage but filled with beautiful old bombay chests and marble topped inlay side tables,... Our room opened up right over the river. It was more charming than photos could capture. We grabbed a bite to eat in the dining room and then hopped on our bikes. As we peddled along the river the tall grasses dotted with buttercups and tiny white flowers set against the Loire River moving quietly along and rather wide in some parts just was breathtaking. There are small cottages of stone with winding vines and colorful creeping flowers making their way up some of the homes through the rocks. It all was picture perfect. We came across a school group of likely 5th graders who has set up tables along the river and were doing a painting class- dreamy!
We cut through small narrow roads in the town and jumped onto a bike bath. The path was remarkable, hadn't seen such perfect paths since Switzerland. The path meandered for about 6 miles through wooded areas and meadows unit we arrived at Chambord. We enjoyed the grounds and grabbed a bite to eat for lunch in town before making it back to Chateau du Colliers and hopping in our rental Peugeot and off to Versailles.
Around 2 hours later we arrived at Versailles. Holy Smokes! I have been to Versailles probably 4 times before but it had been heavily under construction in the front street side and after coming from Chambord which seemed huge, it was just jaw dropping with what looks like fresh gilding all along the gate and entry. We strolled through the apartments and it is really remarkable all that has gone into renovating these rooms and the antiques and fabrics. We made our way into the children's rooms and then down through the miles and miles of gardens. Some modern art piece was being constructed in the center of the green area below the main fountain, no idea what it was and thought that it could be cool, simply because of the extreme contrast of the piece, but only temporarily- hope it's not hear to stay.
After renting bikes we made our way over to Marie Antoinette's village that she had created so she could play "Milk Maid" essentially equipped with small homes and water wheels and farm animals and ponds. We came across several small buildings and tons of winding paths and even a small grotto which was closer to her Petit Domain - smaller home and refuge for Marie Antoinette. It is strange to think of all this opulence and really a way to just pass the days being a queen. Her demise was in stark contrast to the way she lived her decadent life, but again a beheading on the center stage of Paris in Concorde plaza, seems a dramatic end to a story which she lived.
We went to return our bikes and then thought we should make one lap to around all the fountains- that was several miles along tree lined paths. It was fun to circumnavigate all the grounds and just beautiful and something I may not do again. It was great to be at the far end of the property- like being at the Washington Monument looking back at the Capital.
After we grabbed dinner in a little Italian restaurant in Versailles before making our way through traffic and back to Paris and to our hotel. Promptly settled into bed and watched part of Marie Antoinette on our laptops since it was perfect to see the film in the place where we had spent our afternoon.
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