ロワールの城巡りツアー - Loire bus tour

旅行も終盤になって6月26日にマイバス・ツアーでロワールに行った。日本人ばかり23名でフランス人ガイドさんは歴史とか植物についてなかなかの博識で日本語も上手だった。行程とは逆行するが、最後に訪れたのがダヴィンチ設計のシャンボール城だ。ルネサンスの花開くフランソワ1世の城だというのに、未完なのか維持が立ち行かないのか、見たというだけであまり感動はない。2重の螺旋階段も一応記念撮影程度にツアーメンバー込みで収める。200万円くらい出せば一日貸し切りで宴会ができるそうだ。

As our travel to Europe got closer to its end, we joined a bus tour organized by MyBus to visit old castles in Loire on June 26. The group was 23 Japanese people and the French guide had quite knowledge about the history and plants in general and also handled Japanese well. Opposite to the actual routing of the tour, our last destination was Chambord, the chateau designed by da Vinci. Being the florissant renaissance chateau for François I, I wondered if it was incomplete or was not well maintained, and it did not give me much excitement beyond the fact that I saw it. The picture of dual spiral stairs was captured including our group tour members around. The guide said the chateau would be available for the use of receptions or other event for about $20,000.




シュノンソー城では、川にかかるアーチ橋はカトリーヌ・ド・メディチがポンテ・ヴェッキオを懐かしんで造ったと説明があったが、実際はもっと前にアンリ2世から城を贈られた愛妾のディアーヌが造ったのが事実らしい。カトリーヌはディアーヌを追い出してここを居城とした。城は思ったほど水辺に迫った構造ではなく、改修も行われていてあまり良い撮影スポットが見つからなかった。

It was explained that the arch bridge of Chateau Chenonceau across the river was build as Catherine de Medicis dreamed of Ponte Vecchio, but actually the fact was build much earlier by Diane who was the lover of Henri II and was gifted the castle from him. Catherine forced Diane to give up the castle as she wanted it for her own living. I could not find good spots for photos because the castle was not build so close to the water as I hoped and the repair was going on.






これらの城の前に立ち寄ったのがアンボワーズ城に近いダヴィンチ最後のアトリエ、クロ・リュセ館。ここは撮影禁止となっていたが、問題となりそうな展示はない。唯一、黄色系の色のみでシンプル且つ繊細なステンドグラスの礼拝堂が印象に残った。

Before these castles, the tour stopped by at Clos Luce where da Vinci spent his last few years. No photos were allowed inside but not a thing in display seemed critical practically. One thing impressive was the yellow-colored stained glass of the chapel with plain and fine touches.