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Beaulieu is a beautiful village located in the New Forest. Both Palace House and the British National Motor Museum are there and easy to find. There is also an Abbey that we never did find.
The castle at Old Sarum was built around 1070 by William the Conqueror. It is in ruins today but much of the iron age earthworks are intact and the views from the top are incredible.
The castle at Old Sarum was built around 1070 by William the Conqueror. It is in ruins today but much of the iron age earthworks are intact and the views from the top are incredible.
The castle at Old Sarum was built around 1070 by William the Conqueror. It is in ruins today but much of the iron age earthworks are intact and the views from the top are incredible.
The castle at Old Sarum was built around 1070 by William the Conqueror. It is in ruins today but much of the iron age earthworks are intact and the views from the top are incredible. This would have been the drawbridge and you can see paradivers in the distance.
The castle at Old Sarum was built around 1070 by William the Conqueror. It is in ruins today but much of the iron age earthworks are intact and the views from the top are incredible.
You never hear about Montrichard but they have a château ruin with a raptor show, several historic buildings, a couple good restaurants, are on the river with great views and a beach. It's a very friendly town and has a terrific market on Friday morning.
As you cross the river Cher, you face the Château de Montrichard which is an imposing ruin directly above the roadway. In season, they have a raptor show but we've never managed to be there for it.
The Château de Beauregard is a Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley of France and is slightly north of the village of Cellettes. The ruins of a chapel, prior to the fifteenth century, are still visible in the park and have stone carvings of the shell of the pilgrims going to Saint Jacques de Compostela in Spain. The most impressive part of the castle is the Gallery of Portraits where the walls are decorated with 327 portraits of famous people who lived between 1328 (date of the beginning of the reign of Philippe VI of France) and 1643 (death of Louis XIII). The floor is decorated with 5500 Delft tiles so you can look up or down and be impressed. The ceiling is also brilliantly decorated with the use of lapis lazuli paint for the blue. At the time it was done, the lapis lazuli cost more than gold so it is a very expensive ceiling. The gardens are extensive and themed. The outstanding feature (to us) was the 14th century chapel which was located on the route of St Jacques de Compostela. On the side you will find carved stone shells of Saint Jacques. The chapel is, unfortunately, in ruins. Inside, two plaques commemorate Count Alain du Pavillon and one of his sons.
The Château de Beauregard is a Renaissance castle in the Loire Valley of France and is slightly north of the village of Cellettes. The ruins of a chapel, prior to the fifteenth century, are still visible in the park and have stone carvings of the shell of the pilgrims going to Saint Jacques de Compostela in Spain. The most impressive part of the castle is the Gallery of Portraits where the walls are decorated with 327 portraits of famous people who lived between 1328 (date of the beginning of the reign of Philippe VI of France) and 1643 (death of Louis XIII). The floor is decorated with 5500 Delft tiles so you can look up or down and be impressed. The ceiling is also brilliantly decorated with the use of lapis lazuli paint for the blue. At the time it was done, the lapis lazuli cost more than gold so it is a very expensive ceiling. The gardens are extensive and themed. The outstanding feature (to us) was the 14th century chapel which was located on the route of St Jacques de Compostela. On the side you will find carved stone shells of Saint Jacques. The chapel is, unfortunately, in ruins. Inside, two plaques commemorate Count Alain du Pavillon and one of his sons.
Don't miss this. You climb a narrow circular stairway and exit through this little guardhouse to a terrace on top of the castle keep. The garden views are wonderful and you can see the small village of Villandry and far beyond. Well worth the climb.
There is a very nice museum of medieval weapons in this château. In summer they have demonstrations. The rest of the year, you see them set up but not in use. The entire village is extremely picturesque and the castle has been restored lovingly. There are a couple good restaurants in the village and adequate parking both at the bottom of the village and up by the château.
When you climb to the top, this is the view. Definitely worth the climb. You look up and down the Dordogne River and see a few other châteaux among other things.
This was added in the 17th century and is in the Italian style. It is beautiful and much more comfortable than the older stairways.
The advertisement is that you have a view of the Valley of Five Castles and on a clear day, this is true. You can stand on the ramparts and count them. It is also fun to visit them if you have the time. Beynac was once the castle of Richard the Lionheart and several movies have been made here. This is a 12th century fortress with many additions over the ensuing years.
Beautiful frescoes decorate the small Oratory inside the Château de Beynac. They date to the 15th century and you can see the Last Supper, the Pieta and Jesus dying before his Resurrection.
The advertisement is that you have a view of the Valley of Five Castles and on a clear day, this is true. You can stand on the ramparts and count them. It is also fun to visit them if you have the time. Beynac was once the castle of Richard the Lionheart and several movies have been made here. This is a 12th century fortress with many additions over the ensuing years.
This was attached to the Keep in the 12th century.
You only have to climb to the terrace for this stunning view. If you want the church in your view too, climb to the top of the Keep for even more stunning vistas.
The church was formerly the church for the castle, separate from the lovely frescoed Oratory. It is now the Beynac village church and entered from below, not from the castle.
The view from the Terrace just above the church shows Château de Fayrac just opposite, one of several castles you can sight from Château de Beynac.
We couldn't get a reservation at our chosen restaurant and this one had a interesting menu and a fabulous view of the Château so we went in. Good choice. They had good food, great views and a very pleasant staff.
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