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The Loire Valley area is pretty much wall-to-wall châteaux. There are big ones, small ones and absolutely huge ones. Some are beautiful and very popular as tourist destinations. Others are more every-day and less well known. Wherever you go, you are likely to see one peeping over the top of some trees. Or you will pass a magnificent set of gates and a long, long wall that conceals a château that you might just glimpse one across a well-groomed lawn or through some trees.
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They are everywhere and quite a lot of them are still privately owned. We spotted the château at Palluau-sur-Indre from the road and decided to go into the village for a better look. Ken wrote about it here. I found his blog post when I put the château into Google.
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When we enquired at the little tourist office in the town about the château, we learned that it was recently under new ownership and was due to re-open soon. The young lady we spoke to did not say how soon "soon" was but she did say that the new owner was a M. Norton.
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The hotel in town was also very much closed up. It looked like it must have been quite something in its day. It also is due to re-open soon. I got the impression it had the same new owner. Lucky M. Norton. Getting both the château and the hotel ready for visitors must be quite a major undertaking.
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There is a fine church at the foot of the château, which is very much not closed up. It was beautiful inside and there were signs that a wedding had recently taken place there.
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We liked the little town of Palluau. It will be nice to go back for another look around some day, when the château has reopened for visitors.
Great photos and I love that church. I don't think I would want to own a chateau even if I could afford it. Just think of all that house work and the cost of heating! Perhaps I could afford a team of servants though if I owned one and a forest to keep me supplied with wood :-) Diane
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Truly a lovely place.
ReplyDeleteThough I think one of les petits chateaux is more like what we could handle.
Norton (and the commune) has spent a lot of money on restoration over the years, but we hear that the chateau and auberge have been/are being sold to a new owner with a big cheque-book and even bigger plans.
ReplyDeleteThe place really comes alive during the annual medieval festival - not to be missed.