On Monday we left our lovely digs for Tours. As before, we parked when saw Office de tourisme sign and then found that the office wasn't located by the sign, rather, some distance down the road allowing us to enjoy the charming walkway down the center of the main road. We wandered around the old town going into the very large and beautiful Basilica of St Martin of Tours. Then on to Saint Gatien's cathedral where a funeral service was going on, so we lit a candle and left. Hunger came calling so we sat in a square in a medieval area and ate our picnic. Oh by the way, we are in danger of falling into church saturation; a state- of-mind where spectacular churches filled with sacred art pieces, and gorgeous stained glass windows cause only a modest emotional  response. After more wandering in the medieval city exploring narrow cobble stoned alley ways with many more exclamations we drove to Montbazon and checked into the Chateau d'Artigny. It is a lovely property on 24 hecters of land built as a 20th century chateau with all the grandure of days of old, where Lynn's parents had stayed years ago. We wandered  along their several trails before resting for dinner. The woodlands surrounding the chateau are very pretty, but filled with spider webs that have spiders right smack in the middle of the web. Lynn was not amused. Our posh dinner at our chateau was a seven course affair - an epicurean delight in grand French style, and even a full moon. Ah shucks.
This morn we said goodby to our chateau and hello to two others - Chenenceau, and Amboise. Chenenceau, one of the grand Loire Valley structures, was built across the River Cher with magnificent gardens, spectacular architecture, and opulent furnishings. Built by King Henry II for his mistress Diane  de Poitiers, and later taken over by his widow Catherine De Medici after his death - lots of historical intrigue. 
Amboise was an equally impressive structure and originally occupied by Henry II, this chateau bounced around the aristocracy depending who was on top of the power heap. Also of interest is that Leonardo de Vinci is buried in the chateau chapel. After soaking our senses in the grandure of medieval wealth we moved on to our new abode. Our next door neighbor is a nuclear reactor, the giant stacks visible from our window, red lights flashing to deter errant aircraft. The surrounding environs yielded few treasures so we drove to Orleans to wander the streets of the old town. Like Tours, the town was large with an old touristic section next to the river festooned with eats, eye candy, and a really big old Cathedral St Croix rivaling Notre Dame in size and oh my goshness. Joan of Arc grew up here and is eulogized in a dedicated chapel in the church as well as elsewhere about the town. I'm growing fond of my powered skateboard owing to the size of the streets; one more layer of paint and I'd be in trouble.