Our day began with a 1 1/2 hour trip to Valencay, a grand chateau outside the Loire Valley. It turned out be equal to those of the Loire with Empire period furniture in a Renaissance chateau. Oddly, we were just about the only visitors so could spend lots of time in each room. Note worthy is that the Treaty of Vienna (or a copy)was there along with the table on which it was signed as Talleyrand was part of the Congress of Vienna.  Also, the Spanish princes were exiled there, and Tallyrand bought it with a gift from Bonaparte and lived there for much of his life. The gardens are extensive with peacocks roaming freely and we took an hour walk through the lovely woods. Then a wander of the town found closed businesses, so on to Selles Sur Cher (from the river) another Loire area chateau with a twist: half of the chateau has been repaired the other half has not. The difference is dramatic; the damage done over the last several hundred years is severe, and it goes away with the repair looking beautiful, emphasizing the amount of work and money needed to bring a chateau back to life. Then on the road back to the hotel, where we saw a large number of cars parked along the forest road inside the grounds of the chateau Chambord. It turned out to be an animal viewing platform. The view was amazing; it provided a view of a large open field filled with Red Deer, and wild hogs - an impressive sight! A wonderful day especially since the forecast rain never appeared.