Among the many castles in the Loire Valley, the Chateau de Saumur is located on the western outskirts. It may look a little drab compared to the magnificent castles, but its presence is imposing overlooking the Loire Valley. Personally, I like the balcony that can be seen next to the tower, but the castle is actually more impressive when viewed from the river side, on the opposite side of the photo.
I visited this castle twice, and one of the times it rained so hard that I couldn’t even get out of my car. The castle looked so terrifying washed by the storm. It was like seeing the history of this castle.
I have no idea what it would be like to live on a bridge, but regardless of whether it would be comfortable or not, I can’t help but feel a little excited. I should be more careful after heavy rains. Insects may be noisy in summer. It might be too cold while wintertime. In reality, this castle was used for entertaining guests, and was not a residence. There are many stories about it, but most of them are about royalty and the nobility, and are stories from a world far removed from the common people. The gardens and forest are beautiful and it’s fun to stroll around leisurely, but I’d like to add that the parking lot is a bit of a hassle as it’s dirty with gravel and mud. However, I’m sure it must have been much damper and more difficult to walk around in the 16th century.
A formal garden, as a part of European garden, is called “平面幾何学式庭園” in Japanese literally “a flat geometric garden” which may explain it rather precisely. According to a book, the geometric design of French gardens was a way of showing the king’s authority. In other words, by using geometry, it showed his dominance over nature. Whether that’s true or not, at the very least, strolling through such geometric gardens is one of the highlights of a castle tour.
Why visit an old castle? Maybe it’s because it has historical value, maybe it’s simply beautiful, or maybe it’s part of a tour organized by someone. In my case, it’s all of those reasons, plus the desire to relax.
If it’s a famous place, it’s bound to be far from crowded and relaxing. This may seem contradictory, or at least illogical. But as you probably all know, visiting a tourist spot isn’t just about seeing it, it’s also sometimes about talking with your partner, family, friends, and even strangers. Old castles always spark conversation, because many people have been there, whether you know them or not.
l'atelier tanu | tagnoue 