Relais des Trois Châteaux

Golf in Cheverny and Exceptional Area Attractions

	Near the Relais des Trois Châteaux is the privately-owned Château de Cheverny. The owners are in residence, but visitors are welcome to tour the ground floor rooms and the gardens surrounding the château. On the estate is the Château de Cheverny Golf & Country club and its beautiful 18-hole golf course open to the public since 1989. The greens fees are in keeping with other golf courses in France, and the clubhouse has a pro shop, a bar and restaurant, golf cart rental, lessons and more.
	The three châteaux that give the Relais its name are Cheverny (above), Château du Blois and Château de Chambord, both pictured here. Every royal château in the Loire Valley is unique with its own history and a story to tell. Visitors to Blois or Chambord will come away with an appreciation of various architectural styles. As an example, Blois was begun as a Medieval fortress between the 9th and 13th centuries. Then came King Louis XII's Gothic wing, built between 1498 and 1500 followed by François I and his Renaissance wing constructed between 1515 and 1518. Finally, the Gaston of Orléans, brother of Louis XIII and heir to the throne decided to erect a totally new castle at Blois. He hired architect François Mansart who designed and constructed a main residence which was to be the first phase of a larger scale project. In 1638 the work was halted with the birth of Louis XIV, removing Gaston from succession to the throne. Thus the incomplete dwelling was built in 17th century classical style. Château de Chambord may be most famous for its double helix stairway designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Those ascending the stair do not see those descending at the same time! The combination of Medieval architecture with Renaissance style make it one of the most recognizable of all French châteaux. It served as the hunting lodge for King François I, who resided at either Blois or Amboise, and it was never a defensive structure. It is, therefore, very decorative in design, is the largest château in the Loire valley, and its design was at François' request planned with towers, gables,chimneys and lanterns to look like the skyline of Constantiople. Visitors will find it a very masculine structure with so many varied and dramatic towers that an entire day can be spent exploring the château. In 2016 floods damaged the grounds of the château quite severely, but fortunately the structure was spared. Upwards of 200,000 euros was needed for repairs to this UNESCO World Heritage site.
	You can stay in the neighborhood of the Relais and visit various wineries of the Loire Valley. One quite nearby with fine, awarding winning wines, is Domaine de la Plante d'Or owned by vigneron Philppe Loquineau whose vineyard is shown here. Another activity which will give you a bird's eye view of the beautiful Loire Valley is to book a hot air balloon ride. Here is a photo of a hot air balloon from a place that most of us will never see ~ from inside before it is aloft. The concierge at the Relais des Trois Châteaux can make arrangements for your balloon adventure.
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Near the Relais des Trois Châteaux is the privately-owned Château de Cheverny. The owners are in residence, but visitors are welcome to tour the ground floor rooms and the gardens surrounding the château.

On the estate is the Château de Cheverny Golf & Country club and its beautiful 18-hole golf course open to the public since 1989. The greens fees are in keeping with other golf courses in France, and the clubhouse has a pro shop, a bar and restaurant, golf cart rental, lessons and more.

The three châteaux that give the Relais its name are Cheverny (above), Château du Blois and Château de Chambord, both pictured here. Every royal château in the Loire Valley is unique with its own history and a story to tell. Visitors to Blois or Chambord will come away with an appreciation of various architectural styles.

As an example, Blois was begun as a Medieval fortress between the 9th and 13th centuries. Then came King Louis XII's Gothic wing, built between 1498 and 1500 followed by François I and his Renaissance wing constructed between 1515 and 1518. Finally, the Gaston of Orléans, brother of Louis XIII and heir to the throne decided to erect a totally new castle at Blois. He hired architect François Mansart who designed and constructed a main residence which was to be the first phase of a larger scale project. In 1638 the work was halted with the birth of Louis XIV, removing Gaston from succession to the throne. Thus the incomplete dwelling was built in 17th century classical style.

Château de Chambord Wikipedia

Château de Chambord may be most famous for its double helix stairway designed by Leonardo da Vinci. Those ascending the stair do not see those descending at the same time! The combination of Medieval architecture with Renaissance style make it one of the most recognizable of all French châteaux. It served as the hunting lodge for King François I, who resided at either Blois or Amboise, and it was never a defensive structure. It is, therefore, very decorative in design, is the largest château in the Loire valley, and its design was at François' request planned with towers, gables,chimneys and lanterns to look like the skyline of Constantiople.

Visitors will find it a very masculine structure with so many varied and dramatic towers that an entire day can be spent exploring the château. In 2016 floods damaged the grounds of the château quite severely, but fortunately the structure was spared. Upwards of 200,000 euros was needed for repairs to this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Domaine de la Plante d'Or. Copyight Cold Spring Press. All rights reserved.

Hot air balloon. Copyright B. Gattolliat. All rights reserved.

You can stay in the neighborhood of the Relais and visit various wineries of the Loire Valley. One quite nearby with fine, awarding winning wines, is Domaine de la Plante d'Or owned by vigneron Philppe Loquineau whose vineyard is shown here.

Another activity which will give you a bird's eye view of the beautiful Loire Valley is to book a hot air balloon ride. Here is a photo of a hot air balloon from a place that most of us will never see ~ from inside before it is aloft. The concierge at the Relais des Trois Châteaux can make arrangements for your balloon adventure.

Back to Relais des Trois Châteaux