We had breakfast with the other guests. The 2 German couples have departed and today is the last day for the American and Dutch couples.
We left about 10 and headed to Tours first since Cande Castle was only open until noon - we'll go back there in the afternoon on the way back from Tours. We parked where Emilie had suggested and this was the TINIEST garage we had SQUEEZED into - not in the number of spaces but the entry way and the size of the spaces. Fortunately, there weren't many cars so we easily found a space.
We went up and walked along a wide street - Rue Nationale - then to the Basilique St Martin where Saint Martin's tomb lies in the bottom level of the Basilique.
Remnants of the old church - destroyed during the Refomation
The entry to the old church
Inside the Basilique St Martin
The tomb of St Martin
Then we went to the marche and walked around - beautiful fruits, foods, and flowers.
The marche in Tours - beautiful fresh vegetables and fruits
Beautiful flowers at the Tours marche
Then we walked through Vieux Tours (the old city) and enjoyed the old half-timbered houses. We stopped at Place Plumereau for a lighter lunch.
Half-timbered houses in Vieux Tours
Beautiful houses at Place Plumereau
Place Plumereau where we had lunch at a small café on a side street
We walked along the waterfront of the Loire River and then back near Rue Colbert where there are lots of other restaurants.
Interesting wood carvings on a building on Rue Colbert
Back to Rue Nationale
Then we drove a short way to Monts where Cande Castle is located. This is an updated castle now owned by the French government. It was purchased by a wealthy American industrialist in the late 1920's. This castle was the location of the marriage between the former King of England, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. They were the Duc and Duchess of Windsor. We saw the small room where the ceremony was held and a replica of the dress that she wore.
Some weird structures on the grounds - this one a pterodactyl nest!
The small "chasseur" house on the castle grounds
Castle Cande - under renovation to have a new slate roof installed on it
The carriage house at Castle Cande
The Chateau
The family coat of arms over the fireplace - the walls were covered in leather
The small alcove where Edward and Wallis were married - and a copy of the dress she wore
There was lots of memorabilia around the house on tables and on the walls - so interesting
Newspaper headlines of the marriage of the Duc and Duchess at Cande Castle.
Wallis sent out several hundred invitations to the wedding but only 16 people came. The Royal Family forbid it. Churchill's son represented him.
Edward and Wallis "signed" the wooden wall next to a fireplace with an engraving tool
The rooms were beautifully decorated and furnished
Pink room in Cande Castle
The balcony where Edward and Wallis had their photo taken after their marriage in 1937
Beautiful grounds - this from the castle looking toward the stables and outbuildings
We headed back to Les Bournais in the late afternoon and both took a nap. This touring around every day is tiring. We had some coffee and I watched the end of the women's finals at the French Open in Paris. I'm wondering if I could learn more French by watching French TV - I think probably not. Probably time to invest in a new French language course?
We enjoyed a bottle of Chinon rose and enjoyed our patio. At 7:30 we headed to Chinon for dinner at Les Annees 30. We had made reservations inside as it was supposed to be a rainy evening but it was gorgeous so we sat on the patio. Dinner was super - a bottle of red Chinon wine - Tim had a steak (sangiont) and I had fish. Yummy and great evening.
We headed home and it was still light at 10:15. But we were tired and my ankle was swollen (may be on the disabled list tomorrow!), so we took it easy and went to bed. I took my anti-inflammation drugs in hopes that the swelling and pain will dissipate by tomorrow.
Tomorrow we depart for Loches.
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