• Party DIY
    • Party Crafts
    • Party Inspiration
    • Parties
    • Food + Treats
  • Crafts
  • Home Decor DIY
  • Free Printables
  • About
    • Partner
    • Policies
    • Contact

A Joyful Riot

A Large Gathering of Happy Things

Autumn in France | #ajoyfuladventure

February 18, 2016 ·

france_travel_cover_a_joyful_adventure

Ok can you even?! Look at the stunning scenery in France. It is beyond beautiful in every way – the landscapes, the trees, the architecture, the history, the food, the art – everything! If you ever have the opportunity to go to Europe in the fall I insist you take it! Last year we went to Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia (with quick stops in Croatia and Slovakia) and it was absolutely divine. This year we were lucky enough to spend a week in October traveling in Paris and the Loire Valley. Given the beauty surrounding us we took a lot of photos and that is partially why I am only now, months later, sharing the photos with you all.

What more can I say about Paris besides it absolutely lived up to my expectations? I really did not expect it to given the hype surrounding that city and my own high expectations but I adored it. I am by no means an expert on it given we only spent a few days and I have tons of more things I want to see chief among them Musee de l’Orangerie, Bibliothèque Mazarine, and the Centre Pompidou. But on to what we did see and do!

DSC_0047

We stayed right next to Les Invalides which includes museums and monuments relating to the military history of France as well as the resting place of the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte. This was also very close to the Eiffel Tower.

DSC_0463
DSC_0468
DSC_0146
DSC_0125

Just as stunning at night and even more romantic! We spent a few hours walking along the Seine and strolling through the Tuileries Garden.

DSC_0164
DSC_0179
DSC_0205
DSC_0251

At the Louvre! If you have been there you know that the castle itself is as magnificent as any of the art that resides inside it.

DSC_0277

Click through if you want to see even more!!

DSC_0303
DSC_0404
DSC_0370
IMG_0914

The Luxembourg Gardens were also just gorgeous. I may have had the best moment in my life there – biting into an exquisitely perfect almond croissant overlooking the Luxembourg Palace on a sunny fall day. Even just writing that out makes me so happy!

IMG_0879
DSC_0424
DSC_0368
DSC_0360
IMG_0498

At Notre Dame! The gargoyles are of course quite famous but did you know that what you usually think of as being gargoyles (like above) are actually usually chimeras? I always find that fascinating – gargoyles always have a spout for water whereas chimeras are mythical or grotesque creatures used for decorative purposes. I guess the term gargoyles just grabbed our imagination more!

IMG_0530

The Panthéon was really amazing to walk through – the crypt there contains Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas and Marie Curie!

IMG_1061-2

Our favorite thing in Paris was the Musée d’Orsay – it takes off where the Louvre left off and has such wonderful works by Manet, van Gogh, Courbet and Renoir!

IMG_1077

Shakespeare and Company is an English bookstore that Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald among others spent a lot of time hanging out at.

IMG_0546

Our cute rental fiat we took out for our excursion into the Loire Valley!

IMG_2605
IMG_2591
IMG_2586
IMG_2627
Just a few more shots of Paris!!!!

Ok now for the Loire Valley – a magical place full of green hills, chateaus, and adorable French villages!IMG_1059

IMG_0557
IMG_1976

We had a quick stopover in Orleans – which was completely charming and here I have a delicious crepe so I am super happy!
IMG_2264
IMG_2246

This was right next to the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, which we did not go into since it was undergoing some construction. But this bridge is probably one of the most charming things I have ever seen!IMG_1236

IMG_0837
IMG_1164
IMG_1065
Château de Chambord! Is not that the most magnificent building? King Francis I built it as a hunting lodge but was never really used because the massive rooms were too hard to heat and it was too far away from a village or estate and thus hard to feed the thousand people who visited it at a time.DSC_0609
DSC_0622
DSC_0496Sorry for the overload of photos of Chambord but I couldn’t help it!

IMG_1277
DSC_0642

Pretty close to Chambord was the Château de Cheverny and a family still lives in part of it!

DSC_0703

We stayed at cute little hotel next to the Château de Chenonceau so we walked there first thing in the morning and were greeted with this!

DSC_0657
DSC_0697

This part is left over from the previous château.

DSC_0682
IMG_2167

It was possibly my favorite château we saw and was fascinating. In 1547, Henry II gave thechâteau to Diane de Poitiers, his mistress who oversaw the building of a bridge over the river Cher and extensive gardens. After Henry II died his widow Catherine de Medici forced her to leave the château and added even more gardens.IMG_0830

We had to stop at one of the pretty vineyards! IMG_0885

Later that day we drove to the Château d’Ussé.

DSC_0735

This actually was not the castle that inspired Sleeping Beauty but they did have a little creepy exhibit with scenes from the movie along this cool staircase.

DSC_0738

The gardens were stunning!

DSC_0718

The chapel at Château d’Ussé.

IMG_0893Château de Villandry – we actually did not pay to go into this one but briefly stopped and then headed into Tours for the night (where I had the best hot chocolate of my life)!

IMG_2508

Amboise! IMG_2450

Leonardo da Vinci is buried here – in the Castle at Amboise! His actual tomb is right next to this inside the chapel of Saint-Hubert.IMG_0239 IMG_0204

IMG_1279

The Château at Amboise is right on the river Loire and was taken over by royalty in the 15th century are rebuilt. Charles VIII died there in 1498 by hitting his head on a door while watching a tennis match! Among other very interesting things that have happened there include Kind Francis I being raised there and Emir Abd Al-Qadir, who resisted the French colonization of Algeria, being retained there in the mid 1800s.

IMG_0934 IMG_1349

And we made a quick stop at Blois to check out the town and the Château Royal de Blois. This is where Joan of Arc was blessed in 1429 before departing to drive the English from Orleans!

Phew you made it through! Sorry for the photo overload but if you knew how many I cut you would be proud! :)

You might also like:

#ajoyfuladventure: Beachin’ in Brazil North Carolina Weekend Our weekend in DC
   

Posted by Malissa / Filed In: A Joyful Adventure, Fun

Sign up for our newsletter!

Trackbacks

  1. 14 Travel Hairstyles Perfect for Day to Night | A Joyful Riot says:
    June 9, 2016 at 7:32 am

    […] 1.Hats. Ok, I guess we’re not technically starting this list with a hairstyle so much as a hair accessory but seriously, hats are a traveling girls best friend because they can go over any hairstyle! They make windy days a non-worry and they are appropriate for beaches or chilly climates and everything in between. […]

Search

Oh Hello!

We're twin sisters Malissa & Machelle. We love parties. We love design. We love to make things! We share fresh posts about those topics right here!

Join our Mailing List!

Get Social

Instagram

  • It has been years since we have done a giveaway! We love crafting so much we want to send a
  • Turns out nothing beats hunting for bugs and playing in the water. If only there was a way to do
  • Well these sloths know how to chill. I am not sure any of us are chilling right now (and mostly
  • Do you have a favorite pool float? Any new cute ones you have seen this year? Thinking of creating another
  • @officialmillennialblack has some amazing protest posters available to print for anyone who is planning on protesting! Plus their web store
  • Remembering the 49 lives lost 4 years ago today. #pulsenightclub #weremember
  • In 1838 Georgetown University sold 272 slaves to help pay off debts. Last year its students voted to add a
  • @iamgiagraham makes the most stunning prints and she is now selling them! We discovered her work recently but could not
  • This little guy sure lucked out in the daddy department. He is so gentle and loving and just the right
  • In the midst of everything I almost forgot it is Father’s Day in less than a week! Grab something special
  • This is an oldie (it is from 6 years ago!!) but we love these firework party men. The smoke balls
  • This is from a few years back but it is the perfect way to dress up a drink! Citrus straw

Joyful Shopping

Archives

Look Around

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact

Recent Posts

  • Free Father’s Day Gift Boxes
  • Lounging Popsicle Stick Sloths
  • Juice Box Vases

Subscribe

Theme by 17th Avenue · Powered by WordPress & Genesis