Meung.—An old village on the Loire; church of eleventh century with western tower joined to castle of the Bishops of Orleans.
Beaugency.—Keep of castle eleventh century, other portions fifteenth century; Tour de l’Horloge, a picturesque gateway; churches of Notre Dame, twelfth century, and St. Étienne (disused), eleventh century or earlier; remains of town walls and a tower, and some old houses.
Chambord.—The château, chiefly built by François I., is the largest and most magnificent hunting-box in the world. Commenced in 1519.
Bracieux.—A little town in the marshy Sologne country with old houses, but no other interest.
Cheverny has a château begun in 1634 by Philippe Hurault, a descendant of whom now owns the place. The village has a quaint, partially Romanesque church.
Beauregard.—A château built as a hunting-lodge by François I. about 1520; almost entirely rebuilt in seventeenth century; modernized in 1809, but lately restored to its earlier character. (Only to be seen with a permit from M. Lestang, notary of Blois.)
Blois is a large and very attractive town on the Loire, dominated by its (1) historic Château, built at various periods from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries; (2) Cathedral, chiefly seventeenth century; (3) Church of St. Nicholas, an interesting Transitional building; (4) St. Vincent-de-Paul Jesuit church of seventeenth century; (5) St. Saturnin, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; (6) old houses of different periods, of stone and wood.
Chaumont-sur-Loire.—The château was built about 1473; it stands on picturesque cliff above the village and river.
Amboise.—A town on the Loire, chiefly famous for its fine château, perched on a rocky tongue that rises sheer from the level ground; mainly built by Charles VIII.; sloping staircases in two towers; lovely little Gothic chapel of St. Hubert; grave of Leonardo da Vinci; in the town (1) a picturesque clock gateway; (2) Hôtel de Ville, built 1500 to 1505; (3) Church of St. Florentin, built 1461 to 1483; (4) Church of St. Denis, a beautiful cruciform building of the Transitional period of early Gothic.
Chenonceaux.—A pretty village near the famous and beautiful château of that name, built in the River Cher in 1515; finished by François I. and Catherine de Medici.