Chateau de Jehay, Liege

Advantages: A calm day out with loads to take in.
Disadvantages: None.

...The chateau of Treverez has become part of my life, in that it is situated not far from where I live, and I visit regularly. First let's tell you something about it's checkered history, though to me, the importance of Treverez lies in today and the way in which it enriches the visitor at various times of the year. The idea of the chateau was conceived in 1894, and the ideals and visions of the owner was to integrate many of the architectural features that were commonplace at the turn of the century, and he achieved that, although it is difficult to say which countries his ideas were taken from. Looking at the chateau and comparing with other buildings of a similar time frame, it is actually unusual for brick to have been used and although many of the styles used are typically french, the use of brick in this area of France is not... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful building, beautiful setting
Disadvantages: None

...I've always found the phrase "Châteaux de la Loire" a bit of a misnomer. You could pick any stretch of tens of miles between Orléans and Saumur, tool along by car or in a boat, and be forgiven for saying at the end of it, "So where are all the châteaux?". The Loire at this stage of its journey is wide and shallow - sand and mudbanks appear in summer - and the banks are low; not ideal territory for building an imposing château to impress your peers. Many of the most famous ones are actually on tributaries, the Cher, the Indre, the Vienne. Then again, the châteaux are not a homogeneous collection of pleasure palaces. Many were built as, and remained, châteaux-forts (what we would call a proper castle, for defence), some started as châteaux-forts and were converted, and some were constructed in the renaissance style we associate... Read review

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Advantages: Absolutely beautiful
Disadvantages: Too much to take in.

...The palace of the 'Roi Soleil', Louis XIV, is a thing of splendour, majesty and pomp, definitely not to be omitted from your tour of France. The work at Versailles began when the young king visited Nicholas Fouquet at his chateau, Vaux-Le-Vicomte; Overcome with jealousy, Louis set about the realisation of his own dream. Building commenced in 1661, as Louis consecrated his status of 'absolute' king with a palace that reflected his greatness. He brought together the finest architects, artists and gardeners from across Europe to fabricate this monument 'A tous les Gloires de la France'. Now this venue has a wonderful history for me, as my grandmother and grandfather met and fell in love while walking around Versailles, (just at the end of the war) and romance is prevalent in the corridors, the appartements and the grounds... Read review

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