The Loire Valley
Spent a week in the Loire Valley, spending 6 days at a Yoga Retreat, Chateau Sivananda, by Neuville aux Bois just north of Orleans, 100 miles south of Paris. Quite large grounds, with the main Chateau in the background, the meditation hall in the foreground, with the meals normally served out front.
The main Chateau building is below. The place was still being refurbished when we visited it (July 2003). The Temple Hall had been finished and was lovely inside, where Satsan and most Yoga classes were taken.
I had not really done much Yoga before (going on another one week Yoga vacation 2 years previous in Tyrol in Austria), and found it difficult the first first days, best to take it easy, but by the end of 6 days, I was able to do a headstand (if only for a few seconds though). If you do go, practice sitting cross legged for a while before - you do a lot of that there. Also take flip-flops, take light coloured clothing (lots of t-shirts, but not orange - thats the colour the Swamis wear), and take snacks (nuts, breakfast bars etc) - the food is more or less vegan, rice, vegatable stews, etc.
There is a religious (Hindu) side to the Ashram, and you are expected to attend the Satsans involving meditation, chanting and a lecture. Coming from a (slightly) Christian background, I found it reasonably easy to accept the worship, the idea is everyone is worshiping the same god, it's just they worship in slightly different ways. The place is welcoming and very friendly...
Just outside the grounds are large sunflower fields, great to wonder around, some reaching 6 feet. Paths also lead through the forests and to the local town.
We broke the stay at the Yoga retreat into two 3 day sessions, having a break half way though, spending 3 days in Blois, half way between Orleans and Tours. The first day we visited Chateau de Blois, second day visited Chateau de Chambord, the King of the Chateau, on a much larger scale than any others. It has an open plan interior on 3 floors, linked by a double spiral staircase
Chambord is surrounded by a vast forest, and you can walk down a canal giving great views of the Chateau.
The third day we caught the train to Amboise, then a bus onto Chateau de Chenonceaux, an incredibly beautiful chateau, spanning the River Cher. On a much smaller scale than Chambord, it is much more picturesque, with its wonderful setting.
Two formal gardens sit either side of the Chateau, and walks take you into the forest surrounding the Chateau.
