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(exciting music)
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- [Narrator] Our journey begins
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on the coast at Saint-Nazaire
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and the mouth of the River Loire.
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And along the river valley are
some of the finest castles,
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palaces and houses in France.
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As we head up river past Nantes,
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the main towns on our
journey will be Angers,
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Tours, Blois, and Orleans.
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Some of the palaces we will
see are enormous and ancient,
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built over 400 years ago.
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Many of the castles date
back even further in time.
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At Orleans we head northeast,
away from the river,
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to end our journey at two palaces,
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first Fontainebleau, and then on to
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one of the architectural
masterpieces of Europe,
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Vaux-le-Vicomte.
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Saint-Nazaire, on the north
bank of the Loire estuary,
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came into prominence
during the 19th century
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when the harbor expanded,
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ship building began,
and the railway arrived.
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The harbor is perhaps most famous for
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the daring, and successful,
British Commando raid
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during World War Two,
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when an old ship, full of explosives,
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was rammed into the dock gates
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to prevent the use of the dry dock
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by large German battleships.
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The Germans used Saint-Nazaire
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as a base for naval
operations in the Atlantic,
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and inside the harbor is an
enormous old German U-Boat pen
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with concrete an incredible
nine meters thick,
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which was capable of
withstanding any Allied bomb.
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The robustness of its construction
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means that even today demolition
would be uneconomical.
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The base is now used by cafes, a bar,
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and on the roof is an
exhibition about the harbor.
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The Loire is the longest river in France
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at 1,012 kilometers.
(gentle music)
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It's been referred to
as the Garden of France
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and is flanked by hundreds
of historic estates,
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as well as the many
famous French wine regions
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that line the banks,
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Muscadet, Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume.
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The city of Angers lies
in the Loire Valley
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three miles north of the river
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on a small tributary.
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The Chateau d'Angers has
a history stretching back
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to the Romans who had a fort on the site.
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The seventeen massive towers
were built in the 14th century,
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and reduced in height
during the 16th century
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with the stone used for
developing the growing town.
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Further damage was done to the castle
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during the German
occupation of World War II
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when a munitions dump
inside the chateau exploded.
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But, even with
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all that's happened to
the castle over the years,
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it's still an impressive sight.
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(bright music)
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An equally impressive site,
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and the first many on this journey,
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is the Chateau du Plessis-Bourre.
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It was built in only five years from 1468
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and has been altered externally
very little since then.
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It even has the original
working drawbridge.
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The style of conical roofs
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is something which can be seen
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in many of the houses and palaces
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along the Loire Valley.
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The river provides water
for the fertile valley
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where farmland and
vineyards are interspersed.
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Large parts of the
landscape are also forested,
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with many of these forests
going back to medieval days
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when they were used as hunting parks
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attached to the different
chateaux along the valley.
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The Chateau de Saumur stands
on the edge of a forest,
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overlooking the river and
town of the same name.
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It was built in the 13th century
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and later became the home
of the Dukes of Anjou.
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Over the centuries
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it has been used as a military barracks
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and a state prison under
Napoleon Bonaparte.
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Today it is undergoing
extensive restoration.
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Another castle is ten miles to the south
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on a small tributary of the Loire,
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the Chateau de Montreuil-Bellay.
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The castle seen today dates
from the 13th century,
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with the turreted curtain wall
built in the 15th century.
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During the French Revolution
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it was taken over by the new government
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and turned into a women's
prison for suspected royalists.
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In 1822 it was bought
by a rich local merchant
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who divided the castle into rental units.
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His daughter then took
over the whole property
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and her descendants continue
to live in the castle today.
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Standing in the middle of farmland
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is the stronghold of the Chateau du Rivau.
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The castle was once four sided
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with turret towers on each corner.
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As the turrets projected out from the wall
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they were able to protect the entrance
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with an enemy trying to
get across the drawbridge.
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Since 1992 the castle has undergone
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a great deal of restoration.
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The design of the castle
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is in a classic 15th century French style
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with the aim of showing off
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the power and wealth of the owner.
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(stately harpsichord music)
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By the 17th century styles had changed
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and the Chateau d'Oiron,
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on the southern edge of the Loire Valley,
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has been built as a house
rather than a fortress,
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and the design has
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been influenced by classical
ideas from ancient Rome.
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At the end of the 17th century
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the house was lived in
by Madame de Montespan,
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she's been King Louis XIV's mistress
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and moved into the Chateau
after he had tired of her.
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The Chateau was then
ransacked in the 1790's
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during the French Revolution
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and left largely abandoned
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until it was bought by
the state in the 1930's
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and turned into a very
successful modern art museum.
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On the north bank of the River Vienne,
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close to where it meets the Loire,
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is the Chateau de Chinon.
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This massive fortress was
built in the 12th century
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by King Henry II of England,
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who was also ruler of this area of France,
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which at the time was the
separate kingdom of Anjou.
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King Henry died in the castle
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and he and his wife Eleanor of Aquitaine,
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as well as his son Richard the Lionheart,
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are all buried in a nearby abbey.
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The castle was partially restored
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in the in the 19th century.
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At the confluence of the
Vienne and Loire rivers
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is the Chateau de Montsoreau,
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built in 1455 as a strategic fortress
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controlling river traffic along the Loire.
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Like so many other castles in this valley,
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it was in near ruins by
the end of the 19th century
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until it was bought by the local council
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and eventually restored
and turned into a museum
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(gentle music)
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On another tributary of the Loire
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is the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau.
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It was built by a rich financier
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who wished to establish his new nobility.
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It was designed
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in the first stirrings of the
new French Renaissance style
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of the early 16th century,
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and sits in a dammed
section of the River Indre.
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The 19th century writer Honore de Balzac
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described the Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau
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as bathing in the Indre River
like a princely creature.
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The Chateau de Villandry
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is also built in the
French Renaissance style
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and incorporates a 14th tower fortress,
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but what marks this
Chateau out from the others
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is the spectacular formal garden.
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Once owned by Napoleon's
brother, Joseph Bonaparte,
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the Chateau fell into disrepair
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and was on the verge of being demolished
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before being bought by a Spanish
doctor, Joachim Carvallo,
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in 1906.
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He then poured an enormous amount of time,
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money and devotion into
restoring the chateau
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and creating one of the most
beautiful gardens in the world.
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And like many other chateaux of the Loire
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it is now a World Heritage Site.
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The gardens are laid out
in a classic formal style
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with several kilometers of box hedging.
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There are all sorts of water features,
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ornamental flower gardens,
and even a vegetable parterre.
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Ten miles up the Loire
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is the largest city in
central France, Tours.
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The 12th century cathedral
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stands on the south bank of the river.
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It was the arrival of the
railway in the 19th century
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that saw the city revive its fortunes
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as it began to expand into
the surrounding countryside.
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And in that countryside
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are some of the hundreds of vineyards
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that lie along the banks of the Loire.
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(cheerful guitar music)
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In the Vouvray wine region
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is one of the the oldest
vineyards in the Loire Valley,
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here at the Chateau Moncontour.
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Way back in the 10th century
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caves were excavated in the river bank
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to mature and preserve the wine.
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By the 15th century Vouvray's fame
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had spread across much of Northern Europe
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and the vineyards were cultivated
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in the best positions
overlooking the river.
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The chateau itself dates
back to the 15th century
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though it was severely damaged by fire
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and nearly destroyed during
the French Revolution.
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In fact, going back even further
in time to the 4th century
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the estate belonged to
the Bishop of Tours.
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Vouvray is made from
the Chenin Blanc grape,
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which can be enjoyed in
dry wines, sweet ones,
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and also in a sparkling version.
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Due to the abundant acidity
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Vouvray can age for quite some time,
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and also some varieties
can be drunk when young.
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Up river is the royal Chateau d'Amboise,
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which King Charles VII
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seized from Louis d'Amboise in 1434
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after condemning him to death
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for plotting against the crown.
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Charles then set about
extensively rebuilding the chateau
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into a favorite of French
kings during the 16th century.
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He also laid out
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the first formal renaissance
style garden in France.
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Like so many other palaces along the Loire
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it fell into disrepair over the centuries
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and large parts were demolished,
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but it is still an imposing sight.
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As is the Pagoda of Chanteloup,
the only surviving bit
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of the now demolished
Chateau de Chanteloup.
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This Chinese inspired
tower is 44 meters tall
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and, rather like a wedding
cake, has seven tiers.
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Inside a staircase allows
visitors to climb to the top
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and look down into the
semi-circular reflecting pool.
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The pagoda was built by the
Duc de Choiseuil in 1775
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when he was exiled to his estate
for defying King Louis XV.
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He saw it as a temple of
friendship for all the well-wishers
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who came to see him during his disgrace.
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(bright classical music)
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This is the Chateau de Chenonceau,
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and surely one of the most
sublime in the Loire Valley.
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With the palace built
across the River Cher
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and the arches reflected
in the still water
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the sheer beauty of Chenonceau has made it
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the most visited of all
the chateau of the Loire.
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The main section was built in the 1520's
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but was later seized by
the crown for unpaid debts.
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It was then given to the
King Henry II's mistress,
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Diane de Poitiers, who improved the house
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and built a bridge across the river.
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After the king's death
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his wife and regent, Catherine de Medici,
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had Diane de Poitier
expelled from Chenonceau
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by exchanging it for
the Chateau de Chaumont,
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which we will see later.
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In the 1560's Catherine de Medici
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would spend a fortune on the house,
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and most importantly build a
gallery on top of the bridge
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that gives Chenonceau its shape today.
253
00:14:32,680 --> 00:14:36,250
She also replanted the
garden in a formal style.
254
00:14:38,090 --> 00:14:41,480
The queen held spectacular
parties, often at night,
255
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:42,840
and it's said she held
256
00:14:42,840 --> 00:14:45,560
the first ever firework display in France.
257
00:14:46,850 --> 00:14:49,260
After her death in 1589
258
00:14:49,260 --> 00:14:51,520
the chateau went through
a series of owners
259
00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,150
until one of them in
the early 18th century
260
00:14:54,150 --> 00:14:56,200
sold off all the contents.
261
00:14:57,740 --> 00:15:00,570
Chenonceau was saved during the revolution
262
00:15:00,570 --> 00:15:03,790
because the bridge was the
only one for many miles.
263
00:15:03,788 --> 00:15:08,788
In 1913 the Menier family,
famous for their chocolates,
264
00:15:08,830 --> 00:15:12,850
bought the house, restored
it, and still own it today.
265
00:15:13,820 --> 00:15:15,570
And in a final thought,
266
00:15:15,570 --> 00:15:18,830
Chenonceau played a part
during World War II,
267
00:15:18,830 --> 00:15:21,830
as the bridge separated
Nazi occupied France
268
00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:25,320
with the French free
zone on the opposite bank
269
00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,050
and was used by many people to escape.
270
00:15:29,673 --> 00:15:32,833
(mellow music)
271
00:15:32,830 --> 00:15:35,340
Continuing upstream along the Loire
272
00:15:35,340 --> 00:15:37,230
is the Chateau de Chaumont,
273
00:15:37,230 --> 00:15:39,600
which Diane de Poitier moved to
274
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,450
after being forced out of Chenonceau.
275
00:15:42,677 --> 00:15:45,047
It was built on a hill
overlooking the river
276
00:15:45,050 --> 00:15:49,070
in the early 1500's in a
medieval fortress style
277
00:15:49,070 --> 00:15:52,340
but decorated with some
early renaissance details.
278
00:15:54,200 --> 00:15:56,950
In the 18th century the
north wing of the castle
279
00:15:56,950 --> 00:16:00,060
was demolished to provide
a better view of the river.
280
00:16:01,230 --> 00:16:05,860
After much neglect the state
bought Chaumont in 1938
281
00:16:05,863 --> 00:16:07,813
and it's now a museum.
282
00:16:11,195 --> 00:16:14,965
Ten miles up the Loire
is the town of Blois
283
00:16:14,970 --> 00:16:17,440
and it's enormous royal chateau,
284
00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,650
which was a residence
of several French kings.
285
00:16:20,646 --> 00:16:22,036
The Chateau de Blois
286
00:16:23,550 --> 00:16:25,490
was built between the
13th and 17th centuries,
287
00:16:25,490 --> 00:16:28,920
comprising several buildings
around the main courtyard.
288
00:16:30,151 --> 00:16:34,581
The palace has 564 rooms,
each with its own fireplace,
289
00:16:34,580 --> 00:16:39,040
75 staircases and 100 bedrooms.
290
00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,150
One of the best known parts of the palace
291
00:16:41,150 --> 00:16:44,850
is the monumental staircase built in 1515.
292
00:16:44,847 --> 00:16:48,057
It's covered with decorative sculpture
293
00:16:48,060 --> 00:16:50,420
and dominates the central courtyard.
294
00:16:52,810 --> 00:16:56,180
At the end of this long avenue
is the Chateau de Cheverny,
295
00:16:56,180 --> 00:17:00,610
which was completed in 1650
for the Hurault family.
296
00:17:00,610 --> 00:17:04,000
The house has been built in
a rigidly symmetrical design
297
00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,180
with a roof line which
seem to break the building
298
00:17:07,175 --> 00:17:09,215
into five separate sections.
299
00:17:09,220 --> 00:17:10,620
During the French Revolution
300
00:17:11,951 --> 00:17:13,421
the family had to give
up much of their wealth
301
00:17:14,888 --> 00:17:17,468
and therefore were forced
to sell the house in 1802,
302
00:17:17,470 --> 00:17:19,830
but they bought it back in 1834.
303
00:17:21,090 --> 00:17:24,080
In 1914 the chateau was
opened to the public,
304
00:17:24,083 --> 00:17:27,073
one of the first great
French houses to do so.
305
00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,270
Children visiting may well
feel they recognize the chateau
306
00:17:32,270 --> 00:17:34,960
because the Belgian
comic book creator Herge
307
00:17:34,963 --> 00:17:39,963
used Cheverny as the
inspiration for Marlinspike Hall
308
00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:42,140
in his Adventures of Tintin books
309
00:17:43,330 --> 00:17:47,000
A few miles to the north is
the Chateau de Villsavin,
310
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,280
built in the 1530's for Jean Le Breton.
311
00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,400
The chateau was constructed
by the master craftsmen
312
00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,600
who had worked at the
royal palaces on the Loire.
313
00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:00,180
This was because Jean de Breton
314
00:18:00,180 --> 00:18:02,350
was secretary of finance
to King Francois I
315
00:18:03,482 --> 00:18:08,302
and also superintendent of
works for the hunting lodge
316
00:18:08,300 --> 00:18:12,140
that the king was building
in a forest four miles away,
317
00:18:12,140 --> 00:18:13,340
the Chateau de Chambord.
318
00:18:14,314 --> 00:18:16,904
(lively music)
319
00:18:19,645 --> 00:18:22,325
This is perhaps one of the best known
320
00:18:22,330 --> 00:18:25,280
and most recognizable
chateaux in the world,
321
00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,400
because of its monumental scale
322
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,630
and distinctive French Renaissance style.
323
00:18:30,630 --> 00:18:33,320
It is a mixture of old medieval forms
324
00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,440
with new classical ideas from Italy.
325
00:18:36,439 --> 00:18:38,499
The enormous roof line
326
00:18:38,500 --> 00:18:42,420
is a mass of intricate designs
of chimneys and cupolas
327
00:18:42,420 --> 00:18:45,800
that almost resemble a
skyline of a fantasy town.
328
00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,210
The project was so costly
that it was never finished
329
00:18:50,208 --> 00:18:54,058
and only the central section
and north side were completed.
330
00:18:54,950 --> 00:18:57,160
So who designed this enormous palace?
331
00:18:58,250 --> 00:19:01,310
One suggestion is that Leonardo da Vinci,
332
00:19:01,310 --> 00:19:03,170
who had been a guest of King Francois
333
00:19:03,170 --> 00:19:06,560
at another Loire chateau, was responsible.
334
00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:09,890
However, there is no real
evidence to prove it.
335
00:19:09,890 --> 00:19:13,170
And in fact to this day it's
still a matter of controversy
336
00:19:13,174 --> 00:19:16,824
as to who really was the
architect of Chambord.
337
00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,750
The king spent barely seven
weeks a year at the chateau
338
00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:22,530
on short hunting visits.
339
00:19:22,528 --> 00:19:24,728
And any visit at the time
340
00:19:24,730 --> 00:19:27,250
meant that all the
furniture and wall coverings
341
00:19:27,250 --> 00:19:29,670
had to be transported, unpacked
342
00:19:29,671 --> 00:19:32,931
and then packed up after
the hunting trip finished.
343
00:19:33,830 --> 00:19:36,900
Future kings largely abandoned Chambord
344
00:19:36,900 --> 00:19:39,170
and Napoleon gave it
to one of his generals,
345
00:19:39,170 --> 00:19:41,060
who then sold it.
346
00:19:41,060 --> 00:19:43,650
After many owners, who
tried to look after it,
347
00:19:43,650 --> 00:19:47,780
the state took over and it
is now a very popular museum.
348
00:19:49,443 --> 00:19:50,803
(gentle music)
349
00:19:50,801 --> 00:19:54,221
Today the River Loire has
around 150 bridges across it,
350
00:19:54,220 --> 00:19:56,180
many of them historic.
351
00:19:56,177 --> 00:19:58,907
This is the bridge at Beaugency,
352
00:19:58,910 --> 00:20:02,670
which has a history stretching
back to the 14th century.
353
00:20:02,670 --> 00:20:05,290
During its long life the
bridge has been extended,
354
00:20:05,291 --> 00:20:07,961
repaired and parts rebuilt.
355
00:20:07,961 --> 00:20:11,971
The different shaped arches
give a clue to all this work.
356
00:20:12,820 --> 00:20:15,850
Over the centuries
floods and ice in winter
357
00:20:15,850 --> 00:20:18,180
have caused much damage.
358
00:20:18,180 --> 00:20:20,080
War also played its part,
359
00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,540
because in 1870 one span was destroyed
360
00:20:23,540 --> 00:20:25,790
on the order of the French military
361
00:20:25,790 --> 00:20:27,440
during the Franco-Prussian War.
362
00:20:28,530 --> 00:20:31,260
In the 1970's this historic bridge,
363
00:20:31,260 --> 00:20:33,170
which was becoming unstable,
364
00:20:33,170 --> 00:20:35,910
was completely restored and shored up.
365
00:20:38,100 --> 00:20:42,030
Today the River Loire is
navigable for large boats
366
00:20:42,030 --> 00:20:44,730
for only about thirty miles,
367
00:20:44,730 --> 00:20:48,370
but 200 years ago the river
was an important trading route
368
00:20:48,370 --> 00:20:50,370
and flat bottomed barges
369
00:20:50,370 --> 00:20:53,860
could travel over 200
miles upstream to Orleans.
370
00:20:54,980 --> 00:20:56,340
The city is dominated
371
00:20:56,340 --> 00:20:59,350
by one of the largest
cathedrals in France,
372
00:20:59,350 --> 00:21:01,520
Sainte-Croix d'Orleans,
373
00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,250
which was first built in the 13th century
374
00:21:04,250 --> 00:21:06,760
and then rebuilt in the 16th century
375
00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,570
after being damaged in war.
376
00:21:11,850 --> 00:21:15,100
At Orleans the River
Loire bends to the south
377
00:21:15,100 --> 00:21:18,430
and our journey heads
northeast to a royal palace.
378
00:21:19,441 --> 00:21:22,111
(stately music)
379
00:21:25,410 --> 00:21:28,220
This is the Palace of Fontainebleau
380
00:21:28,220 --> 00:21:30,800
and the work of many French monarchs.
381
00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:33,090
It was begun back in the 16th century,
382
00:21:33,085 --> 00:21:36,145
and is arranged around
a series of courtyards.
383
00:21:37,374 --> 00:21:40,844
It was Francois I, creator of Chambord,
384
00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:43,110
who built the initial courtyard.
385
00:21:43,110 --> 00:21:46,310
Succeeding French kings then added more.
386
00:21:46,311 --> 00:21:49,071
But by the middle of the 17th century
387
00:21:49,070 --> 00:21:50,960
Fontainebleau began a steady decline
388
00:21:50,959 --> 00:21:53,349
as the palace of Versailles
389
00:21:53,350 --> 00:21:56,080
took over the interest of King Louis XIV.
390
00:21:56,985 --> 00:22:00,445
During the French Revolution
of the late 18th century
391
00:22:00,450 --> 00:22:03,160
the entire contents of the
Fontainebleau were sold off
392
00:22:03,161 --> 00:22:06,941
to ensure it could not be
used as a royal palace again.
393
00:22:06,943 --> 00:22:10,133
However, within a decade
394
00:22:10,130 --> 00:22:13,250
Napoleon Bonaparte began
to transform the palace
395
00:22:13,250 --> 00:22:14,940
into a symbol of his grandeur.
396
00:22:16,050 --> 00:22:18,340
And it was here in 1814
397
00:22:18,339 --> 00:22:22,159
that he bade an emotional
farewell to his Old Guard
398
00:22:22,155 --> 00:22:25,485
before going into exile
on the Isle of Elba.
399
00:22:27,719 --> 00:22:29,789
A few miles to the north
400
00:22:29,790 --> 00:22:31,900
is the final destination of this journey
401
00:22:31,895 --> 00:22:35,105
and one of the greatest
architectural masterpieces
402
00:22:35,111 --> 00:22:38,231
of not only France, but of the world,
403
00:22:38,226 --> 00:22:40,796
the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte.
404
00:22:40,801 --> 00:22:44,051
(bright martial music)
405
00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:03,080
In 1641 a young parliamentarian
called Nicolas Fouquet
406
00:23:03,100 --> 00:23:06,830
bought an old castle and
estate at Vaux-le-Vicomte.
407
00:23:06,833 --> 00:23:10,203
Fifteen years later he had
risen to the powerful position
408
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,030
of finance minister to King Louis XIV.
409
00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:17,650
And in this position he was
able to amass a small fortune,
410
00:23:17,646 --> 00:23:19,716
which meant he could begin construction
411
00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,960
of what was to become the finest chateau
412
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,220
and garden in France.
413
00:23:25,220 --> 00:23:27,730
The spectacular achievement we see today
414
00:23:27,725 --> 00:23:29,715
was the result of Fouquet
415
00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:32,730
picking the best people
to carry out his dream.
416
00:23:32,730 --> 00:23:35,680
The first was the architect Louis Le Vau,
417
00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:39,690
the second was the painter
and decorator Charles Le Brun
418
00:23:39,690 --> 00:23:42,990
and the third was the garden
designer Andre le Notre.
419
00:23:44,620 --> 00:23:46,430
Working closely with their patron
420
00:23:46,430 --> 00:23:49,600
they were to create not
only a spectacular house
421
00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:51,540
but also a center and haven
422
00:23:51,540 --> 00:23:54,340
for leading French artists of the day,
423
00:23:54,340 --> 00:23:57,180
all of whom contributed
to the beauty of Vaux.
424
00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,080
For the plan of the garden to work
425
00:24:01,388 --> 00:24:04,538
Fouquet purchased, and then
demolished, three villages.
426
00:24:04,540 --> 00:24:07,080
The displaced villagers were then employed
427
00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,460
in the upkeep and
maintenance of the gardens.
428
00:24:09,457 --> 00:24:13,727
It was said that he
employed 18,000 workers
429
00:24:13,730 --> 00:24:16,590
to create the gardens at a staggering cost
430
00:24:16,590 --> 00:24:20,390
in today's money of around $150 million.
431
00:24:22,190 --> 00:24:25,830
All this wealth and influence
meant Fouquet had enemies
432
00:24:25,830 --> 00:24:28,510
and they conspired to ruin him.
433
00:24:28,510 --> 00:24:30,620
In August of 1661
434
00:24:30,621 --> 00:24:33,931
Fouquet held a spectacular
garden party for the King
435
00:24:33,931 --> 00:24:36,481
to show off his new house and garden.
436
00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:39,320
It was to be his downfall,
437
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:42,930
because it was not a good
idea to outshine the king,
438
00:24:42,930 --> 00:24:45,670
who had Fouquet arrested for embezzlement
439
00:24:45,670 --> 00:24:47,160
and imprisoned for life.
440
00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:51,280
Louis then confiscated
most of the furniture,
441
00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,030
tapestries and pictures,
442
00:24:53,030 --> 00:24:56,290
as well as all the garden
statues and orange trees.
443
00:24:56,290 --> 00:24:58,250
He also took the three designers,
444
00:24:58,250 --> 00:25:02,440
Le Vau, Le Brun and Le
Notre and put them to work
445
00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,900
on his new palace, Versailles.
446
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:10,210
By 1875 Vaux-le-Vicomte
was in a terrible state,
447
00:25:10,214 --> 00:25:11,934
but luckily for us today,
448
00:25:11,932 --> 00:25:15,792
it was bought by a French
industrialist, Alfred Sommier
449
00:25:16,730 --> 00:25:18,750
who, together with his descendants,
450
00:25:18,750 --> 00:25:22,090
slowly brought the great
chateau brought back to life,
451
00:25:22,090 --> 00:25:24,050
so that visitors can marvel
452
00:25:24,050 --> 00:25:26,900
at this quite fantastic palace and garden,
453
00:25:27,980 --> 00:25:31,160
a perfect place to end this journey.
454
00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:40,110
(pastoral music)
455
00:26:01,085 --> 00:26:03,415
(whooshing)
34473
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