Wednesday June 20 2012 .... Meaux to La Ferte sur Marne 45 km.
Wednesday began with a long climb...
... to a privately owned Chateau ruin...
... probably first begun in the XII century in the reign of Louis VII. In the XVI century it was given to Catherine de Medici by Henri II who had various architects (Delorme) embellish the architecture. Henri IV bought it for his mistress Gabrielle d 'Estrées. She envisioned herself becoming queen and had 3 children by the king but she died, rumored to be of poisoning, after a banquet in 1599.
(In the controversial painting below which is in the Louvre, Gabrielle on the right is in the bath with her sister))
Henri IV then gave the chateau to his wife, Marie de Medici after the birth of Louis XIII in 1601. Therefore it is called the Chateau of the three queens. The official name is Montceaux les Meaux.
The castle is in ruins having been used as a quarry. The current owners bought the grounds with two "servants houses", the castle ruins and the two old terraced gardens in which they keep their aged horses. The tour was given by the lady of the house.
From there it was a rapid 2 km descent to the river road, which Nina quickly determined was "too busy" for cycling. So (with great enthusiasm!) we rode back up the hill and continued up to find a less busy country road on which to travel.
We lunched at a bar in Doue where we tried the cider...
... and then had a rapid descent to St.Cyr (during which time
Paul hummed "Sincerely") with a further descent to La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. The Elodie was parked right underneath the main bridge in town.
Warmest (25 C) and sunniest day to date. No rain! We have now left the "Seine et Marne" district and are in "Brie". Good cheese and cider country.
... to a privately owned Chateau ruin...
... probably first begun in the XII century in the reign of Louis VII. In the XVI century it was given to Catherine de Medici by Henri II who had various architects (Delorme) embellish the architecture. Henri IV bought it for his mistress Gabrielle d 'Estrées. She envisioned herself becoming queen and had 3 children by the king but she died, rumored to be of poisoning, after a banquet in 1599.
(In the controversial painting below which is in the Louvre, Gabrielle on the right is in the bath with her sister))
Henri IV then gave the chateau to his wife, Marie de Medici after the birth of Louis XIII in 1601. Therefore it is called the Chateau of the three queens. The official name is Montceaux les Meaux.
The castle is in ruins having been used as a quarry. The current owners bought the grounds with two "servants houses", the castle ruins and the two old terraced gardens in which they keep their aged horses. The tour was given by the lady of the house.
From there it was a rapid 2 km descent to the river road, which Nina quickly determined was "too busy" for cycling. So (with great enthusiasm!) we rode back up the hill and continued up to find a less busy country road on which to travel.
We lunched at a bar in Doue where we tried the cider...
... and then had a rapid descent to St.Cyr (during which time
Paul hummed "Sincerely") with a further descent to La Ferte-sous-Jouarre. The Elodie was parked right underneath the main bridge in town.
Warmest (25 C) and sunniest day to date. No rain! We have now left the "Seine et Marne" district and are in "Brie". Good cheese and cider country.
Comments