Friday, 3 May 2019

2019 - more than just a nod to the Renaissance in the Loire Valley


Rear elevation of Chateau de Chambord celebrating 500 years in 2019

Our region, Centre-Val de Loire is this year taking advantage of three events from 500 years ago to highlight the rise of the French Renaissance (rebirth). The actual birth of the Renaissance here is normally traced back to the French invasion of Italy in 1494 as a means of providing a starting point of linking the Italian influence on the country’s art and cultural heritage.

The word itself is a great deal younger and credited to French historian Jules Michelet who used it in his 1855 work ‘Histoire de France'.

Leonardo de Vinci died 500 years ago

The three events are, the commencing of the building of the mighty Chateau de Chambord, a truly remarkable example of Renaissance architecture, the death of the ‘Renaissance Man’ himself Leonardo de Vinci after only three years in France and perhaps less obviously, the birth of Catherine de Medici often referred to as the ‘Renaissance queen of France', in Florence.

Catherine de Medici born 500 years ago

So there is an amazing amount of material to highlight this period of Renaissance and not surprisingly the region is to offer up around 500 different events in various locations in celebration of a wonderful touristic opportunity to add to an already crammed full, treasure chest of gems…and why not!

Officially kicked off with President Macron's visit to Amboise and Chambord yesterday.

Some useful links:


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