Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bedchamber
is literally fit for a king. Study the fun ceiling art, especially the “boys will
be boys” cupids.
Back down on the ground floor, find a family tree going back to 1490, a grandfather
clock with a second-hand that's been ticking for 250 years, and a letter of thanks from Ge-
orge Washington to this family for their help in booting out the English.
Nearby:
Barking dogs remind visitors that the viscount still loves to hunt (he goes
twice a week year-round). The
kennel
(200 yards in front of the château, look for
Chenil
signs) is especially interesting at dinnertime, when the 70 hounds are fed (April-mid-Sept
daily at 17:00, mid-Sept-March Mon and Wed-Fri at 15:00). The dogs—half English fox-
hound and half French Poitou—are bred to have big feet and bigger stamina. They're giv-
en food once a day (two pounds each in winter, half that in summer), and the feeding
(la
soupe des chiens)
is a fun spectacle that shows off their strict training. Before chow time,
the hungry hounds fill the little kennel rooftop and watch the trainer (who knows every
dog's name) bring in troughs stacked with delectable raw meat. He opens the gate, and the
dogs gather enthusiastically around the food, yelping hysterically. Only when the trainer
says to eat can they dig in. You can see the dogs at any time, but the feeding show is fun
to plan for.
Also nearby,
Tintin
comic lovers can enter a series of fun rooms designed to take
them into a Tintin adventure (called Les Secrets de Moulinsart, €13.50 combo-ticket with
castle); hunters can inspect an antler-filled
trophy room;
and gardeners can prowl the
château's fine
kitchen and flower gardens
(free, behind the dog kennel).
Wine-Tastings at the Château Gate:
Opposite the entry to the château sits a slick
wine-tasting room,
La Maison des Vins.
It's run by an association of 32 local vintners.
Their mission: to boost the Cheverny reputation for wine (which is fruity, light, dry, and
aromaticcomparedtotheheavier,oakywinesmadefartherdownstream).Tastershavetwo
options. In the first, any visitor can have four free tastes from featured bottles of the day,
offered with helpful guidance. Or, for a fee, you can sample more freely among the 32
labels, at your own pace, by using modern automated dispensers. Even if just enjoying
the free samples, wander among the spouts. Each gives the specs of that wine in English
(€6.50 for small tastes of 7 wines, €6-9 bottles, daily 11:00-13:15 & 14:15-19:00, tel. 02
54 79 25 16,
www.maisondesvinsdecheverny.fr
).
Thefeudalcastle ofFougères-sur-Bièvre(foo-zher-sewr-bee-ehv)bulliesitshamlet. Right
on the route from Cheverny to Chenonceaux and Amboise, Fougères-sur-Bièvre was con-
