One thing our family loves is exploring the great outdoors often by geocaching our way around it. Not only does it make for great fun but often enables us to see things from another perspective. It also helps keep costs down a little as our trip to Chambord demonstrated.
Driving around the area of Chambord in Loire it is easy to think that the only way that you are going to get at all close to the Château is by paying to get in to it and pay for parking too. However, one evening we set out and found this not to be the case as we stumbled across a parking area with a little series of geocaches that surrounded the château and let us get relatively close up to the building.
Where Our Journey Began
The paths which weaved their way around the castles grounds and a neighbouring farm field were easily passable and would be easy to navigate whatever mode of transport you chose.
Geocaches Take Us To Many Interesting Places
Many of the geocaches were easily found too along the trail and the girls and my husband got a mini introduction into orienteering as we came across a board and it's stamp near an old monument. It seems like various hunting sports take place around here.
Inspiration for Disney's Castles?
Viewing the many Château in Loire it is easy to imagine where Walt Disney may just have got his inspiration from. They are stunningly beautiful and the stuff of dreams. So we couldn't help but indulge in a little dress up.
Back at the campsite I asked for recommendations as to where they thought we should take the girls and were told that there was not much to see inside the château itself. So we were pleased that we took an evening stroll around the area and found free parking too.
Where have your adventures taken you?
I have visited a few château while on holiday to be honest they were a bit boring, this one looks great #,coolmumclub@_karendennis
ReplyDeleteWow, that chateau looks huge! Castles are such a great way to engage kids with history, I’m sure my boys would love the Loire. #FarawayFiles
ReplyDeleteWe stayed at the same campsite this summer! This chateau is so handy for that campsite. We visited inside a few years ago, and you're right, the grounds and surroundings are far more interesting :-) #culturedkids
ReplyDeleteI visited decades ago and dimly remember a double helix staircase and little else, the exterior is definitely the thing! Thank you for linking up to #CulturedKids
ReplyDeleteWe really need to try geocaching again. I never have small enough things to swap in my bag. Love the idea of exploring new areas with a goal in mind though #CountryKids
ReplyDeletethis is so typical of a French chateaux. All show on the outside and just a shell inside. Never the less you can't help but marvel at their splendour and I adore your Disney girls with the chateaux as a backdrop. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteI really must give geocaching a try - looks like a fabulous way to explore new places and keep the kids occupied! What a beautiful chateaux. #countrykids
ReplyDeleteIt must be the chateaux season as we’ve just wrapped up topically a post on Dordogne. And great to see you linking in #culturedkids, loving your picsnof Chateau Chambord, the perfect little princesses set up!
ReplyDeleteI love how geocaching helps you explore areas in a different way to how you would perhaps explore them otherwise. How lovely that it meant you got to get fairly close to the chateau and explore the surrounding area and found free parking too! I love the photos of your girls dressed up too. #countrykids
ReplyDeleteAll those castles in the Loire Valley can be pretty pricey to visit, can't they? The only one we ever bought tickets for was Villandry, as we really wanted to see the famous gardens there - and thankfully, we only had to pay for 2 adults and our oldest, still under 10 at that point. Chambord does look fabulous, so well done for "seeing" it for free and having fun along the way too!
ReplyDelete#CountryKids
Geocaching - I need to have a go at this, a great way to explore. I love the little dress-up hats, so sweet! #countrykids
ReplyDeleteI think ivI' said to you before that I need to start geocaching! What a great surprise to find this trail and get to see the chateau without the exoense or boring the kids. Love that hat too! And how huge is the building?! Wow. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteAnd enjoying a second reading via #CountryKids too!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like so much fun! #MMBC
ReplyDeleteI haven’t quote grasped the geocaching thing yet, but I keep thinking it’s something we should try. Thank you for this reminder! 🙂 x #countrykids
ReplyDeleteWe didn't make it to Chateau Chambord but plan to return when we go back to Chateau des Marais another year. Instead we visited Blois with it's cathedral and chateau. Chambord does look and sound FABULOUS. #thesatsesh xx
ReplyDeleteWe've never tried geocaching but it sounds like great fun! Where's the best place to start? Our kids didn't enjoy our chateau visit when we were in the Loire a couple of years ago, so this sounds much more child friendly way to at least see the outside of one. Plus your daughter looks adorable dressed up! #culturedkids
ReplyDeleteAh les chateaux de la Loire! Went as a little girl when I loved in Paris, but I do now need to take my girls. #culturedkids
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