Published by pedmar10
I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world.
My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting.
Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers
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The Château de Saumur has a double revolutionary staircase, built several centuries before the work of Leonardo da Vinci. It allowed nobles and servants to use the same staircase without ever crossing each other. The access to the belvedere allows to discover the south wing and to take this staircase with double revolution, a rare testimony of a controlled know-how. Note also the staircase of honor, with its 4 bays, is the only surviving witness of an element that also existed in the Louvre.
The first floor contained the main apartments and has fireplaces, floors and ornate windows, although the rooms are not currently furnished. The apartments were once very luxurious, furnished by Louis I of Anjou inspired by the conversions made by his brother King Charles V at the Louvre. The belvedere, accessible in summer, offers an exceptional panorama on the Loire and the city.
A bit of history of the castle of Saumur, gone thru many situations and saved on each, until the one we see today. The castle was in the possession of the Counts of Anjou, then the Plantagenêts and change into a royal fortress early in the 13C in the times of king Louis IX (Saint Louis). During the second half of the 14C the duke Louis Ier d’Anjou (brother of king Charles V) change it into a castle-palace of great beauty. The miniature of it is represented in the famous play of the three rich hours of the duke of Berry or « Très riches heures du duc de Berry » that will give it a precise image. King René, last of the dukes of Anjou lived here periodically, after his death in 1480 the castle comes back to the royal domaine.
With political stability and religious tolerance, the city will gradually lose its interest, and the castle of its greatness. From 1745, it is transformed into a simple prison and, in 1810, it becomes a state prison. The castle was decommissioned militarily in 1830 and transformed into a military arsenal until 1890. The underground room below the courtyard maintains a constant temperature and was once used to store provisions. Originally, it was totally enclosed but the west wing fell into ruin in the 17C and was not rebuilt.
In 1906, the castle was bought by the City of Saumur to house the municipal museum, now labeled Museum of France. A rich collection of decorative arts currently occupies the first floor of the North and East wings. Part of the horse collection, collecting objects from antiquity to the early 20C is exhibited in the former abbey. In 1912, the collections of the municipal museum were installed there. In 1919, the donation by Count Charles Lair of his collection allows the museum to present one of the beautiful sets of decorative arts of France, from the end of antiquity until the beginning of the 19C. A Horse Museum, also presents visitors with more than 1,500 pieces retracing the history of horse riding across ages and continents.
The official Château de Saumur: http://www.chateau-saumur.fr/
The official city of Saumur on the castle:https://www.ville-saumur.fr/chateau
The Saumur tourist office on the castle : https://www.ot-saumur.fr/en/chateaux-et-manoirs/chateau-de-saumur-5261718/
There you go folks, another gem of my belle France. Another wonderful castle of the old valley of the kings now in Pays de la Loire region. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Château de Saumur as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!! 
Paris1972-Versailles2003 