This imposing wall was built to protect the little-known château de Valmer which was constructed in 1525 and later expanded in the 17th century. Alas, all good things come to an end. In 1948, the main building of the château burned to the ground, leaving one detached building, the fabulous gardens, and the surrounding defensive walls with turrets. Even without the original château, it is still a beautiful place to visit the gardens and to sample wines from the local wine region of Vouvray.
It's also very peaceful as it is off the beaten track for most tourists who visit only the major châteaux. A few weeks ago I cycled by here on one of the few nice days of this spring with my neighbor who knows all these "secret" delights off the main roads. The road in the picture is an example of many of the area's backroads that have little traffic and are great for cycling.
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