63 
RAMBLES IN THE VALLEY OF THE LOWER 
LOIRE, AND SOME OF ITS HISTORICAL 
ASSOCIATIONS. 
(Lilustrated by Lantern.) 
By EDWARD W. MELLOR, J.P. December 6th, 1892. 
The River Loire, after a northerly course of 200 miles, turns 
to the left a few miles east of Orleans, and thence flows more or 
less due west to the sea. It is this portion whose valley forms 
the ground of our present ramble. It is a fascinating valley— 
this Loire valley—full of history, full of romance. Here 
Plantagenets lived and died, here the Black Prince fought. 
Probably no stream for the same length of its course has so 
much history to tell as the Lower Loire, Until the end of the 
16th century its banks were covered with old feudal towers and 
castles, within whose walls from time to time have dwelt the 
kings and queens and all the famous men and women of those 
ages in France. 
We commence our ramble at Orleans, a city next in importance 
to Paris in French history. Indeed, in one point of dignity it 
has surpassed Paris, for Orleans has twice beheld the crowning 
of a native King of the French. In this city our minds naturally 
turn to the famous Maid of Orleans, and in front of the Town 
Hall is a statue of Joan of Arc, a reminder of that 29th of April, 
1429, when she entered the city on horseback at the head of her 
troops, the people being overjoyed, and attributing divine 
inspiration to her. From Orleans to Chambord, one of the 
typical castles of Francis I. The great feature is the famous 
double spiral staircase. It consists of a double course of steps 
so contrived, that persons may pass up or down without meeting 
or seeing each other. This staircase is described by James “ as 
a majestic piece of Humour.” The principle is simply that of a 
two-threaded screw. Beauregard Chateau (where is a remarkable 
gallery) is visited and then we come to Blois, where is one of the 
most beautiful and elaborate of all the Royal residences in this 
part of France. ‘Try to imagine ourselves standing here three 
or four hundred years ago, and see passing up and down the open 
spiral staircase Francis I. and his Queen Claude, who loved the 
place so well; the queen-mother Catherine de Medicis, brooding 
over her plots ; Francis II. and the lovely Mary Queen of Scots, 
happy in their brief spell of married life ; the timorous Henry III. 
scheming to free himself from the power of the Guises.”” The 
