A first dog competition and
the visit of two castles!
This weekend, we are going to Chaumont sur Loire to participate to the 39th National Breeding of the "Club des Amateurs de Geyhound de France"!
We took the opportunity to visit two Loire Valley Castles.
Summary
A first
dog show
Two castles
with a dog
A first dog competition
The French Greyhound Club organizes its national breeding competition every year. In 2024, the competition took place in Chaumont sur Loire. This town is located just over 2.5 hours by car from Paris.
Curious by nature, we decided to participate with Vaika! It was a nice first experience, despite the rain, and we were able to meet other passionate Greyhound owners.
Two castles in a weekend
We spend Saturday at the competition venue. We dedicate our Sunday to visit the surrounding area. The region has a very rich heritage and we are happy to return here after having made a first stay during our "La Loire à vélo" weekend.
We choose two vist two different castles. This choice is guided by the possibility of visiting them with Vaika.
Chenonceau Castle
Chenonceau, with its famous two-storey gallery overlooking the Cher, is one of the architectural gems of the Loire Valley . Its borrowings from Italy and its French characteristics are clearly perceptible. In reference to the large number of female personalities who have been in charge of it, it is nicknamed "the Ladies' Castle".
The castle gardens can be visited by all dogs, if they are kept on a leash. Dogs can also enter the castle as long as they are carried in a bag or in the arms. We decide to take turns carrying Vaika to enjoy the interiors. However, she still weighs more than 25 kilos at the time of our visit and it is impossible to visit it in depth. I find that this is quite discriminatory for large dogs but I can also understand the desire to protect the place.
There is also an farm with little animals (sheeps, rabbits, hens and even poneys) and a lovely vegetable garden to visit. Vaika discovers new type of animals and looks quite surprised.
Montpoupon Castle
We finally found a real Dog Friendly castle! The Montpoupon fortified castle can be visited entirely (inside and outside) with a dog.
Still privately owned, you can immediately feel the family's passion for hunting, and this has been the case for decades. A room is dedicated to it and even allows you to learn about the practice of hunting in a fun way. Whether you are "for it" or "against it", we found it very informative!
