Recently a client asked me if the limestone of the famous Loire Valley had discoloured over time as he had visited many years ago and remembered the Chateau of Chenonceau being pure white, not cream. I was able to tell him that his memory may not be so wrong. Over the years the stone has discoloured and deteriorated, and nowadays, when stone has to be replaced it is not the same. All the beautiful white stone has been quarried out, and now the stone comes from quarries further away, and has a slightly different colour cast. It's a problem that buildings conservators are aware of, but have been unable to find a solution for. The soft limestone of the Loire Valley was extensively damaged in the 19th century, by acid rain produced when everyone burnt coal as their main source of heating, so a lot of stone is having to be replaced now.
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| At least three different coloured stones are visible near the front door of the Chateau of Chenonceau. |
To enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website. If you would like an idea of how your tour might look and sound, please check out our YouTube channel.