Chambord

French king Francois I (often Francis I in English) commissioned the building of Château de Chambord as a hunting lodge in 1519. Although medieval in structure with a central keep, round bastions at the corners, two wings, two further towers, and an enclosing curtain wall, the execution of the building is Renaissance, a style Francois

Forest bathing

Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese term usually translated into English by “Forest bathing”. It describes the practice of healing through being immersed in nature. Quarter of a mile from our house lays a narrow path which marks the entrance into the woods. This is the largest private forest of the county, dedicated to hunting and timber

Carved trees

Arboretum of Harcourt, Normandy. * Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: weird and wonderful.