The Black Band

The Black Band ("Bande Noire") was a notorious syndicate which operated in France in the 1820's, after the french revolution, buying up old chateaus and the like and demolishing them to sell off the materials.  One chateau which met this fate was the Chateau of Chanteloup near Amboise, which once had a grounds of 8,000 acres and extensive gardens and water features.  It was at Chanteloup that one of the last owners (Chaptal) invented and developed the idea of sugar beet farming.

As a result of the Bande Noire the chateau and its gardens have almost completely disappeared, leaving just a semi-circular lake with the "Pagoda of Chanteloup", a 44-metre high tower, standing at its centre in the middle of the countryside.  Apparently Chinese things were fashionable at the time.

Brian (a little speck) at the top of the Pagoda of Chanteloup.

From the top there is a fine view out over the countryside, and back to the town of Amboise.  It was another nice warm day today, and not many people were visiting this particular site.

Sue on level one.

That's Sue down there, beside the lake.

From the top.  It's quite flat country around here.