Avioth has been a place of pilgrimage since the early 12th century and it was this that led to the building of the vast Church of Our Lady of Avioth. It is a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic architecture, dating from the second half of the 13th century, and is often described as 'lacework in stone'. It is famous for its Recevresse, a unique work of Gothic art. We know it used to receive offerings from the pilgrims, but the reason for its construction remains uncertain.
References:The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.