Juana la Loca's tomb in the Royal ChapelCharles V's palace, the AlhambraInside Charles V's palaceEntrance to the AlhambraCeiling decorationReflective poolCupolaFluted archwaysView of the Alhambra from the summer palaceVew of Granada's old Jewish quarter Nasarid summer palace gardensArchway
Traveling for research is one of my favorite parts of working on a book. Visiting the sites and seeing the landscape where characters lived, no matter how much these may have changed, brings a unique magic to the writing. Here are pictures of places I've visited in the course of research. I hope you enjoy them.
GRANADA, SPAIN
Please click on image to start the slideshow. All photographs by C.W. Gortner
Blois Chateau, Loire ValleyExterior staircase, BloisCatherine de Medici's bedroom, BloisHenri II and Diane de Poitier's initials, BloisCatherine de Medici's famous 'hidden' cabinets, BloisChambord, Francois I's fantastical hunting chateauChenoceau, Catherine de Medici's favored residenceModern portrait of Catherine de Medici, ChenonceauChenonceau, on the Cher RiverChaumont, chateau where Cosimo Ruggieri residedBed chamber, ChaumontAmboise
THE LOIRE VALLEY, FRANCE
Copyright 2009 C.W. Gortner