The exterior walls are adorned with medallions of extraordinary size, in the style peculiar to Francis I., and the huge round towers are similarly decorated: much of the building between these towers is of more modern date, but all is in good keeping and handsome.

Several fine willows dip their boughs into the river, which bathes one side--but what was the moat on all the others, is now filled up with flowering trees and shrubs, and the ramparts laid out in terraces, covered with a luxuriant growth of every kind of rare and graceful plant.

There is a charming view from the gardens, and the abode altogether is delightful.
The country is rich and fertile, covered with fields of Indian corn, flax, and hemp; here and there are large plantations of fir-trees; the chestnut-trees we observed were very luxuriant, loaded with fruit; the apples thickly clustered in the numerous orchards, and everything abundant and smiling.
We rejoiced at once more beholding the Loire at the spot where, on our former visit, we most admired it.

Saumur is, however, greatly increased and improved during the three years which had elapsed since we first made its acquaintance.

New houses are built, old ones pulled down, and active measures taken to beautify and adorn the town.