Aurzelle da Silva,

Art Historian,

Chinon, France

An American by birth, Aurzelle grew up in the arts community of New York City where she lived and worked until relocating to the Loire Valley in 2003. She earned a Master in Medieval Art History at the University of Poitiers with a specialization in Plantagenet Art and her extensive research on the subject—most notably on the fresco at the Chapel of Saint Radegonde, Chinon—has been published and widely acclaimed. In addition, Aurzelle has earned a degree in French Patrimony with a specialization in history and art history from the University of Clermont Ferrand. She is therefore one of a select group to be certified as a guide-conferencier which allows her to guide at national monuments and museums in France. Auzelle enjoys bringing a different point of view when she leads groups visiting the sights of France’s stunning Loire Valley. Her holistic approach is fueled both by her scholarship and her very diverse background in the arts. The combination of these elements provides a comprehensive overview and helps visitors understand the connections between the sights and their historical context.