Blanche and Eleanor

Blanche of Castile

In the year 1200, Princess Blanche of Castile and her grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine -- the wealthiest and most famous woman in the world -- set out from Blanche's home in Burgos to travel to Paris. There, twelve-year-old Blanche was to marry Louis, son of the king of France. 

Where did they go? What did they see? What adventures did they have?

Eleanor of Aquitaine

As you read their story in my new middle-grade novel The Queen's Granddaughter, you can follow in their footsteps with my husband Phil and me. We'll retrace their route (by car, not on horseback!) over the next two weeks, from Castile in what is now Spain across the Pyrenees Mountains, through Aquitaine to Paris.  Our route, and the routes they might have taken, are shown in the map below.

Watch this space!