The vast majority of Lego Cuusoo projects are either inspired by a famous icon, a movie or a video game theme. Few of them are also pure fantasy or sci-fi, but rarely can you find history-inspired projects. I was thrilled when I realized that a Lego fan, TineArconn, dedicated his Lego Cuusoo project to a piece of French history -- and not a small piece, as he intends to build many more of the châteaux of the French Loire Valley.
The Loire Valley (or, in French, la Vallée de la Loire) has a very important place in French history: many castles were built or rebuilt into Renaissance marvels for the delight of the French Monarchy. Many of these castles were based on former middle-age fortresses re-purposed and turned into "modern" palaces. Among many others come the most famous ones: Château de Chenonceau, Château d'Amboise, Château de Cheverny, and finally Château de Chambord, which has always been my favorite with its central double spiral staircase.
The first project built by Cuusoo user TineArconn is the Château de Cheverny, which was also the inspiration for the fictional Chateau de Moulinsart, made famous in the Adventures of Tintin. With a total of 7000 pieces, the retail set would certainly not come cheap, but could make for a very special collection, just like the Lego Architecture series. Quite a few more votes will be required to make this "royal" project a reality, but I could see a real educational benefit in making this happen.
Coupling history and fun is often overlooked in the classrooms and such a set could most definitely contribute to teach subjects otherwise considered boring by young students. While Lego Education mainly focuses its sets around STEM education, a new curriculum based on history and culture could greatly contribute to the education of the younger generations.
