Magnificent chenonceau castle in france. "Lady's Castle" Chenonceau in France

Chenonceau castle in France(fr. Chateau de Chenonceau) is considered to be one of the most beautiful and the oldest castles peace. Its original name is "Chenonceau", popularly " ladies castle ”, appeared due to romantic legends about famous women who once lived here.

Chenonceau castle located near the village of Chenonceau in the French department of Indre-et-Loire.

History of Chenonceau Castle begins in the XIII century, it was then that the first mention of buildings on this territory appeared in official documents. Although the castle itself is a fortress, however, in its entire long life it has never been used for military and defensive purposes. Since 1243, the de Mark dynasty became the owners of these lands. They decided to build a powerful fortress, surrounded it with a moat and high walls. The fortress was surrounded by waters of the most beautiful french river Cher, and nearby was a mill that served not only the Mark family, but also all the inhabitants of the village, providing them with flour.

In the 14th century, the Marches ran into heavy debts and had to sell off their holdings. They really did not want to part with the picturesque estate, so they sold the land in small plots. However, the debts kept growing, and eventually the estate was sold.

In 1512, Thomas Boye became the owner of the fortress of Chenonceau. It was he who later turned the fortress into a beautiful castle. He himself was forced to leave often, and therefore he entrusted all the affairs related to construction to his wife. Ekaterina Bonet became the first woman to contribute to the history of " Ladies' Castle". On the very high tower the castle of Chenonceau, their initials “T.V.K”, which means “Thomas Boye and Catherine”, have survived to this day. They are engraved next to the inscription that attracts the attention of tourists at the entrance to the castle: "Who ever comes here, let him remember me."

In the future, several more dynasties were replaced, until Diana de Poitiers became the mistress of the castle of Chenonceau, who transformed and improved the castle. She redid the park and Orchard: today the garden of the castle of Chenonceau is the most beautiful garden France. In addition, she built a magnificent arch bridge, which gives the impression that the castle is floating above the water.

The greatest contribution to the reconstruction of the Chenonceau castle was made by Catherine de Medici. She supplemented the territory of the castle with fountains, sculptures, arches and high columns. Now the estate is surrounded by two luxurious parks, in which approximately 130,000 flowers and shrubs are planted annually. The garden of Diane de Poitiers and the garden of Catherine de Medici are magnificent and luxurious decorations of the estate, which have survived to this day. Based on these stories, we can conclude that the castle was nicknamed "Lady's" because its owners were most often prominent women who ennobled and rebuilt it, creating the gentle and reverent appearance that we see now.

Chenonceau Castle in France (Ladies' Castle) is private property, but despite this, it is still open to tourists.

How does it work: from October 24 to November 4, 9.00-18.00; from November 5 to December 31 9.30-17.00; the rest of the time 9.00-19.30.
Issue price: 10.50 (8) euros.

What to look at: Chenonceau is an obligatory item of the program of the visit to the Loire Valley. This castle-Narcissus, as if forever admiring its reflection in the water, gives an exhaustive idea of ​​the French Renaissance. White stone, the play of light and shadow reflected from the surface of the water, creates an amazing artistic image that remains in memory forever.

Story

Chenonceau is called the castle of women because greatest influence it was women who had the influence on its architecture and history.

The estate, where Chenonceau Castle rises today, belonged since 1243 to the de Mark family, immigrants from Auvergne. Their property was also the fortress located here, surrounded by water ditches and connected to the bank of the river Sher by a drawbridge. There was a mill next to the fortress. To date, from the 15th century, only the donjon, called tower mark, which stands on an artificially created island, whose shores are lined with stone like a fortification.

During the reign of Charles VI, Jean de Mark placed an English garrison in his fortress, which prompted the king to order the demolition of all defensive fortifications and secure the lands to their rightful owners. Financial difficulties forced the family to sell their inheritance to Tom Boye. In 1512, Thomas Boye, commissar for financial affairs in Normandy, also bought the fortress. In love with the Renaissance style, Boye decided to destroy the old castle, with the exception of the donjon, in order to build a new structure. The donjon itself acquires large windows, sculptural decoration surrounds the doorway. The tower was a type of pavilion with large windows, a high roof, and lucarnes. The character of the design of the façade is reminiscent of what has already been seen in the architecture of the "wing of Francis I" in Blois. Pilasters and balconies further emphasize the renaissance appearance of this donjon. The interiors partially retained the old decoration, such as fireplaces with faience tiles.

However, Toma soon went to war, and his wife undertook the construction of a new castle. Catherine Brisson. It is with her that Chenonceau plunges headlong into court life. The wife of Thomas Boyer, chief tax collector of Normandy, she was the daughter and niece of the finance superintendents Guillaume Brisson and Jacques de Semblansay. This is the world of the big financiers of the kingdom. Under the leadership of Catherine, the building and the estate enter the first stage of true management. She takes the reins of government in her hands and holds them firmly, thanks to her character, upbringing and opportunities.

She solved the issue with the old buildings radically. On the site of the donjon, a front yard was broken, which is still surrounded by moats. One tower was left from the fortifications, and two supports from the mill. On them, by order of Catherine, master P. Nepve built a square building with corner turrets. This rectangular structure with protruding corner towers surrounded the vestibule with lancet vaults on four sides. There were four rooms on the lower floor, connected to four other rooms on the second floor by a wide straight staircase. Chenonceau became the first castle in France, the halls of which open onto the central hall, where instead of the Gothic spiral staircase a staircase with straight flights is used, and on the facade there is a balcony built not for utilitarian purposes and not for watching tournaments.

Construction was completed in 1521, after which Cardinal Boye, Bishop of Bourges, consecrated the chapel of the castle. Three years later, in 1524, Thomas Boye died in Italy, where he went in the retinue of the king. Catherine Brisonnet died two years later. The castle was inherited by their son Antoine. Suddenly, Francis I discovered that Boye was stealing. For the true or imaginary sins of his father, the son paid with the estate, and Chenonceau became royal residence in 1533. Perhaps the king wanted to have a beautiful estate because of his hunting grounds. Francis I sometimes visited the castle, accompanied by a small circle of courtiers: Eleanor of Habsburg (his second wife), son Henry, daughter-in-law of Catherine de Medici, his favorite Anna de Pissele (lady d "Eyi) and favorite son - Diane de Saint-Valier de Poitiers. The castle hosted hunting trips, holidays, literary evenings in the fashion of those times.

There are many incredible stories associated with the name Diane de Poitiers: allegedly she was at the same time the mistress of King Francis I and his son, the future Henry II; as if Francis asked her to "teach the science of love" to his son, still an inexperienced young man, whom she farsightedly made her constant lover. Be that as it may, having become King of France in 1547, Henry II, despite his marriage to Catherine de Medici, continued to shower Diana with numerous signs of his attention, with whom he fell in love as a boy. It should be noted that Diana was 19 years older than the king. The new king even established her emblem in the form of a crescent - a sign of the goddess Diana the hunter, and dressed in the colors of his favorite - black and white. It is not surprising that soon the castle of Chenonceau became the property of Diana - contrary to all laws that prohibited the alienation of possessions that belonged to the Crown. Simultaneously with the castle, Henry made another gift to his mistress, forgiving her part of the tax, which he personally returned to her. Thanks to these funds, Diane de Poitiers was able in 1551 to undertake work on the improvement of her new property, including the redevelopment of the park and the orchard, which grew vegetables and fruits that were considered exotic at that time (for example, artichokes and melons).

She forced Sher to measure the depth for the purpose of the proposed construction stone bridge, which was carried out according to the project of Philibert Delorme in 1556. Perhaps she planned to build a second building, symmetrical to the first.

Diana's management of the castle estates was exemplary. First of all, she conducted an inventory of possessions and property. Secondly, it made the Chenonceau estate profitable. Surrounding herself with experienced administrative advisors, the Duchess took matters into her own hands. She brought Chenonceau to perfection, corresponding to her desire for fame.

Despite her age, Diana managed to maintain her beauty, as evidenced by her famous portrait, where she is depicted naked with a deer. To preserve her youth, she plunged into icy water in the morning, rode a horse and walked on foot, then to fall asleep until noon. Henry II died in 1559 and Catherine de Medici took Chenonceau from her husband's mistress. Diana was forced to exchange the castle for Chaumont, although she never appeared there, moving to her estate in Anet, where she died at the age of 66.

Catherine, having returned Chenonceau to the Crown, arranged magnificent festivities there in honor of her son Francis II and his wife Mary Stuart. The architect Primaticcio decorated the estate with extraordinary splendor, columns, statues, fountains, triumphant orcs, obelisks... A battery of 30 cannons saluted in the courtyard.

The Medici ordered Delorme to build a two-story gallery on the bridge over the Cher. The bridge itself bears a resemblance to the Pont Neuf in Paris. Facade new building on the bridge, somewhat heavy in proportion, had a number of new and original features. The windows above the pylons, together with the wall, formed a semicircular ledge, like modern bay windows, so that for the next window, a floor above, a small balcony was formed, as it were. The verticals of the abutments of the bridge and a row of windows were emphasized by lucarnes with a round hole - "bull's eyes", as they were then called.

Under Catherine de Medici was defeated (to the west) new garden and new service premises were built, in particular, a library near the chapel. These works were completed in 1568 at the time of the signing of the Peace of Amboise. Continuing the work on construction and decoration, Catherine further developed the business begun by her predecessor and rival Diane de Poitiers. By expanding sericulture and organizing the production of silk on the spot, she created the Orleans "royal linen". She also achieved a significant increase in income from the estate by revising rent, rent of farms, mills, forests and duties from the inhabitants of the district. It gives even more scope to luxurious gardens. So, she plants lemon and orange trees, beautifully equips the land, flower beds, increases the number of groves, grottoes, buildings and fountains.

Another memorable celebration took place in Chenonceau in 1577, timed to coincide with the return of Henry III from Poland to confirm the right of succession for his brother Charles IX. Here the idea of ​​a festival that took place at Plessis-le-Tour, when the men dressed in women's costumes and the women in men's, was revived. Henry III liked to wear a dress of pink and silver brocade to balls, his hair was decorated with violets and diamonds, and a string of pearls was wrapped around his neck. According to the French chronicler Pierre d'Etoile, "the depth of his neckline did not allow you to determine at a glance who is in front of you - a female king or a male queen."

In 1580, the architect Androuet Ducerceau realized the idea of ​​Philibert Delorme by building a new wing on the bridge over the river Cher. This two-storey structure consisted of two long facades cut through by rhythmically alternating windows, risalits, and lucarnes. The top floor, equipped as a ballroom, was richly decorated, like the rest of the castle. Luxurious holidays, inspired by memories of antiquity and mythology, at which the young ladies of the court were often half-naked (it was a "flying squadron", whose duties included collecting all kinds of information, which was then transmitted to the queen), ended with the death of Catherine, who overtook her in Blois in 1589.

According to the will, the castle passed to the wife of Henry III Louise of Lorraine. A few months later, the monk Jacques Clement killed the king. Before his death, he dictated a letter to his wife, in which he said: "My dove, I hope that I will soon get better, ask the Lord for me and do not leave where you are." Perhaps these words were the reason that the queen remained in Chenonceau until her death. Louise retired to the castle, decorated the rooms in the form of a tomb, tightening everything with black draperies, and they themselves took a vow of white mourning - a custom that has existed since antiquity. Until her death, the widow walked around the black castle in white mourning dresses, for which she was nicknamed the "white queen", and fervently prayed along with the Ursuline nuns.

The castle was inherited Françoise de Mercure wife of Caesar of Vendôme. From that moment on, the kings of France abandoned Chenonceau. Louis XIV was the last to live there in 1650 at the age of 12. The state of abandonment in which the Dukes of Vendôme and Bourbon-Condé left the castle was interrupted with the conversion of one of its wings into a Capuchin monastery. From this era, there was a drawbridge that served to isolate the monks from the outside world.

In 1733 Chenonceau was bought by the banker Claude Dupin. His wife patronized the arts, sciences and literature. Madame Dupin, whose descendant was George Sand, opened a fashion salon in Chenonceau, where the names of many celebrities of that era flashed: Fontenelle, Buffon, Montesquieu, Mably, Marivaux, Voltaire, Condillac, Madame de Tensy, Madame du Deffand. Her secretary was J.-J. Rousseau. He then wrote: "... In this great place there was a lot of entertainment, the food was very good here, I became fat, like a monk. Here they liked to play music, read plays. I have composed here a work in verse under the title "Avenue Sylvius" after the name of the avenue of the park that goes around the Cher. Indeed, Madame Dupin set up a small theater with performances and equipped a physical study. The rooms of the old apartment were re-furnished and became more comfortable.

Madame Dupin lived a long life (93 years) and was so respected by the peasants that during the Revolution they protected their mistress and saved the castle from ruin and destruction. The abbé Lecomte, the village curate, spoke out against the most ardent revolutionaries, telling them: "There is only one bridge between Montrichard and Blair, and you want to destroy it! You are enemies of the public good!"

Madame Dupin died in 1799 and was buried in the park. The empty castle was sold in 1864 to Chenonceau, it was acquired by Madame Pelouze. She attempted to harmonize the ornate main building with the sparsely decorated gallery by cutting down the stone carvings from the façade windows. The idea of ​​the new owner of the castle was to return it to its original appearance - before the alterations of Catherine de Medici. So the facade lost its windows and caryatids, but the wing on the bridge over the Cher was not touched. After the ruin of the Pelouze family, the castle was confiscated and in 1888 Land Credit sold it to Henri Meunier, one of the wealthy industrialists of the time. His heirs are still the owners of Chenonceau.

In the 19th century, the castle was restored by Viollet le Duc.

During the First World War, Gaston Meunier, at that time a senator of the department of Seine and Marne, at his own expense equipped a hospital in the gallery, which housed more than 2,000 wounded. During the Second World War in 1940-42. the border of the fascist occupation passed along the river Sher. The southern door of the gallery overlooked the territory controlled by the Vichy government, and the northern one - to the lands occupied by the Germans. In Chenonceau there was a contact point for local partisans.

Today, the castle has been completely restored and is open to the public, making it a must-see in the Loire Valley.

Chenonceau Castle (Château de Chenonceau) is one of the most beloved and visited by tourists castles of the Loire Valley. It is located on the Cher River, near the Chenonceau town of the same name, 30 km from Tours. The first structures on this site belonged to the de Mark family. Since 1243, there has been a fortress surrounded by moats with water, and a water mill. By order of Karl […]

It is one of the most beloved and visited by tourists castles of the Loire Valley. It is located on the Cher River, near the Chenonceau town of the same name, 30 km from Tours. The first buildings on this site belonged to de Mark family. Since 1243, there has been a fortress surrounded by moats with water, and a water mill.

By order of Charles VI, during the Hundred Years' War, the English garrison was stationed in the fortress. The de Mark family, due to financial difficulties, sold their inheritance to the quartermaster Thomas Boye. He bought the fortress of Chenonceau in 1512. All buildings, except for the donjon, were demolished at the behest of the new owner.

On the supports left from the mill, a new fortress-palace was built above the water. It was a rectangular building. Four towers were built at its corners. On the first floor there was a vestibule, four rooms of the lower floor were connected by a wide staircase with the premises of the second floor. (At that time, spiral staircases began to be abandoned in the architecture of castles.)

Thomas Boye was constantly on the road, his wife supervised the work. Construction work was completed in 1521. In 1524 the owner of the castle died, and his wife died two years later. The Palace of Chenonceau was inherited by their son and was soon confiscated by the king for debts and financial violations, in which, allegedly, he was involved Thomas Boye. According to some information, Francis I I just wanted to own this beautiful elegant castle with magnificent hunting grounds around.

Chenonceau is inextricably linked with the name Diane de Poitiers- governess of the king's son - mistress of the king and, subsequently, his son Henry II. When the young king came to the throne, he gave the palace of Chenonceau to his beloved. Since then, Chenonceau began to be called "ladies" castle (château des Dames). Diana cared a lot about the improvement of the castle: she carried out the redevelopment of the park, on her instructions the architect Philibert Delorme created a project of a stone bridge across the river Sher.

Henry II died in 1559. Catherine de Medici decided to return the treasures of the crown. First of all, she won back the magnificent Chenonceau. Diane de Poitiers relented. Under the Medici, the territory of the park expanded, new fountains and statues appeared there. Additional service premises were built in the castle, a luxurious ballroom was equipped on the second floor. A unique room for ceremonial receptions was erected on the bridge - a two-story gallery. The two long facades of the gallery were cut through by alternating windows and risalits.

Catherine de Medici died in 1589. She bequeathed the castle of Chenonceau to her wife Henry III – Louise de Vaudemont. The new king died a few months later from his wound. In his last letter to his wife, he asked her not to leave Chenonceau. Louise did the will of her husband. She stayed in the castle, canceled everything forever recreational activities, covered the furniture and walls of her own bedroom with black draperies. The "black" bedroom has survived to this day. Until 1601, the royal widow, according to ancient custom, wore mourning white clothes. She was called the "White Lady" In 1601 she died.

"Lady's Castle" passed into the possession Francoise de Mercure- wives Caesar of Vendôme. Kings stopped visiting Chenonceau. The castle was abandoned, gradually one of its wings was converted into a Capuchin monastery. For the needs of the monks, a drawbridge was built - it has survived to this day.

Since 1733, the castle was owned by the wife of a wealthy banker - Louise Dupain. She was a fan of the arts and science. In Chenonceau, Louise equipped a physical office, created a theater. The old rooms were refurbished, the castle became cozy again. The palace, by a happy coincidence, was not damaged during the French Revolution.

In 1799, Louise Dupin died at a very respectable age. The castle is deserted. It was restored by Madame pelouse(née Wilson). She wanted to restore the palace to its former Medici appearance. The castle lost its windows and caryatids, but the graceful wing on the bridge was not damaged. In 1888, the Pelouze family went bankrupt and Chenonceau passed into the possession of a wealthy industrialist - Henri Meunier. The Meunier family owns the castle to this day. Chenonceau survived the Second world war, although it was used as a hospital and even as a contact point for the French partisans.

Since 1840, the castle has been considered an architectural monument. It is divided into two parts: medieval tower Mark (the same donjon that started it all), and the Renaissance-style residential part, which is located directly above the river. A large bell appeared in the tower. It now houses a souvenir shop. Tourists are not allowed upstairs.

In the inner chambers of the Chenonceau Palace, visitors can see magnificent interiors and paintings by old masters: Rubens, Primaticcio, Engrand and many others. Beautiful sculptures of Carrara marble are preserved in the chapel, and tapestries of the 16th century are preserved in the hall of the Guards. The public can walk in the gardens of the Medici and Diane Poitiers, visit the walk of fame or the museum wax figures. This museum reproduces the most important scenes from the life of the owners of the castle and other characters from its history. Possible self-guided tours; group visits with a guide are also held. There are restaurants on the castle grounds.

The architecture of France has always fascinated travelers with its unsurpassed and splendor. A trip to this country leaves an indelible impression in the soul of everyone who visits its sights. The presence of a huge number of castles gives France a certain uniqueness. There are, according to some reports, several thousand. And although translated from English chateau literally translates as "castle", in French this word means "palace", "estate".

Castles in the Loire

Since the Middle Ages, France has been called the birthplace of kings and true knights, the Land fairy tales. But the ensembles that tourists see here amaze with their architecture. The most visited are the castles of the Loire. Each of them is a kind of historical evidence of the formation of European civilization and modern culture.

Many castles of the Loire are built in the Renaissance style. They are visited annually by more than a million tourists from all over the world. They come to France, in particular to the departments of Indre and Loire, not only to plunge into the era of kings and lords, but also to take with them the impressions of the luxury and comfort in which they lived. Along with Chamerol, Chambord, La Roche, Sachet, one of the most famous and visited is the castle of Chenonceau, whose history dates back to the distant thirteenth century. Since then, a lot has changed in it. However, even today the beauty of this amazing architectural monument makes tourists from all over the world come here.

Chenonceau castle: address

Today the palace is open to the public. It has been completely restored. Anyone can admire the beauty and grandeur of the area in which this castle, which has changed more than one eminent owner, is located. His address is simple: Chenonceaux, France. Chenonceau is two hundred and twenty-five kilometers from Paris, and twenty-five from Tours. You can come here every day from nine in the morning. Paid entrance.

Description

Once on the territory of the castle, tourists find themselves on a wide esplanade. On the left side is the garden laid out by Catherine de Medici, and on the right - Diane de Poitiers. Their landscapes are completely different from each other in style. One is more refined, with mischievous fountains and antique languid statues, the second is more austere. It is decorated with bright flowers and a huge fountain.

In the park adjacent to the palace, there is a labyrinth similar to the one in which Alice found herself in Wonderland, there is also a sixteenth-century farm hidden behind centuries-old plane trees, and a small playground for children with a variety of swings and attractions.

The Chenonceau castle itself, as if still fragrant with the sensual perfume of majestic royal persons, is open to the public on any day. On its ground floor there is a lobby, as well as several lounges decorated with luxurious tapestries, fireplaces and flower arrangements. The rooms are lined with furniture from the era of Henry II. On the ground floor there is also a unique kitchen, which is very interesting for lovers of historical life.

Climbing up the stairs, tourists find themselves in the rooms where the queens lived. Their bedrooms are decorated with silks and flowers. Each has a portrait of the former owner. Luxurious furniture of bygone centuries has also been preserved.

Story

Only a lone donjon tower today reminds of the first owners of this ancient estate, built in the forties of the thirteenth century. vast lands, over which the castle of Chenonceau towered on the Cher River, belonged to people from Auvergne - the de Mark family.

They owned the fortress itself, surrounded by water moats, and a mill. The castle of Chenonceau was connected to the banks of the river Cher by a drawbridge. During the reign of Charles VI, the head of the family, Jean de Mark, agreed to place an English garrison in his fortress. The king liked it so much that he assigned all the lands surrounding the Chenonceau castle to the owners of the fortress.

However, due to financial difficulties, de Mark had to sell his land to Thomas Boye, the intendant for financial affairs working in Normandy. In 1512, he also bought the castle of Chenonceau on the river Cher. Being a great admirer of the Renaissance style, Boye decided to destroy the old building, leaving only the donjon, and build a new fortress.

The new kind

In place of the mill, the new owner erected a rectangular structure with protruding corner towers. The latter from four sides surrounded the vestibule, which has lancet vaults. There were four rooms on the lower floor of the new castle. They were connected to the rooms of the second level by a wide straight staircase. At the beginning of the sixteenth century in France began to gradually disappear spiral staircases, which were replaced by direct marches.

The Boye family spared no funds for the construction. Huge costs, according to the owner of the castle, were more than offset by the memory that will remain after him. Boye ordered that this motto be engraved along with his initials. Construction, which in the absence of her husband was led by his wife, was completed in 1521. After the work was completed, the bishop of Bourges consecrated the chapel of the new castle.

In 1524, Thomas Boye died in Italy, where he traveled as part of the king's retinue. Two years later, his wife also died. The property passed into the hands of their heir, Antoine. However, under the pretext of compensation for some violations of the financial affairs that were the responsibility of Thomas Boye, by order of Francis I, the castle of Chenonceau was confiscated. Chroniclers believe that the expropriation was due to the desire of the monarch to get this beautiful estate, famous for its magnificent hunting grounds.

Gift for Diana

Most different stories guides tell tourists, leading them through the castle of Chenonceau. France has always been famous not only for its kings, but also for their favorites, the fate of one of which is closely connected with the former estate of Boye.

After the confiscation, Francis I visited Chenonceau Castle from time to time. He was accompanied only by a small circle of close associates, among whom was invariably Diane de Poitiers. There were very conflicting rumors about her: she was considered at the same time the mistress of both Francis and his son Henry.

Diana had a huge influence on Henry. Having become king in 1574, he, even being married to Catherine de Medici, did not stop showering the favorite with expensive gifts. Soon the castle of Chenonceau became her property. The king also forgave Diana and part of the tax.

And with these funds, de Poitiers in 1551 began the improvement of her property. She redesigned the park, completely renovated the orchard, which was planted with artichokes and melons, which were considered exotic at that time.

Complete reconstruction

Diana even got experts to measure the depth of the Cher River in order to start building a stone bridge over it. The project was developed by Philibert Delorme. Despite her, to put it mildly, middle-aged age, Diana sought to preserve her former beauty. They say that for this she plunged into the ice in the early morning. river water, rode a horse across vast lands and walked on foot in the park.

New mistress

In 1559, as predicted by Nostradamus, King Henry II died as a result of a mortal wound he received in a tournament. His wife Catherine de Medici, having become regent, began to hastily return the treasures of the Crown. And first of all, she demanded back the castle of Chenonceau, in return offering Chaumont. Catherine knew perfectly well how much the mistress of her late husband was attached to the estate, and therefore decided to take revenge in this way. After some hesitation, Diana, realizing that it was better to give in immediately, moved to her castle Ane. She died there a few years later.

The castle of Chenonceau has another name - "Lady's". The fact is that over time, all the passions and intentions of its owners were gradually reflected on it. Catherine de Medici was no exception. With her inherent sense of ostentatious luxury, though not devoid of taste, she began to make her own improvements in the landscaping of the garden and park, and also completed the construction of a drawbridge stone and a seventy-meter gallery over the river, begun by Diana.

Under the guidance of the architect Primaticcio, the estate received extraordinary splendor. Statues and columns, fountains, obelisks and triumphal arches. Beautiful magnificent balls and masquerades, which took place in the castle of Chenonceau, were striking in their scope.

Catherine ordered to lay out a huge garden on the other side of the palace. As a result, today tourists visiting Chenonceau see two huge parks at once. One was designed by Diane de Poitiers and the other by Catherine de Medici.

Another change of host

The Queen bequeathed the castle to her daughter-in-law, the wife of Henry III. When he died unexpectedly, Louise took a vow of lifelong mourning. For a long eleven years, Chenonceau Castle became the crypt of the "White Queen". That's what they called Louise for refusing to obey the widow's etiquette and take off her white clothes. The last member of the royal family to be seen in Chenonceau Louis XIV. After that, the estate was abandoned. This continued until one wing of the castle was converted into a Capuchin monastery.

During the French Revolution

After the capture of the Bastille, Chenonceau, who was in danger of destruction, was saved by his next patroness. Louise Dupain, wife of a banker, bought the castle in 1733. Being a great admirer of art, the new owner set up a fashion salon and organized a theater here. Many celebrities of that era gathered in the castle, including Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Recent owners

In 1864, the castle of Chenonceau was acquired by Mrs. Pelouze. She dedicated her entire life to its restoration. And since 1913, the castle became the property of the Meunier family - well-known manufacturers candy. It was they who completed all the restoration work. The castle has returned to its former glory. Currently, Chenonceau, although it is a private property, is open to tourists. It has been completely restored.

Chenonceau Castle: how to get there

From Paris, the estate, located on the banks of the Cher River in the province of Indre and Loire, can be reached by train from Gare Montparnasse. Upon reaching the destination Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, you should transfer to the train to Chenonceau. Travel time is about two hours.

Many tourists who come to France definitely want to see Chenonceau Castle. Where is this beautiful landmark of the Loire located, they will tell you at any tour office. You can, of course, buy a tour to the valley to see all the castles of the Loire with the help of a guide, but many people prefer to rent a car in Paris and come to the castle themselves. From the capital, take the A10 highway towards Blois or Amboise.

Excursion to a magical place

Chenonceau is truly magnificent today. They say that the spirits of its many owners still live in its walls. And although no one lives here, each room of the castle seems to have just parted ways with the mistress. It seems that the servant has just put the flowers on the window, and the owner of the hand in a thin glove placed the volume of poems on the dressing table just two hours ago.

Not surprisingly, Chenonceau is on the list of European castles that are haunted. It is said that the White Lady is still crying in her upper chambers, and footsteps are heard in the bedroom, which is called the Five Queens. Diana's ghost enters the garden at night. To believe it or not is a personal matter for every tourist, but numerous reviews testify to the fact that, once in the territory of Chenonceau, a person finds himself in an atmosphere of mysterious splendor.

Chenonceau is one of the most elegant castles in France, flanked by the small river Cher and perched on top of a superb graceful arched bridge.

It's hard not to admire the magnificent setting, the formal gardens, the magic of the architecture and fascinating history castle, which was formed by a number of influential women. Its interior is adorned with rare furniture and a fabulous art collection that includes works by Tintoretto, Correggio, Rubens, Murillo, Van Dyck and Ribera (look for an unusual portrait of Louis XIV).

This impressive complex is mostly the work of a few wonderful women (hence its nickname “Le Château des Dames”). First stage construction began in 1515 for Thomas of God, court minister to King Charles VIII, although most of work and design was virtually controlled by his wife Catherine Brisonnet.

The distinctive arches and eastern formal garden were added by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of King Henri II. After the death of Henri Catherine de Medicis, the treacherous king's widow forced her cousin to exchange Chenonceau for the less grandiose Château de Chamont. Katherine completed the construction of the castle and added a labyrinth and a western rose garden to its territory. Her most significant contribution was the black-layered mourning room on the top floor, in which she lived when her husband Henri III was assassinated in 1589.

Chenonceau had its heyday during the eighteenth century, during the reign of the aristocratic Madame Dupin, who made the castle the center of a fashionable society. Voltaire and Rousseau were among his guests at that time. During the Revolution, at the age of 83, she was able to save him from destruction, thanks to quick thinking and some strategic concessions. The excellence of the style of the castle is a grandiose gallery on arches over the river Cher. It has been the site of many elegant parties organized by Catherine de Medicis and Madame Dupin.

Also, it was a military hospital during the First World War, and from 1940 to 1942 served as an evacuation route for settlers, Jews and other refugees who fled from the German-occupied zone. The upper level of the Galerie Médicis has a well presented exhibition (in French and English) on the colorful history of the castle and the women who shaped it.

Practical Information

There are many must-see places within the castle grounds, so plan to spend at least half a day here. From mid-March to mid-November you can dine at the gastronomic french restaurant called L’Orangerie (menu from 31 to 40 euros) and a local coffee shop located on the castle grounds.

Address: 37150 Chenonceau, France.

Working hours A: January 1 to February 20 9:30 to 5:00 pm (daily). From February 21 to March 28 from 9:30 to 5:30 pm (daily). From March 29 to May 31 9:00 am to 7:00 pm (daily).

From June 1 to June 30, 9:00 am to 7:30 pm (daily). From July 1 to August 31 from 9:00 to 8:00 pm (daily). From September 1 to September 30 from 9:00 to 7:30 pm (daily). October 1 to November 1 9 am to 6:30 pm (daily).

November 2 to November 11 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (daily). November 12 to December 31 9:30 am to 5:00 pm (daily). The lock is available 30 minutes after the ticket office closes.

Entry price: Full adult ticket price from €13.00 to €17.50 (with or without audio guide). Free entry for children under 7, disabled people and journalists. Average tour duration: 2 hours.

Ways of travel: The castle is located 33 km east of Tours, 13 km southeast of Amboise and 40 km southwest of Blois. From Chenonceau you can take the train to Tours (ticket price € 7, journey time 25 minutes, trains run 9 to 12 times a day).