Wallis Simpson had come here to escape the harassment of the press who were making life very uncomfortable for her where she was staying with friends in Cannes.

Her friends were also friends of Fern Bedaux the wife of the owner of Chateau de Cande here in the Touraine. Her husband a rich American industrialist had bought the chateau 10 years earlier. Fern gave over her apartments here so as Wallis could get some peace. It seemed the obvious place to have the marriage.

As soon as you walk through the front portal you are met with the grandeur one would expect of any grand chateau of the Loire Valley but this is different in that it was neither built by, or used by, royalty. 'The man who would not be king' Edward , Prince of Wales would be the closest it would get to 'royal' patronage. 

The main reception room of the chateau is referred to as the 'Red Sitting Room' reflecting the red silk fabric adorning its walls.It has a ceiling more reminiscent of a Tudor castle than a French chateau.

The dining room is quite dark due to its dark panelled and leather lined walls It was in this room the Windsors' buffet would have been laid out. Certainly large enough to cope with the sixteen people sent by the English court as representatives.

It has a rather splendid fireplace and ceiling.

The library of the chateau is delightful and it is here that the mayor of nearby Monts performed the civil part of the wedding to conform to the laws of the country. The religious ceremony was performed in the 'music room' of the chateau.

On one of the panels to the right of the fireplace is engraved with the words 'Ed was here' - only joking it is in fact the signatures of  Edward & Wallis.

At the opposite end of the room there is an American made 'Skinner' organ one of only twenty left in the world and one of only three in working order. nterestingly the organ, with its 1,878 pipes, was classified as 'Monument Historique' by the French government in 1993.

The bedrooms are as you'd expect but the bathrooms on show (two of the eight) are a surprise...

Off one of the bedrooms there is a charming spiral staircase leading to a roof terrace which is unfortunately out of bounds- would have loved to have seen that.

The dressing room has a display of outfits from major designers of the time plus there's a small selection from  Wallis' wardrobe. Her panther jewels from Cartier are on display, her painted luggage, elegant handbags, and some of the gowns made for her. 

It is interesting to see she had a little crown designed into her bags - perhaps in anticipation (wrongly) of becoming 'royal'

A copy of the dress Wallis wore is on display beside a copy of the Cecile Beaton photograph marking the occasion - in which Wallis looks decidedly unhappy.

To visit the chateau is to step back in time and sample a little piece of its history.

It is also great value at € 6.50 but note - it is closed Monday and Tuesdays except

 during July and August

The estate of the chateau covers an area of 250 hectares and  includes a marked path and lake. There are also vegetable gardens and an orchard, so you have all the elements for a good day out.

Open from Wednesday to Sunday and public holidays: 10:30 - 12:30 and 13:30 - 18:00

Open every day in July & August

Price: Full price 7.00 € - Reduced 6.00 € - free under 7 years

Chateau website                  www.domainecande.fr/

Chateau on wikipedia            en.wikipedia.org/

Good info on organ               www.aaimm.org/ 

Good W&S links here           www.royalty.nu

A walk around Cande park     loirevalleyexperiences.blogspot.fr

Good post on the gardens     averygrandpressigny.blogspot.fr