Chateau de Chenonceau
This is the 'must see'
chateau of the Loire Valley
- the
iconic Chenonceau is the one, most, if not all, our guests
want to see.
Chateau de Chenonceau's history only adds to the attraction
- fought over by important women throughout its history it
has become affectionately known as the 'Ladies Chateau' but
it is not all fairytale castle and royal pleasures - the
chateau has its dark side.
Originally only a small fortress by the river it was
replaced with a Renaissance style chateau leaving only
the keep from the original building. Henri
II of France gave it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers who
added the bridge over the river, on his death however, the
Queen, Catherine de' Medici, sent Diane packing (to
Chaumont).
It was the
queen who gave the chateau its now iconic look by adding
the gallery and grand ballroom on Diane’s bridge.
Probably
the highlight, after the great hall on the gallery, for many
are the impressive kitchens.
The tour of the inside of the chateau
reveals more of its history.
The chateau
managed to survive the revolution and world wars due to its
strategic position as a crossing of the river Cher.Because
the River Cher was the dividing line between occupied and free France
During the second World War the castle became a route for the
Résistance.
