Spanning
the languid Cher River
atop
a supremely graceful arched bridge,
Chenonceau
is one of France's most elegant châteaux.
The
interior is decorated with rare furnishings
and
a fabulous art collection.
This
extraordinary complex is largely
the work of several
remarkable women
(hence
its nickname, Le Château des Dames).
The
initial phase of construction started in 1515 for Thomas Bohier,
a court minister of King
Charles VIII,
although
much of the work and design
was
actually overseen by his wife,
Katherine
Briçonnet.
The
fortified castle and mill on the site was demolished,
the
keep was left standing and restored in Renaissance style.
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The flower display in every sumptuously furnished room
adds to its elegance.
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This was the bedroom of
King Henry the 2nd's mistress Diane de Potiers.
King Henry the 2nd's mistress Diane de Potiers.
The fireplace is engraved with the initials of Henry 2nd
and Catherine de Medici H and C,
which when intertwined can form the D of Diane de Potiers.
and Catherine de Medici H and C,
which when intertwined can form the D of Diane de Potiers.
(look above the above the doorway)
The painting above the fireplace
is a portrait of Catherine de Medici.
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Catherine De Medici's bedroom.
The four poster bed is characteristic of the Renaissance,
decorated with friezes, pilasters and side-view portraits.
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The
Green Study
When
Catherine Medici became regent on the death of Henry 2nd
she
governed France from this room.
Above
the door is Solomon and the Queen of Sheba by Tintoretto
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The
Five Queens' Bedroom was given this name
in memory of Catherine de
Medici's two daughters
and
three daughters-in-law...all Queens!
The
walls are decorated with
a
suite of 16th century Flanders tapestries.
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Louise
of Lorraine’s most singular contribution
was
her black-walled mourning room on the top floor,
to
which she retreated when her husband,
Henri
III, was assassinated in 1589.
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Louis
XIV's Drawing Room holds a collection
of 17th &
18th century paintings.
Above
the console...
The
Child Jesus and John the Baptist
by
Rubens,
Portrait
of King Louis XV by Van Loo.
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The
château's pièce de résistance is the 60m-long,
chequerboard-floored
Grande Gallerie over the Cher.
At
either end of the gallery are two superb Renaissance fireplaces.
During
the first world war the south door of the gallery gave access to the
left bank of the river making it possible for the Resistance to pass
large numbers of people into the free zone.
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The
kitchens are located in the two enormous bases forming the first two
piers built in the bed of the river Cher.
There
are separate rooms for the pantry,
the
butchery,
the
larder
and
a dining room for the servants.
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The chateau was used as a military hospital during WWI,
The chateau was used as a military hospital during WWI,
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The eastern formal garden was
added by Diane de Poitiers, mistress of King Henry II.
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Following Henri’s death Catherine de Médicis,
the king’s scheming widow,
forced Diane (her 2nd cousin) to exchange Chenonceau
forced Diane (her 2nd cousin) to exchange Chenonceau
for the rather less grand Château de Chaumont.
Catherine completed the château's construction
and added the yew-tree maze and the western rose garden.
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The yard of the 16th century farm,
gives you the feeling of being part of a historical film set
A wide variety of flowers for cutting are grown in this garden:
white lupines, delphiniums, lilies, peonies, dahlias, irises
The floral workshop also uses natural materials
like branches, pine cones, mosses and lichens
in order to preserve all the charm and refinement
of a country château at Chenonceau.
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The Jardin des Fleurs where the flowers
that decorate all of the castle’s rooms are raised.
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The
Italian maze is planted with 2,000 yews
and
covers more than one hectare.
At
its centre, a raised gloriette offers a clear view all around.
The
monumental Caryatids...
Pallas,
Cybele, Hercules and Apollo
that
once decorated the chateau facade,
have
been reunited behind the labyrinth.
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The
setting is glorious, the formal gardens,
the
magic of the architecture
and the château's
fascinating history,
shaped
by a series of powerful women
made
for a memorable visit.
We walked 9.2 k's today
We walked 9.2 k's today
