Paris1972-Versailles2003

And again, taking you down the Loire valley of my belle France. I am taking you down to the fairy tale castle of the ladies! The town and castle has a peculiarity of the name but that is just history (see post). The place of course visited often, and need to tell you a bit more on it,  Ahh, I am talking about the Château de Chenonceau,  interiors ,part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I 

This is a fairy tale castle in the castle rich Loire Valley area of France. It is most known for its connection to the many woman who nourish it,and improve it over the years.  I went to the area often as used to purchase my goodies there and helped the Lion Club International in the Touraine region. This is in the village of Chenonceaux, dept 37 of the Indre et Loire of the Centre Val de Loire region of my belle France.

The Château de Chenonceau  is here since the 12C, with a fortified windwill from 1230. It goes thru many changes of hands and a legal battle to gain title to the property by heirs of Thomas Bohier, he finally marries a one Catherine Briçonnet (the first lady of the story of the castle) , which does lots of work on the property until her death in 1526. Due to bad finances and no taxes paid, the king François I takes the property in 1535.  Later king Henri II gives it to his favorite lady Diane de Poitiers (see post on Anet) ,she ,also, does lots of work on the castle. After the death of Henri II in a duel in 1559, the crown finds a way again to take the property back, this time is Catherine de Medicis. You have a continuation history of woman relating to the castle such as  Louise de Lorraine wife of king Henri III where the bedroom in the 2nd floor shows on the door the deuil of her assassinated husband in 1589. She lived here until her death surrounded by religious sisters that took domicile at the castle, turning it into some form of convent after the death of Catherine. Not to forget the other women, Gabrielle d’Estrées.

Located on the first floor, you have an impressive gallery in the Château de Chenonceau. Built in 1576 on the bridge over the Cher, the gallery is 60 meters long, 6 wide, has 18 windows with a lovely panorama of the gardens and the Cher river, and is equipped with pretty chimneys at both ends. Note that the gallery served as an infirmary and a hospital during WWII, when the Cher river was the dividing line between the occupied zone and the free zone of France, More than 2,000 officers were treated here, I give you the beginning and the end of the gallery below.

The chambre César de Vendôme’s room surprises with the richness of its decor. Adorned with tapestries, the room features a window framed by two 17C wooden caryatids.

This room of the five queens is a tribute to the 2 daughters and 3 daughters-in-law of Catherine de Medici: Queen Margot, Elisabeth of France, Maire-Stuart, Elisabeth of Austria and Louise of Lorraine. The coats of ,arms of these 5 queens are embedded in the sumptuous 16C coffered ceiling.

The Cabinet Vert was the study of Catherine de Medici, who became regent of the kingdom on the death of her husband Henry II. She governed France from this room. On the ceiling of the 16C in its original state, there are 2 intertwined Cs.

The Galerie Médicis gallery, located on the first floor of the castle, brings together a unique collection of paintings, tapestries, furniture and works of art: “Le château de Chenonceau“, oil painting by Pierre-Justin Ouvrié , “Le Cher“ Neuilly tapestry of 1883, Haute Époque two-part sideboard, original furniture from the Château de Chenonceau, the “Venus of the Medici“… Not forgetting a precious Cabinet of Curiosities. You will see Rubens, Primaticcio, Tintoretto, Correggio, Van Loo, Murillo, Clouet, Sassoferrato, Andrea del Sarto, Ribalta, Nattier, Veronese, Poussin, Van Dyck, Bassano, Zurbaran etc, as well as the 15C Florentine sculptor Mino da Fiesole… These masterpieces painted by the greatest European masters of the 16-18C echo the history of the castle and the leading role played by women there.

The kitchens of the castle are installed in a vaulted room on ribbed vaults. Between the sparkling brass, visitors admire the bread oven and the most imposing chimney in the building. Next to the kitchens are the butcher’s shop and the pantry. These pieces are set in the gallery’s hollow pillars built into the river bed.

The official Château de Chenonceau: https://www.chenonceau.com/en

The local Touraine Loire Valley tourist office on the castle : https://www.touraineloirevalley.co.uk/cultural-heritage/chateau-of-chenonceau-chenonceaux/

There you go folks, a dandy in the marvelous Loire Valley ,a must to see in my belle France. The castle of the ladies, Château de Chenonceau is awesome ! Again, hope you enjoy the post on the Château de Chenonceau,  interiors ,part II  as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!