Paris1972-Versailles2003

I like to tell you more of this magnificent castle ; therefore, I have split the post into interior, and exterior for your reading pleasure and mine, There is plenty written on it but always more is great me think on the Château de Chenonceau, exteriors !!! Yes love castles and lucky to be in prime region just less than 4 hrs from my house. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The history of the Château de Chenonceau is marked by an almost uninterrupted succession of women who built, embellished, protected, restored and saved it. The first castle is a medieval castle from the 12C and 13C, of which only the keep remains: the Tour des Marques. The builders of the current monument are from 1513 to 1517, Thomas Bohier and especially his wife, Catherine Briçonnet…The forecourt is a copy of the former medieval fortress surrounded by moats. Still standing is the well decorated with a chimera and eagle, emblem of the Marques family. You walk the front coming to the impressive main door. Dating back to François I , made of sculpted wood and painted, it bears on the left the arms of Thomas Bohier and on the right those of Katherine Briçonnet, and at the top the salamander of François I.

The main alley leading to the castle is planted with plane trees for almost 1 km. On each side of the main aisle: the 16C farm on the right, the Labyrinth and the Caryatids on the left. The bridge of Diane authorized in 1517 by letters patent of François I, and unexecuted, to connect by a bridge the castle to the left bank of the Cher in 1555. a bridge of five semicircular arches, narrower and offset towards the downstream by compared to the facade of the original castle. The construction of the bridge takes place from 1556 to 1559.

The pair of 18C sphinxes framing the main aisle, After taking the large avenue lined with plane trees and past the two sphinxes at the entrance to the castle, here is the forecourt of the estate. On the right and bordering the forecourt, the Domes building and the Cires museum. In the center, in front of the castle, the Cour d’Honneur with the Tour des Marques. On the left, the Chancellery built in the 16C which leads to the Garden of Diana. On the side, you can still see the well, adorned on the coping with a chimera and a double-headed eagle, emblem of the Marques family. This tower, which for a time housed the souvenir shop, is no longer accessible to the public.

The Château de Chenonceau actually has two parts: A medieval keep high on the right bank of the Cher river which was remodeled in the 16C. A Renaissance main building built on the river itself, constituting the main part of the castle. The Marques tower is the only visible vestige of the old medieval castle of the Marques family, razed by Thomas Bohier in 1515. It corresponds to the keep of the old building, consisting of a round tower, as well as a turret housing the cage of ‘stairs.  The Renaissance dwelling consists of an almost square main building 22 by 23 meters with two floors plus a basement flanked by corner turrets, built on the powerful stone foundations of the old mill once bordering the bank. This is extended by a two-story main building and an attic which rests on the south facade of the dwelling, built in 1560 in an already almost classical style, and resting on a bridge of five arches spanning the Cher river. The lower floor is notably occupied by a gallery. Access to the ground floor of the main building is via a staircase followed by a small bridge.

I cannot complete this post without mentioning a fabolous lady who we owe saving the castle for eternity to enjoy, Madame Dupin. It was refurnished and decorated by this daughter of the wealthy banker of Louis XIV and then of Louis XV, a charming and spiritual young woman, bearer of the spirit of the Enlightenment. Each summer, she received the elite of celebrities of the time, writers, philosophers, artists and scholars, from Marivaux to Fontenelle and Buffon, without omitting Montesquieu or d’Alembert, linked to the prodigious adventure of The Encyclopedia, To organize her enlightened meetings, Madame Dupin had a secretary, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who is also the tutor of her son, a spoiled and difficult child. ‘She saved the castle by telling the mad revolutionaries of the French revolution that by destroying the castle, they would remove the only bridge linking Montrichard to Bléré, which would go against the interests of the people. This consideration was retained as the revolution needs roads and bridges and passages from one bank to the other of the Cher are rare with a Castle-bridge, So Chenonceau was therefore useful, and saved ! Thanks to Mrs. Dupin, the chapel was saved because it was transformed into a woodburning reserve. All religious signs have been concealed. Madame Dupin died in 1799, aged 93, surrounded by the affection of the villagers. She was the wowan of Lettres de Chenonceau. She is buried in the park of the castle. Her estate is difficult without a direct heir, she had transferred her affection to her son-in-law, who had remarried the daughter of the Marshal of Saxe and a dancer, herself the widow of a bastard of Louis XV ! From their union, was born François Maurice Dupin, father of the future George Sand, whose real name was Aurore Dupin. And I say thank you Mrs Dupin !

Some of the best movies ever filmed in the castle that I like and follow in my life were the 1913 film La Dame de Montsoreau of Emile Chautard.  The 1921 film of the original Les Trois Mousquetaires of Henri Diamant-Berger (1^st part), and the 1932  film Les Trois Mousquetaires of Henri Diamant-Berger (2^nd part), Also, the 1963 film Scaramouche of Antonio Isasi-Isasmendi, Watch them in all their versions always,

As an added anecdote on this post as love the history of it . In 1891 Crédit Foncier (a bank) sold the entire estate to José Emilio Terry, (family of Cuban origin, born and died in Paris) son of Tomas Terry (of Irish paternal descent, Terry was born in Caracas Venezuela died in Paris) and by Teresa Dorticos (born in Cienfuegos Cuba died in Rome Italy). The estate will remain in this family until 1913.

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 of my belle France. You need to come to the castle of the ladies, It is a must me think, Again, hope you have enjoy this post on the Château de Chenonceau, exteriors !!!  as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!