The Château de Chenonceau, part II !!!

Posted in Europe, France
We have driven in the area and would like to have an imprint in my blog on the memorable village of Chenonceaux of my belle France, There is so much to see , doing my best, and glad found me these older paper pictures which now transposing in my blog for you and me, The pictures are old ,so the quality may not be as good ,but the memories are forever, I have written plenty on this castle but more is always welcome by me ! Therefore, here is my take on the Château de Chenonceau, 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. It is 32 km from Tours,111 km from Orléans, 123 km from Le Mans, 230 km from Versailles, and 378 km from my current house. The roads N24,A11 and A85 took us there. The Tour des Marques fortified residence of the Marques family. Rebuilt from 1432 by John II Marques, it formed a square of around 50 meters side, surrounded by ditches communicating directly with the Cher river, and whose towers assured the defense. When, in 1513, Thomas Bohier, general of the finance of Normandy and new lord of the castle, took the decision to postpone the stately house in the course of the river, he demolished most of the existing castle and only kept the larger rounds. Thomas Bohier, from the bourgeoisie of Tours, wanted it to stayed in place at the angle of what was now only the forefoot of his castle: this big tower demonstrated seniority and feudal status of the place. Chenonceau château bohier donjon aka tour des marques de diane de poitiers c2009 Located on the first floor, you have an impressive Grand Galerie. Built in 1576 upon the wishes of Catherine de Medici , on the bridge over the Cher river, the gallery is 60 meters long, 6 meters wide, has 18 windows with a lovely panorama of the gardens and the Cher river, and is equipped with pretty Renaissaince chimneys at both ends. It was open officially in 1577 during festivities honoring her son Henri III Early 19C, the gallery was decorated with medallions representing famous historical figures. It was here that the original military hospital of Mr Menier was put up for WWI. In WWII, the river Cher was the demarcation point of Petain’s France and occupied nazi France. The gallery served as an infirmary and a hospital during WWII, More than 2,000 officers were treated here The gallery south door gave access to the left bank of the Cher river and made it possible for the Resistance to pass large numbers of people into this free zone. Chenonceau château galerie 60m long 6m wide on top Cher river c2009 You see the chambre de Diane de Poitiers’ bedroom. When Henri II donated the castle to her. The fireplace has the initial of H and C for Henri and Catherine but when interwined can form the D of Diane de Poitiers! Diane de Poitiers was the favorite of King Henri II. When he reached the throne in 1547, the king offered the castle of Chenonceau to his mistress. 12 years later, on the death of the king, the queen resumed the castle, chasing her eternal rival. This room, which was that of Daine de Poitiers, is adorned with a ball bed, Cordoba leather armchairs and large tapestries of Flanders. In the bedroom, only the little bronze of Diane Chasseresse next to the bed reminds her place in the heart of Henri II. Chenonceau château chambre Diane de Poitiers c2009 The Catherine de  Medici bedroom with a wooden square coiffed ceiling. The coat of arms of the Medici family with in the center the H and C interwoven. Wonderful Flanders tapestries of the 16C illustrating the life of Samson This bedroom boasts the oldest tapestry in the Castle’s collections, woven in Tournai in the late 15C (The Story of Perseus and Pegasus). We can also admire the full-length portrait of Catherine De Medici (created in the 19C), a Late 16C tapetry (The Story of David and Abigail) and a remarkable 19C Henri II style elaborate bed . This room is also furnished with a 16C throne, as well as a wardrobe close to the bed whose facade, which dates back to the 15C, evokes iconography typical of this period; On the upper leaves, the three theological virtues (Faith, Hope and Charity) and the Four Seasons, and on the lower part, the Five Senses. Chenonceau château chambre catherine de medicis c2009 The kitchens of the castle are installed in a vaulted room on ribbed vaults formed by the first two stacks set up in the Cher floor. The low room with two vaults on crosses of warheads. Its 16C fireplace is the largest in the castle, next to it is the bread oven. The kitchens of the castle are one of the most emblematic and impressive places. You can admire the dining room, the butcher, the pantry, as well as the kitchen itself. The architecture is remarkable, with the superb vouts of the ceiling, and you can also see many objects of the time, superbly highlighted.. Next to the kitchens are the butcher’s shop and the pantry. Chenonceau château cuisines c2009 You have Diane’s garden a flowerbed that has remained unchange since the creation by Diane de Poitiers. It has two perpendicular and two diagonal paths border with eight large lawned triangles decorated with scrolls of santolina. It found the original water jet in its center, as in Diane de Poitiers’s time. The raised terrace protect the garden when water levels rise on the river Cher are decorated with basins and allow you to discover shrubs, ifs, fusans, boxwood and laurels that punctuate the drawings of the massifs. More than a hundred hibiscus on rods flourish in summer. Between these shrubs, the flowerbeds of flowers underline the rigorous geometry of this garden. All around the garden ,the walls that support the terraces are clad with iceberg climbing roses. Chenonceau château jardin Diane de Poitiers c2009 The official Château de Chenonceau: https://www.chenonceau.com/en The local Touraine Loire Valley tourist office on the château de Chenonceau: https://www.touraineloirevalley.co.uk/cultural-heritage/chateau-of-chenonceau-chenonceaux/ The official Loire Valley tourist office on the Château de Chenonceau: https://www.loirevalley-france.co.uk/discover/loire-chateaux/chateau-chenonceau/ There you go folks, a dandy area to explore and enjoy with the family, Memorable moments in my belle France, going all over in my road warrior trails brings out sublime awesome spots with nice memorable family visits of yesteryear always remember and always looking forward to be back, eventually. Again hope you enjoy the post on the Château de Chenonceau, part II !!! as I. And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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