Chateau d'Chenoceau

This chateau was viewed during heavy rain, which in a way added to the mystery and intrigue, although a walk around the magnificent gardens was impossible.

The chateau was built by Thomas Behier and his wife, Katherine Briconnet.   Not by them personally of course, but they organised and supervised the building.   But first they demolished an old fortified castle, leaving just the keep (Marques Tower) and a well.

 The impressive main door dates back to Francois I (yes, him again) and the salamander adorns the top of the door.

Many famous women over five centuries lived in this chateau, so that it is sometimes called ‘The Ladies Chateau’.   The women who lived in the chateau, include Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de’ Medici, Louise of Lorraine, Louise Dupin, Marguerite Pelouze and Simone Menier.    Unfortunately Marguerite Pelouze had a political affair which caused her ruin.  The rooms are set out in each woman’s style.

The long room, the Gallery, over the River Cher, is most impressive.   It measures 60 metres in length, and 6 metres in width.   And the hall is very light, as a result of 18 large windows installed in the walls.   At either end are two Renaissance fireplaces.     

The River Cher was the line of demarcation between the German held country and the French free zone.  During World War II, the Gallery was used by the Resistance to pass large number of people from the occupied side to the free side.  Throughout the war a German artillery unit was kept at the ready to destroy Chenonceau.   Luckily this did not happen.

 The River Cher looking very gloomy, with low clouds and rain.

 Catherine de’ Medici’s garden.

There were beautiful displays of flowers in all the rooms.

I am not sure whose room this is meant to represent, but it is certainly a very flowery bed.

 Then we went outside into the rain again.    Luckily we had fortified ourselves with coffee beforehand, and then went back to the warmth of the motor home for lunch.

And as it was my birthday, we went out to dinner at a truly lovely restaurant.   The day ended very well.