Château de Chenonceau was the last in a series of Loire castles we visited on this tour:
Guided Tour of Old Town Nantes - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Visit at the UNESCO-classified L’ Abbey Royale de Fontevraud in Fontevraud - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch in the Courtyard of Saumur's Fairy-tale Castle Château de Saumur - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit of Château de Chambord: "An Epitome of what Human Art can Produce" said Charles V. (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations) - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Tour of Château Royal de Blois, where 7 Kings and 10 Queens lived - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Visit of Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died, in Amboise - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner and Overnight-stay at Château de Pray in Amboise, a Loire Château from the 12th Century - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided
Visit of Château Chenonceau, Residence of Diana de Poitier and of
Katharina de Medici, Mistress (the Former) and Wife (the Latter) of King
Henry II - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
We spent the whole afternoon there.
Château de Chenonceau
It is the most elegant, most endearing of all the Loire castles. It stretches gracefully across the Cher River, a tributary of the Loire River. Originally it was a mill. The war treasurer of King François I. ordered the castle to be built in 1513. Six women played an important role in the architecture and decoration of the château, the most famous is Diana de Poitier. In 1547 it became the residence of Diana de Poitier, the mistress of Henry II, husband of Katharina de Medici. Chenonceau is one of the few privately owned castles. Since 1913 owner is the family of the chocolate manufacturer Menier.
Château de Chenonceau: The Château of Fairytales (europeanwaterways.com)
The charming Château de Chenonceau in the Loire Valley is the castle of children’s fairytales. This stunning château boasts a five-arched bridge spanning the breadth of the River Cher, and shimmering grey slate roofs that provide contrast against the glowing white stonework. It’s not difficult to see why the spectacular Château de Chenonceau is the second most visited palace in all of France!
A marvel of French architecture, the château de Chenonceau was made magnificent by its many owners. Originally built under Thomas Bohier, its influential female residents gave the château de Chenonceau its nickname: ‘the ladies’ château’. During the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, the château was owned by Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici and Louise Dupin who all left their mark on its architecture and legacy.
Where is the Château de Chenonceau?
Built on the banks of the River Cher, the Château de Chenonceau is located near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Loire Valley. The Château de Chenonceau is well-known, as it is one of the most illustrious châteaux in the area. Collectively known as the châteaux of the Loire Valley, these castles are known for their links to French royalty and aristocracy, as well as their heritage and renaissance décor.
Who built the Château de Chenonceau?
Chenonceau was first referenced in the eleventh century, but all that stood in its place was an old mill next to the River Cher. The current château was designed by the French architect, Philbert de l’Orme between 1514 and 1522. The wing of the château that includes the gallery and bridge was created by Jean Bullant from 1570 to 1576.
The Château de Chenonceau is famous for its extravagant white stone façade and grey slate roofs. Its architecture incorporates both Gothic and Renaissance features. The château is also renowned for its spectacular landscape gardens, that were developed by some of its famous female owners. Chenonceau has been a designated historic monument since 1840 to protect it for future generations.
Who lived in the Château de Chenonceau?
Château de Chenonceau has had some notable residents – from the mistress of a king to a queen. These famous residents made some big changes to the architecture of the château and helped to shape its history.
1. Thomas Bohier
Thomas Bohier was the first owner of the Château de Chenonceau as it exists in its present state. He bought the estate in 1513 and demolished the residence in favour of rebuilding a brand new, state of the art château. As Chamberlain to King Charles VIII of France, he enjoyed popularity with the monarchy. His wife, Katherine, loved parties and hosted Francis I at the château on two occasions.
2. Diane de Poitiers
Château de Chenonceau was seized from Thomas Bohier’s son in 1535 after he failed to pay debts. On Francis I’s death, Henry II gifted the extravagant château to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. Diane was an astute courtier with a keen intellect. She possessed significant influence over the king. Henry II even signed his official correspondence ‘HenriDiane’.
Diane de Poitiers adored Château de Chenonceau. She arranged for the bridge to be built over the River Cher, to connect her home to the opposite side of the river bank. She was also responsible for the creation of a set of spectacular gardens in front of the château that were prevented from flooding by stone terraces. Laid out in triangles, Diane had them planted with extensive flowerbeds, vegetable patches and orchards.
3. Catherine de Medici
Catherine de Medici was Henry II’s wife, and when the king died in 1559, she became regent on behalf of their ten-year-old son, Francis II. Catherine found herself with an increasing amount of political power when her husband died, and she used it to strike against Diane de Poitiers, who had caused her much jealousy and embarrassment during her marriage. Catherine forced Diane to exchange the Château de Chenonceau for another Loire valley residence, Château de Chaumont, and expelled Diane from court.
Catherine installed her son, Francis, at Château de Chenonceau and adopted an Italian style of luxury and splendour, in recognition of her heritage. She held the first ever firework display in France at the château on Francis II’s ascension to the French throne. As regent of France, Catherine de Medici ruled in her son’s stead from her study within the château, called the Green Cabinet.
It was during this period that the Château de Chenonceau gained its grand gallery over the bridge, which could be used for taking ‘exercise’ without residents needing to leave the safety of the château. Catherine de Medici also made changes to the gardens, modernising them and creating a new series of layouts.
4. Louise Dupin
Louise Dupin was married to a wealthy squire named Claude, who bought the Château de Chenonceau in 1733. The daughter of a financier and an actress, Louise was described by a historian of Chenonceau as an “intelligent, beautiful, and highly cultivated woman who had the theatre in her blood”.
Louise Dupin became known for holding meetings of intellectuals in her literary salon at Château de Chenonceau. Leaders of Enlightenment thought in France were attracted to the salon, including writers, philosophers and naturalists like Voltaire, Rousseau, Buffon, Condillac and many others.
It was Louise that saved Château de Chenonceau from destruction in the French Revolution of 1792, by claiming that its bridge was the only crossing over the River Cher for many miles.
5. The Menier Family
In 1913, Château de Chenonceau was bought by Henri Menier, a chocolatier. It is owned by the family to this day. The château was first opened to the public by the Meniers in 1913 and has hosted visits from head of states, like Harry Truman, and other personalities.
In the first world war, the gallery above the bridge was transformed into a hospital which helped to treat over 2250 injured patients. 120 beds were installed in the gallery under instruction from Gaston Menier, senator of Seine-et-Marne, who covered all expenses himself.
During the second world war, Château de Chenonceau was bombed by German forces and the chapel’s windows shattered. In addition, the château played a pivotal role in politics, aiding French citizens to move from Nazi-occupied France on one side of the riverbank, to the ‘free’ zone on the opposite side of the River Cher. The Menier family were instrumental in smuggling French citizens across the gallery to safety.
Following the war, Château de Chenonceau had been heavily damaged from bombing and a flood that destroyed the gardens. In the 1950s, the Menier family invested funds to restore the exquisite Loire Valley château to its former glory.
Dinner at L'Océanide (Bib Gourmand Michelin) in Nantes - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at L'Instinct Gourmand in Nantes, with Owner/ Chef Sylvain le Bras - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Tour of Old Town Nantes - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at Iconic Brasserie La Cigale in Nantes - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour, Tasting and Light Lunch at Vignobles Günther Chéreau, Château du Coing, in Saint Fiacre-sur-Maine, with Owner Véronique Günther-Chéreau - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Two Domaines under one Roof: Visit at Domaine Gadais Père et Fils and Domaine de la Combe/ Pierre-Henri Gadais in Saint Fiacre-sur-Maine, Muscadet Sévre et Maine, Pays Nantais, with Owner/ Winemaker Christoph Gadais - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at Restaurant Les Petits Près of Chef Samuel Albert (Top Chef France 2019) in Angers - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Château d’Épiré, AOP Savennières, Anjou, with Owner/ Winemaker Paul Bizard - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Barrel Tasting and Salon Tasting at Château des Vaults, Domaine du Closel in Savennière, Anjou, with Owner/ winemaker Evelyne de Pontbriand - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort-sur-Loire, Anjou, with Owner/ Winemaker Liv Vincendeau - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Wine Tasting with a Light Lunch at Domaine de la Soucherie in Beaulieu-sur-Layon, Anjou - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner at Restaurant L’Essentiel, Michelin-listed and Nestled at the Foot of Saumur’s Fairy-tale Castle - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Visit at the UNESCO-classified L’ Abbey Royale de Fontevraud in Fontevraud - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch in the Courtyard of Saumur's Fairy-tale Castle Château de Saumur - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting, Cellar Tour and Vineyard Tour at Domaine des Roches Neuves in Varrains, Anjou, with Next Generation Owner/ Winemaker Louis Germain and Agathe Germain - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tour and Tasting at Maison Bouvet-Ladubay in Saumur, with Owner Juliette Monmousseau - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Tasting at Cave M. Plouzeau in Chinon, Touraine, with Owner/ Winemaker Marc Plouzeau his Château de la Bonneliére Wines - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
At Domaine Bouchardière in Cravant les Côteaux, Touraine: Tasting the Wines of Domaine Bouchardière and Domaine de la Haut Olive, Cravant les Coteaux, Chinon and Panzoult, Touraine - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Menu
du Jour Lunch at Bar-Restaurant Le Bistrot du Marché of Hotel Le Lion
d'Or in the Center of Chinon - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine François Cazin, Le Petit Chambord, in Cheverney, Touraine, with François Cazin - Loire Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course "Bistronomique" Dinner at
Restaurant Brut Maison de Cuisine in Blois, with Owner/ Chef Adrien
Delafoy - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard Tour, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Brazilier in Thoré-la-Rochette, Côteaux Vendômois, Touraine, with Owner/ Winemaker Benoît Brazilier - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
3-course Lunch at Le Moulin du Loir in Vendôme - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit of Château de Chambord: "An Epitome of what Human Art can Produce" said Charles V. (Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire of German Nations) - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Tour of Château Royal de Blois, where 7 Kings and 10 Queens lived - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
With a Large Cheese Cart and Soufflé Flambé au Cognac: 5-course Menu Inspiration - Leisurely Sunday Lunch at Restaurant La Croix Blanche on the Banks of the Loire between Amboise and Blois, with Owner/ Chef Jean-François Beauduin (Bib Gourmand Michelin) - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Visit of Château du Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci lived and died, in Amboise - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner and Overnight-stay at Château de Pray in Amboise, a Loire Château from the 12th Century - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit at Domaine Denis Meunier in Vernou-sur-Brenne, Touraine, with Daniel Meunier - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Visit at Domaine des Aubuisières, Bernard Fouquet, in Vouvray, Touraine - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Guided Visit of Château Chenonceau, Residence of Diana de Poitier and of Katharina de Medici, Mistress (the Former) and Wife (the Latter) of King Henry II - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Dinner and Overnight-stay at Auberge du Bon Laboureur in Chenonceau - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Vineyard
Walk, Cellar Tour and Tasting at Domaine Pellé in Morogues,
Menetou-Salon, with the Export Manager Pauline Guillot - Loire Valley
2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant Fluteau in Morogues - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Extensive Tasting at at Domaine Alphons Mellot in Sancerre,
with Alphons Mellot - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Domaine de Vrillères, SCEA in Sury-en-Vaux,
Sancerre, with Kevin Lauverjat - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar
Tour and Tasting at Domaine Tinel-Blondelet in Pouilly-sur-Loire, with
Marlène and Annick Tinel - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Lunch at Restaurant/ Affineur Romain Dubois in Chavignol, with Gilles Dubois - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Cellar Tour, Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Domaine Henri Bourgeois in Chavignol - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Wine-pairing Dinner at Le Clos du Maréchal with the Wines of Vignobles Berthier, with the Owner/ Winemaker Clément Berthier and the Chef/ Owner Nathanael Fromant - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
Last Meal of the Tour: At La Coupole in Paris - Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours
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