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Chenonceau Castle

Chenonceau is one of the most impressive Renaissance Château. It was built about 1515 by Thomas Bohier, chancellor of the exchequer in François I's reign, on the foundations of an old mill. In 1524 it became royal property and Henri II gave it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers; on his death, his widow Catherine de Medicis took it back from her rival. Diane had Philibert Delorme buid a bridge between the Château and the opposite bank, Catherine had the galleries built on the bridge, for her grand receptions.

After a period of numerous receptions in honour of such guests as François II, Marie Stuart, and many others, Queen Louise de Lorraine spent her last years of widowhood there, after Henti III's death.
In the 18th century, the Château was bought by Mr Dupin, the chief tax collector, and his wife invited many famous visitors, such as Jean Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire and Diderot, to her literary circles. During the Revolution, she managed to save the Château from destruction. The present owners, the Menier family, bought the Château in 1913, and since then, they have carried out much restoration work on the buildings, seen to the upkeep of the park and the layout of the formal gardens, to enhance the pleasure of the ever-growing numbers of visitors.
Take a visit to our Website Chateau de Chenonceau, and you can find here more informations