Loire Valley Castles
CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU
CHENONCEAUX
Château de Chenonceau
37150 Chenonceaux
Tél : 00 33 (0)2 47 23 90 07
Fax : 00 33 (0)2 47 23 80 88
Email : Send an email
Website : CHENONCEAU CASTLE
Chenonceau is one of the most impressive Renaissance Chateau. It was built about 1515 by Thomas Bohier, chancellor of the exchequer in Francois 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 Chateau 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 Francois 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 Chateau 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 Chateau from destruction. The present owners, the Menier family, bought the Chateau 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.
