Chenonceau Castle. Attractions in France: medieval castles

The ancient castles of the world seem to take visitors several centuries ago. So you want to imagine yourself a beautiful marquise or gallant viscount, or even a brave knight ready to compete in the tournament for the look and smile of the lady of the heart ... The word "chateau" in French has many meanings. This is a severe feudal fortress somewhere on the cliff, and a nice manor surrounded by a garden and a farmhouse extension, and a pompous palace with fountains, ponds and parks. And because Keribus in the Pyrenees, Trianon in Versailles and Rambouillet near Paris - it's all "shato". Each of these objects performed its functions, and now all of them are unique attractions of France. Many of them now operate museums. And some still serve for solemn receptions of the first persons of other states. In this article we will tell you about the interesting castle of Chenonceau (France). It is one of the three in the Loire Valley that are compulsory to visit by tourists.

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Ancient castles in France - more than enough. Each region has its own characteristics in the construction of defensive citadels and luxurious palaces. However, there are two provinces, where the density of "chateau" per square kilometer is just off scale. It is the Île-de-France with Paris and its suburbs and the Loire Valley. This latter region is famous for its delicate wines and goat cheese. But even more - with their locks. It is for this that UNESCO has included the Loire Valley - from Salli to Chalon - on its World Heritage List. Excursions in France can not ignore this region. Most of the local shato belong to the Renaissance. This is an elegant mix of suburban residence and impregnable fortress. The buildings differ in splendor, beauty, but they are surrounded by a moat, and sometimes powerful walls. Here lived aristocrats and kings, and therefore luxury (and well-founded fears for their safety) are quite understandable.

Historic Monuments of France and the Loire Valley

In this country there are about three hundred castles that deserve attention. Even if some of them are ruins, their eventful history makes them very interesting. The most recognizable is Chateau Cheverny. He is known to us since childhood - after all, it was he who became the prototype for Disney cartoon dwelling princesses. In the Loire Valley, the castles of Europe were erected at different periods. So Breze, built in the eleventh century as a fortress, was alternately a citadel, a country residence, a palace and, finally, in the nineteenth century a hunting lodge. A mandatory tour of the chateaux of the Loire includes a visit to Chambord. There is an opinion that his architectural plan was created by Leonardo da Vinci: the Titan of the Renaissance was then in the service of King Francis First and lived in nearby Amboise. But it is for certain that the artist completed his famous "Gioconda" here.

Exposition of Chenonceau Castle

Chateau, which interests us, is famous for its collection of medieval tapestries, carpets and antique furniture. Here lived the spouses and mothers of the monarchs of France, as well as their uncrowned favorites. Therefore, Chenonceau is often called the "Castle of Beautiful Ladies". Diane Poitier, Louise Dupin and Catherine de Medici weaved their fates into the walls of these elegant creations of architecture. In many castles (including those located in the Loire Valley) are the museums of France. We do not forget that the famous Louvre was built not as an art gallery, but first as a feudal fortress. To see this, it's enough to go down to the basement rooms of the museum. The thickness of the walls of the medieval Louvre is impressive. Then it was the residence of the king, left for the glorious Versailles. In Chenonceau there is also a museum - not only tapestries, but also wax figures. And still there is a small picture gallery.

Chenonceau Castle and its neighbors

Château Chenonceau for more than seven hundred years. But, despite this respectable age, it was never a truly defensive construction. About the wild Normans, who tormented these lands on the turn of millennia, by 1243 had time to forget. The villages, once hiding on the dais, began to creep towards the roads. Therefore Chenonceau, called in the people "Castle of the Ladies", occupies a convenient place right on the river Cher, the tributary of the Loire. If you are interested in the period of the early Middle Ages, then welcome to the nearby Château Lange - the oldest in these places. The ancient castles of the world here are not uncommon. This is Amboise, representing a typical example of Renaissance architecture, which, however, began to be built in the eleventh century. No less ancient Chinon - one of the royal castles of the tenth century. But the typical chateau in the Loire Valley is a brilliant "palazzo" in the style of the Italian Renaissance. These are Blois (in this castle died Ekaterina Medici), Villandry, Chambord, Aze-le-Rideau.

History of the feudal castle

The first mention of the fortress dates back to 1243. Then the village of Chenonceau was owned by the de Mar family. A small castle was built on the outskirts of the settlement. According to the architectural canons of that time, it was surrounded by walls with loopholes and a moat, where the waters of Cher were directed. The mill adjoins the shato. To get inside the castle, it was necessary to pass the drawbridge. During the Hundred Years War, the owner of the chateau, Jean de Marc, committed an unacceptable oversight: he allowed the British to host the garrison. For this crime, Charles VI ordered to disrupt defensive fortifications and destroy the feudal tower. Falling into disgrace (and having experienced financial difficulties because of this), the genus de Marc sold the Chenonceau castle to the Normandy finance intendant Thomas Boyer. This man was a fan of the Renaissance. So he razed to the ground what the French King did not have time to destroy, and in 1512 unfolded a grandiose construction. It was completed only in 1521. To enjoy the full extent of his residence couple Boye did not have time: Thomas died in 1524, and his wife Catherine - in 1526.

The history of the royal castle

In the possession of the son Boyer, Antoine. But King Francis I, under the pretext of punishing him for financial violations, annexed the chateau. This expropriation occurred in 1533. So Chenonceau Castle became a royal country residence. Francis I came here for hunting. But he also brought his associates to the Chateau: his wife, Eleonora of Habsburg, son of Henry, daughter-in-law Catherine de Medici. The favorites were also here - the Duchess of Etampes, Anna de Pisleau, the beloved of Francis, and Diana de Saint-Valle de Poitiers, the rivalry of his son Henry. Literary evenings, balls and festivals were held in the château.

Why Chenonceau is called "Lady's Castle"

When Henry ascended the throne in 1547, Diana de Poitiers asked him for this lovely place. And the monarch, contrary to the law, forbidding the alienation of the royal possessions, transferred the castle of Chenonceau to his favorite. Diana started to reconstruct. She ordered to divide the park and garden around the chateau, and also erect a stone bridge across the Cher. After Heinrich's death, the favorite was expelled by his lawful wife, Catherine de Medici. This active lady also did a lot for the castle: she broke the second garden and converted the estate, having issued from Italy the architect Primaticcio. In 1580, on the stone bridge, a two-story building was erected. Catherine bequeathed the estate to her daughter-in-law, Louise de Vaudemont. But the new owner of the chateau was widowed a year later. She was dressed in mourning (in monarchs he was white) and until the end of his life did not leave the castle limits. Her bedroom and furniture were preserved. Residents of the village respectfully called her "White Lady".

Further metamorphoses of Chenonceau

The castles of Europe often changed from defensive fortresses to palaces, then to prisons, then to estates and museums. Chenonceau was waiting for the same fate. The "White Lady" handed over the chateau to Françoise de Mercer, the wife of the Duke of Vendôme. Then the estate gradually began to decline. One wing of the castle was given to the monastery of the Franciscans (they built a new lift bridge). In 1733, these lands were bought by the banker Claude Dupin. His wife converted Chenonceau to a salon where she accepted outstanding personalities of that era. Thanks to her democratic views, the castle was not damaged during the Revolution of 1789. The new mistress was Madame Peluz, who wanted to return Chenonceau to its original appearance. In 1888, the castle was acquired by the Meunier family. Her descendants are now the owners of Chenonceau.

What to see in the castle

Of course, above all, the chateau itself. There is preserved the original interior of the room "Five Queens". Each proprietress, after the Boye couple, contributed something to the design of the castle. You should visit the gardens of Diana and Catherine with flower beds and labyrinths, decorated with sculptures and fountains. In the wing on the bridge is the main hall. And in the cellars there are huge kitchens with a set of utensils of those times. We do not forget that interesting museums of France are located in the castle's territory: medieval tapestries, furniture, carpets and wax figures. Also here is a collection of paintings.