Appearing seemingly out of nowhere on the Cher, with its five arches spanning over the river, the Château de Chenonceau, so fought over, so esteemed by queens and kings, is a haven of peace and a stunning testimonial to the charms of Touraine and the Renaissance.

Next to this structure, the main dwelling is composed of a central building with four corner turrets built on the strong stone foundations of the former mill, which once bordered the right bank.

Staging

The real entrance is found elsewhere. Here, though, everything is still staged. The Marques Tower, isolated on a large square courtyard, is in fact the keep of the old medieval structure, revisited with a touch of the Renaissance, with its large mullion windows, its finely wrought gate, its white stone dormer windows and its small steeple.

“Château des Dames”

“Château des Dames” for the history of France, built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet and successively made more attractive by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis, Chenonceau was spared from the hardships of the Revolution by Madame Dupin.

This feminine imprint is present throughout, having preserved the castle from conflicts and wars and made it a haven of peace ever since.

Furnished and decorated with rare tapestries and antique paintings, it is the most visited private historical monument in France, endowed with several pleasure gardens, a park and a wine estate.

Poussin, Le Corrège, Rubens, Le Primatice, Van Loo…

The Château de Chenonceau possesses an exceptional museum collection of paintings by great masters: Murillo, Le Tintoret, Nicolas Poussin, Le Corrège, Rubens, Le Primatice, Van Loo, etc. as well as an extremely rare selection of Flanders Tapestries from the 16th century.

Throughout its history, this emblematic castle has always attracted talent and inspired the biggest artists.

Richly decorated and floral rooms

At Chenonceau, the flowers placed in each of the gorgeously decorated rooms only add to their elegance.

Visitors who come here from all over the world can today discover the quality of the welcome reserved for them thanks to an open or audio-guided visit with a video iPod (in 11 languages).

Do not miss

• Diane de Poitiers' bedroom; François I' bedroom, which holds the most imposing fireplace in the castle; the staircase, which is one of the first straight staircases (banister on banister) built in France and based on the Italian model; Gabrielle d'Estrées' bedroom; the Five Queens' bedroom; Catherine de' Medici's bedroom, Louise de Lorraine's bedroom, with its black panelling and morbid and religious paintings evoking the mourning of Henry III's wife; the Louis XIV living room; the grand gallery extending over the Cher; the surprising kitchens built at the base of the pillars of the bridge; Catherine de' Medici's Green Study; etc.

• Diane de Poitiers's garden, at the foot of which is a landing stage from where it is possible to go for cruises along the Cher. This garden is protected from flooding of the Cher by raised terraces from the top of which there are great views over the flower beds and the castle.

• Catherine de' Medici's garden, which is more intimate, with a central basin and facing the castle's Western façade.

• The floral decoration of the gardens, renewed every spring and summer, require the planting of 130,000 flowers grown on the estate.

• The Grand Avenue leading to the castle is planted with plane trees over more than half a mile.

For more information

The Château de Chenonceau website