Chenonceau

The Ladies' ChâteauBuilt, rebuilt, and preserved by women over centuries, Chenonceau earned its nickname Château des Dames. Katherine Briçonnet oversaw the initial construction, Diane de Poitiers had the bridge built, and Catherine de' Medici added the gallery and her own garden. According to tradition, one of France's first fireworks displays was held here in 1560 for the entry of her son, François II. Later, Madame Dupin guided the château through the Revolution without it being plundered.The rivalry of its two most famous residents is still visible in the gardens: Diane's parterre covers around 12,000 square meters, while Catherine's garden is about 5,500. Both are accessible today, along with a labyrinth, a kitchen garden, and a flower garden.Two Wars in One BuildingDuring World War I, owner Gaston Menier financed a military hospital in the château, where over 2,000 wounded were treated until 1919. The hospital wards were located in the two galleries, and the kitchens were equipped with modern facilities. In World War II, the demarcation line ran along the Cher: The entrance was in the occupied zone, while the south door of the gallery led to the free bank, aiding the Résistance in bringing people to the free zone.

Getting ThereChenonceaux is located in the Indre-et-Loire department, about half an hour from Tours and a good 230 road kilometers from Paris. Chenonceaux station is a few hundred meters from the castle entrance and can be reached by regional trains from Tours, or from Paris with a change. This makes Chenonceau one of the few Loire châteaux you can easily reach without a car.By car, the route is via the A10 and Amboise. The village is small, and parking is available at the entrance to the plane tree avenue that leads to the castle.On the GroundsFrom the entrance to the building, you walk along the avenue; after that, everything is accessible on foot. The grounds are significantly larger than the castle itself: gardens, a labyrinth, a kitchen garden, and the 16th-century farm. For the gallery over the Cher, it's worth coming early or late, as it's the bottleneck everyone has to pass through.In summer, you can rent rowing boats on the Cher. From the water, you can see the arch construction of the bridge from below.