Chateau Chenonceau

The other chateau that we visited was Chenonceau. The front of this castle was draped and undergoing renovations, so we didn't get good pictures of the front, but you can see how different the stone looks after its been cleaned.

Like François I's salamanders at Chambord, Chenonceau had the emblems of its inhabitants built into it. In the picture below you can see the H for King Henri and the also the C for Catherine Medici intertwined with the H forming a D. The D was for Diane, the King's favorite mistress, whom he gave the castle to at one time.

Chenonceau, like many castles had a chapel within its walls. This castle had a separate second floor entrance adjacent to the queens quarters so she could enter the service privately. Also, this castle's chapel was used as temporary housing for many of the Louvre's pieces of art during WWII.


Catherine had many gardens added to the grounds. The castle boasts its gardens fill the vases around the many rooms of the castle twice weekly all year long.