Chenonceau Castle. Sights of France: medieval castles

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The ancient castles of the world seem to take visitors back several centuries. It makes you want to imagine yourself as a beautiful marquise or a gallant viscount, or even a brave knight, ready to fight in a tournament for the look and smile of a lady of the heart … The word "chateau" in French has many meanings. This is a harsh feudal fortress somewhere on a cliff, and a nice estate surrounded by a garden and outbuildings, and a pompous palace with fountains, ponds and parks. That is why Queribus in the Pyrenees, Trianon in Versailles and Rambouillet near Paris are all “château”. Each of these objects performed its own functions, and now they are all unique sights of France. Many of them are now museums. And some still serve for solemn receptions of the first persons of other states. In this article we will talk about the interesting castle of Chenonceau (France). It is one of the three must-sees in the Loire Valley for tourists.

Location

Ancient castles in France - more than enough. Each region has its own characteristics in the constructiondefensive citadels and luxurious palaces. However, there are two provinces where the density of “château” per square kilometer is off the charts. This is the Ile-de-France with Paris and its suburbs and the Loire Valley. This last region is famous for fine wines and goat cheese. But even more - with their locks. It is for this that UNESCO has included the Loire Valley - from Sully to Châlons - on its World Heritage List. Excursions in France cannot ignore this region. Most of the local chateaus belong to the Renaissance. This is an elegant mix of a country residence and an impregnable fortress. The buildings are distinguished by splendor, beauty, but they are surrounded by a moat, and sometimes powerful walls. Aristocrats and kings lived here, and therefore luxury (and well-founded fears for their safety) is quite understandable.

Historical monuments of France and the Loire Valley

There are about three hundred castles in this country that deserve attention. Even if some of them are ruins, their eventful history makes them very interesting. The most recognizable is the Château Cheverny. It has been known to us since childhood - after all, it was he who became the prototype of the cartoonish abode of princesses for Disney. In the Loire Valley, the castles of Europe were built in 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. The obligatory excursion program for the castles of the Loire includes a visit to Chamborne. It is believed that its architectural plan was created by Leonardo da Vinci:the titan of the Renaissance was then in the service of King Francis the First and lived in nearby Amboise. But it is known for certain that the artist completed his famous Gioconda here.

Exposition of the castle of Chenonceau

The chateau we are interested in is famous for its collection of medieval tapestries, carpets and antique furniture. The spouses and mothers of the monarchs of France, as well as their uncrowned favorites, lived here. Therefore, Chenonceau is often called the "Castle of the Beautiful Ladies." Diane Poitiers, Louise Dupin and Catherine de Medici wove their destinies into the walls of these exquisite works of architecture. In many castles (including those located in the Loire Valley) there are museums in France. Do not forget that the famous Louvre was not built as an art gallery, but first as a feudal fortress. To be convinced of this, it is enough to go down to the basement of the museum. The thickness of the walls of the medieval Louvre is impressive. Then it was the residence of the king, abandoned for the sake of the brilliant Versailles. Chenonceau also houses a museum - not only of tapestries, but also of wax figures. There is also a small art gallery here.

Château de Chenonceau and its neighbors

Chateau Chenonceau is over seven hundred years old. But, despite such a respectful age, it has never been a truly defensive structure. The wild Normans, who tormented these lands at the turn of the millennium, were forgotten by 1243. Villages that once hid on the hills began to slide towards the roads. Therefore, Chenonceau, popularly called the "Ladies' Castle", occupies a convenient place right onthe Cher River, a tributary of the Loire. If you are interested in the period of the early Middle Ages, then welcome to the neighboring Château Langeais - the oldest in these places. Ancient castles of the world are not uncommon here. This is Amboise, which is a typical example of Renaissance architecture, which, however, began to be built as early as the eleventh century. No less ancient Chinon is one of the royal castles of the tenth century. But a typical chateau in the Loire Valley is a resplendent "palazzo" in the style of the Italian Renaissance. These are Blois (Catherine de Medici died in this castle), Villandry, Chambord, Azay-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 Mark 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 Sher waters were directed. A mill adjoined the chateau. 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, made an unacceptable mistake: he allowed the British to place a garrison. For this opposition, Charles VI ordered the demolition of the defensive fortifications and the destruction of the feudal tower. Falling into disgrace (and experiencing financial difficulties because of this), the de Mark family sold the castle of Chenonceau to the finance quartermaster of Normandy, Thomas Boye. This man was a fan of the Renaissance. That is why he razed to the ground what the French king did not have time to destroy, and launched a grandiose construction in 1512. It was completed only in 1521. Enjoy to the fullest yourThe Boye couple did not have time to settle down: Thomas died in 1524, and his wife Catherine died in 1526.

History of the Royal Castle

Boyer's son Antoine took over. But King Francis I, under the pretext of punishing him for financial violations, annexed the chateau. This expropriation took place in 1533. So the castle of Chenonceau became a royal country residence. Francis I visited here for the sake of hunting. But he also brought his close associates to the chateau: his wife Eleanor of Habsburg, son Henry, daughter-in-law Catherine de Medici. The favorites also visited here - the Duchess d'Etampes Anna de Pisleux - the beloved of Francis, and Diane de Saint-Valier de Poitiers, concubine of his son Henry. Literary evenings, balls and festivities were held in the chateau.

Why Chenonceau is called the "Lady's Castle"

When Henry ascended the throne in 1547, Diane de Poitiers begged him for this nice place. And the monarch, contrary to the law forbidding the alienation of royal possessions, transferred the castle of Chenonceau to his favorite. Diana set to work on the reconstruction. She ordered a park and a garden around the chateau, as well as a stone bridge over the Cher. After the death of Henry, the favorite was expelled by his legal wife, Catherine de Medici. This active lady also did a lot for the castle: she planted a second garden and refurbished the estate, having ordered the architect Primaticcio from Italy. In 1580, a two-story building was erected right on the stone bridge. 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 dressed in mourningmonarchs, he was white) and until the end of his life did not leave the castle. Her bedroom and furniture have been preserved. The villagers respectfully called her "The White Lady".

Further metamorphoses of Chenonceau

The castles of Europe were often transformed from defensive fortresses into palaces, then into prisons, then into estates and museums. The same fate awaited Chenonceau. The "White Lady" handed over the chateau to Francoise de Merkur, wife of the Duke of Vendôme. Then the estate began to gradually fall into disrepair. One wing of the castle was given over to the Franciscan monastery (they built a new drawbridge). In 1733, these lands were bought by the banker Claude Dupin. His wife converted Chenonceau into a salon, where she received prominent personalities of that era. Thanks to her democratic views, the castle was not damaged during the Revolution of 1789. Madame Pelouze became the new mistress, who wanted to return Chenonceau to its original appearance. In 1888, the Meunier family acquired the castle. Her descendants are now the owners of Chenonceau.

What to see in the castle

Of course, first of all the chateau itself. The original interior of the Five Queens room has been preserved there. Each owner, following the Boye couple, contributed something of her own 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. The main hall is located in the wing on the bridge. And in the cellars there are huge kitchens with a set of dishes from those times. Do not forget that interesting museums of France are located on the territory of the castle: mediev altapestries, furniture, carpets and wax figures. Also here is a collection of paintings.