French Château Photo Diary: Château de Chenonceau

Originally published on April 18, 2018, this post may have been edited for clarity and updated with current information.

Ever since I started studying French, I have always had a sentimental fondness for Château de Chenonceau.

I remember the posters of different castles hanging in French classrooms, the cultural lessons, and the photos in textbooks. I even remember watching one video during French class that took place at Château de Chenonceau—it was one of those hokey educational videos that accompanied textbook questions. The one line I can clearly remember is “Il est disparu!”

While visiting my boyfriend’s hometown in the Loire Valley for the weekend, we took a spontaneous trip to Château de Chenonceau.

As you can imagine, the textbook pictures didn’t do the place any justice.

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1. History of Château de Chenonceau
2. Photos of Château de Chenonceau
   1. Front Entrance from Visitor’s Entrance
   2. Kitchen
   3. Salons
   4. Main Gallery
   5. Exterior and Gardens
3. Caves des Dômes
4. How to Get to Château de Chenonceau
5. Additional French Châteaux to Explore in the Loire Valley
   1. French Châteaux within 20 minutes of Chenonceau
   2. French Châteaux within 30 minutes of Chenonceau
   3. French Châteaux within an hour or less of Chenonceau
6. Hotel Recommendations for the Loire Valley
   1. Hotels near Château de Chenonceau
      1. L’Auberge de Bon Laboreur
      2. Château de Chissay
      3. La Bicyclette
   2. Hotels near Château de Chambord
      1. Relais de Chambord

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History of Château de Chenonceau

There is a lot of history behind the construction and ownership of Château de Chenonceau, but it is widely known as “The Ladies’ Chateau” because women were the driving force of its design.

In 1535, King Henry II decided to offer the château as a gift to his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitiers.

Upon King Henry II’s death, his wife, Catherine de Medicis, seized the property and lived there with her son, King Henry III, while also ruling France from her study. Catherine de Medicis is responsible for the final form of the castle’s structure we now see today, with the two grand halls that span across Le Cher river offering incredible views of the estate. Eventually, King Henry III’s widow, Louise de Lorraine, would move into the château after her husband’s death.

Château de Chenonceau has served its purpose in history as a hospital during World War I and as an access point to freedom for refugees during World War II.

What makes Château de Chenonceau iconic amongst its peers is its superb construction over the river—it is the only château constructed directly on a riverbed. “

Led by architect Philibert de l’Orme, the structure was inspired by Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy.

Photos of Château de Chenonceau

Front Entrance from Visitor’s Entrance

Kitchen

One of the many things I loved about visiting Château de Chenonceau was how there were fresh floral arrangements throughout different parts of the castle. I think the flowers serve these historic spaces well and bring some life to the rooms that are otherwise frozen in time.

As you can tell, it was hard for me to pass up photographing the different views from the windows.

Salons

Main Gallery

Exterior and Gardens

Caves des Dômes

We only spent a short afternoon touring Château de Chenonceau and its grounds, but visitors could easily spend a full day or a weekend in the area. Aside from the actual château and its gardens, there is also a tea room, a restaurant, a wine cellar, and open areas for visitors to have picnics.

For 4 euros each, we opted to do a wine tasting in the chateau’s historic cellar, Cave des Dômes. The wines we tried were from the local region of Touraine-Chenonceau. I can’t say that I’m a wine expert, but my boyfriend was impressed enough by the selections we tried and bought a few bottles.

How to Get to Château de Chenonceau

If you’re looking to visit Château de Chenonceau, it is very easy to get there by train—the SNCF train stop, Tours-Chenonceaux, isn’t even a 3-minute walk away from the castle’s entrance and the surrounding village that has shops, hotels, and gastronomic restaurants.

If you decide to drive, there is plenty of visitor parking available at the château.

Additional French Châteaux to Explore in the Loire Valley

There are many other castles to visit in that area of the Loire Valley—over 300 châteaux, to be exact—so it’s understandable why tourists would want to travel the area over an extended period of time beyond a weekend.

Here’s a selection of the French Châteaux in the Loire Valley that are in close proximity to Château de Chenonceau—

French Châteaux within 20 minutes of Chenonceau

• Château du Clos Lucé– the official residence of Leonardo Da Vinci between 1516 and 1519
• Château Royal d’Amboise– royal residence in the city of Amboise
• Château de Montpoupon– a castle built under Charlemagne
  

French Châteaux within 30 minutes of Chenonceau

• Château de Candé
• Château de Chaumont
  

French Châteaux within an hour or less of Chenonceau

• Château de Blois
• Château de Chambord – the crown jewel of the Loire Valley, the domaine of Francois I

If you want to learn more about the châteaux in the Loire Valley region, visit the Val de Loire website.

Hotel Recommendations for the Loire Valley

Hotels near Château de Chenonceau

L’Auberge de Bon Laboreur

Originally built in 1786 as a post office, the hotel’s estate has five buildings and 29 rooms. Guests can enjoy the spa, restaurant, and grounds, including an outdoor pool during the summer. The hotel is currently run by the sixth generation of the family and takes great pride in creating L’Auberge de Bon Laboreur as a top destination in the Loire Valley.

Château de Chissay

If it’s not enough to walk through French châteaux all day, then why not stay in one for a weekend? The interiors and gardens of Château de Chissay maintain their historic charm while also meeting the needs of the modern traveler.

La Bicyclette

A charming bed and breakfast facing Le Cher, this property is a five-minute drive from Chateau de Chenonceau.

Hotels near Château de Chambord

Relais de Chambord

Located steps away from Château de Chambord, guests can enjoy the king’s countryside retreat in comfort and style. The hotel amenities include a spa and two restaurants—Relais de Chambord is also a dog-friendly hotel.