visit guide château de CHENONCEAU Diane de Poitiers 1499 - 1566 In 1547, King Henri II donated Chenonceau to his favourite lady, Diane de Poitiers, renowned for her beauty, intelligence and sense of business… At the château, she created gardens which were among some of the most spectacular and modern at that time. By building the famous bridge on the River Cher, she made the architecture of Chenonceau unique in the world. Catherine de’ Medici 1519 - 1589 Henri II’s widow, Catherine de’ Medici, removed Diane, made the gardens more magnificent and pursued architectural works. She raised the height of the two- floored gallery, so as to organize glorious parties. As Regent, Catherine governed France from the Green Study, introducing in Chenonceau Italian sumptuousness and establishing the authority of the young king. Louise of Lorraine 1553 - 1601 In 1589, on the death of her husband Henri III, Louise of Lorraine withdrew to the château and went into mourning, in white, as required by court protocol. Forgotten by all, she had trouble maintaining her queen-dowager life style. She devoted her time to reading, charity work and prayer. Her death marked the end of royal presence at Chenonceau. Château of Chenonceau The Ladies’ château Louise Dupin 1706 – 1799 In the 18th century, the exquisite representative of the Age of Enlightenment, Louise Dupin, gave renewed splendor to the château. She started an outstanding salon with the elite among writers, poets, scientists and philosophers, such as Montesquieu, Voltaire or Rousseau. A wise protector of Chenonceau, she managed to save the château during the Revolution. Marguerite Pelouze 1836 – 1902 In the 19th century, Marguerite Pelouze, descended from the industrial bourgeoisie, decided in 1864 to transform the monument and its gardens according to her taste for luxury. She spent a fortune on restoring the estate for it to resemble the way it was at the time of Diane de Poitiers. A somber political affair caused her ruin. Chenonceau was sold once, and then again until 1913. Simonne Menier 1881 – 1972 During the First World War, far from the trenches, Chenonceau also knew the troubles of wartime. Simone Menier, the matron, was in charge of the hospital installed in the château’s two galleries, transformed and equipped at her family’s expense (Menier chocolate factory). Over 2 000 wounded were looked after here, up to 1918. Her bravery led her to carry out numerous actions for the resistance during the Second World War (1939-1945). To build the Château of Chenonceau on the River Cher in the 16th century, Thomas Bohier Walking towards the Château, built on the and his wife Katherine Briçonnet demolished piers of the old fortified mill, we come to the the fortified castle and mill belonging to impressive main door. Dating back to François the Marques family and left standing just I, made of sculpted wood and painted, it bears, the keep: the Marques tower, which they on the left, the arms of Thomas Bohier, on the restored in Renaissance style. right, those of his wife Katherine Briçonnet The layout of the forecourt is a copy of the - the builders of Chenonceau - and at the former medieval fortress surrounded by top, the salamander of François I with the moats. Latin inscription: «FRANCISCUS DEI GRATIA Still standing too, besides the tower is the FRANCORUM REX - CLAUDIA FRANCORUM well, decorated with a chimera and eagle, REGINA» («François, by the grace of God, King of emblem of the Marques family. France - Claude, Queen of France»). Forecourt and the Marques tower 1 5 2 4 1 3 0 10 11 7 6 1 9 8 -1 In this room were the men-at-arms charged Hanging on the walls is a series of 16th-century with protecting the royal family. Flanders tapestries illustrating scenes of daily The coat of arms of Thomas Bohier decorates life in the Château, a marriage proposal, a hunt. the-1 16th-century fireplace. On the0 oak door The chests are from Gothic and Renaissance (also from the Renaissance), just below periods. In the 16th century they would have the figures of their patron saints (Saint been used to carry silverware, crockery and Catherine and Saint Thomas), is the motto tapestries from one royal residence to another. of Thomas Bohier and Katherine Briçonnet : The exposed ceiling joists bear the two «S’il vient à point, me souviendra» which means: intertwined «C» of Catherine de’ Medici. «If I get to the end of this construction job, I will On the floor are the remains of 16th-century be remembered». majolica tiles. The Guards’ room 1 2 2 2 On the walls we can still read inscriptions in English, left by Mary Stewart’s Scottish guards: From the guards’ room we enter the Chapel when entering, on the right, dated 1543 «Man’s through a door above which is a statue of the anger does not accomplish God’s justice» and Virgin. dated 1546 «Do not let yourself be won over by The leaves of this oak door represent Christ Evil». and Saint Thomas and the words of St John’s On the walls are paintings on religious Gospel are repeated here: subjects: “INFER DIGITU TUUM HUC”, “DNS MEUS ET - Il Sassoferrato: The Virgin in a blue veil DEUS ME” («Lay your finger here», «You are my - Alonso Cano: Jesus preaching in front of Lord and my God»). The stained-glass windows Ferdinand and Isabelle are from the 20th century (1954), made by the - Jouvenet: Assumption master glassworker, Max Ingrand. The original - Sebastien del Pimbo: Entombment stained glass was destroyed by bombs in 1944. - Murillo: Saint Anthony of Padua In the Loggia on the right, is the Virgin and - 15th-century French School: The child made of Carrara marble by Mino da Annunciation. Fiesole. Dominating the nave is the Royal The chapel was saved during the French Gallery, bearing the date 1521, from where the Revolution thanks to the idea of the owner queens attended mass. at that time, Madame Dupin, to turn it into To the right of the altar is a finely-carved stone a wood store, thus camouflaging its religious credence table with the Bohier motto. character. The Chapel 3 This was the bedroom of King Henri II’s favourite lady, Diane de Poitiers, to whom he donated Two 16th-century Flanders tapestries of Chenonceau. In 1559, on the death of Henri II, outstanding dimensions represent: killed in simple combat during a tournament by - The Triumph of Strength, riding on a chariot Gabriel Montgomery, Captain of the Scottish drawn by two lions, surrounded by characters guards, his widow, Queen Catherine de’ Medici, from the Old Testament. had the Château of Chenonceau given back to her Along the top border reads a Latin sentence by Diane in exchange for Chaumont-sur-Loire. meaning: «He who loves the gifts of heaven with The fireplace by Jean Goujon, French sculptor all his heart will not shrink from deeds that Piety from the French School of Fontainebleau, dictates». is engraved with the initials of Henri II and - The Triumph of Charity, surrounded by Catherine de’ Medici (as is the coffered ceiling): biblical scenes, with Charity holding a heart H and C, which when intertwined can form the D in one hand, the other hand pointing to the of Diane de Poitiers. Its restoration was ordered sun. The Latin sentence reads: «He who shows by Madame Pelouze. The four-poster bed, the strength of heart when in danger will receive Henri II armchairs covered with Cordoue leather Salvation as his reward at his time of death». and the magnificent marquetry table next to the To the left of the window: Christ stripped bed are from the Renaissance. A magnificent of his clothes by Ribalta, Ribera’s master. To bronze statue from the 19th century of « Diane the right of the fireplace: Virgin and child by d’Anet » brings back to memory the royal Murillo. Beneath this painting is a bookcase favourite. Take note also of the painting over the containing the archives of Chenonceau, a copy fireplace: a portrait of Catherine de’ Medici of which, on display, shows the signatures of by Sauvage. Thomas Bohier and of Diana van Poitiers. Diane de Poitiers’ bedroom 4 On either side of the door are two 16th- century Italian cabinets. On the walls, a collection of paintings, some of Catherine de’ Medici’s study when she became the most important of which are: Regent on the death of Henri II. She governed - Tintoretto: The Queen of Sheba and France from this room. On the 16th-century Portrait of a Doge ceiling, in its original state, there are the two - Jordaens: Ivory Catchfly intertwined «C» of her initials. - Golsius: Samson and the Lion The 16th-century Brussels tapestry called - Ribera: Three bishops «to the Aristolochia», is of both Gothic - Jouvenet: Jesus chasing the merchants and Renaissance origin. It is exceptional from the Temple for its green colour, which is almost blue, - Spranger: Allegorical scene painted on and its theme, inspired by the discovery of metal. the Americas: silver pheasants from Peru, - Veronese: Study of a woman’s head pineapples, orchids, pomegranates, animals - Poussin: The Flight to Egypt and plants unknown in Europe until 1492. - Van Dyck: Love with monkey The green Study 5 It is in this small room, which used to be her library, that Catherine de’ Medici put her desk. Over the door: From here there is a magnificent view of the - Andrea del Sarto: Holy Family and on either River Cher, the island and Diane’s garden. side: The ceiling, dating from 1525, Italian-styled - Bassano: Scenes from the life of Saint and in coffered oak, with small hanging keys, Benedict is one of the first coffered ceilings of this type - Correggio: A Martyr discovered in France.