Page 180 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

178  FR ANCE AND THE L OW C OUNTRIES

e Château de Chenonceau

Chenonceau, stretching romantically across the Cher
River, is considered by many to be the loveliest of the
Loire châteaux. Surrounded by elegant formal gardens
and wooded grounds, this pure Renaissance building
began life as a modest manor and water mill. Over
the centuries, it was transformed by the wives and
mistresses of its successive owners into a palace
designed solely for pleasure. On July and August
evenings, the Promenade Nocturne allows visitors to
stroll about the gardens accompanied by classical music.

Chambre de Catherine de’ Medici
Henri II’s wife, Catherine, made her own
mark on Chenonceau’s design with this
sumptuous bedchamber.

Formal Gardens
The current designs of the formal
gardens, created by Diane de
Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici,
date from the 19th century.

KEY
1 The Tour des Marques survives
from the 15th-century castle of the
Marques family.
2 The Cabinet Vert was originally
covered with green velvet.
3 Louise de Lorraine’s room was
painted black and decorated with
monograms, tears, and knots in
white after the assassination of her
Chapel Grande Galerie husband, Henri III.
The chapel has a vaulted The elegant gallery is Florentine in 4 The arched bridge over the Cher
ceiling and sculpted style. It was created by Catherine was designed by Philibert de l’Orme
pilasters. The stained glass, de’ Medici in 1570–76 as an in 1559 for Diane de Poitiers. It was
destroyed by a bomb in addition to the bridge built for built on the site of the old water mill.
1944, was replaced in 1953. Diane de Poitiers.
For hotels and restaurants see pp206–8 and pp209–11

178-179_EW_Europe.indd 178 14/07/16 10:44 am