Chateau de Chenonceau

Chateau de Chenonceau was built in 1514-1522 on the site of an old mill on the banks of the river Cher. 25 years later, a covered bridge was added that spanned the river and allowed easy access to both banks. It passed through many hands including a number of influential women (hence its familiar name of Ladies Castle) including Catherine de' Medici in the 1560s who lived there until her death and built a number of gardens. Bought in 1913 by Gaston Menier of a family famous for chocolates, it has been in that family ever since. It was heavily damaged during the second world war and was restored in the 1950s to its current state.

Below is the entry to the Chateau.

A view of the Chateau crossing the river Cher

A view of the Chateau from across one of the formal gardenswith annuals planted in rows

Below is a walled garden with a raised promenade set into a wall on which lots of pots provide a very decorative relief.

Imagine watering all those pots!

The passage over the river from the Chateau.