Visit the Château de Chenonceau: in a few words
Surging above the Cher, it's a fairytale castle. We expect Prince Charming to appear at any moment, and we wouldn't even be surprised if the owner told you her name was Cinderella. Chenonceau, it's the Ladies' castle, because they made it this marvel that continues to move us.
Chenonceau. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.Com: mawgli via Depositphotos.
Catherine Briçonnet takes the château out of the Middle Ages and turns it into a pleasure residence. Henri II, King of France, offers it to Diane de Poitiers, the woman of his life. It was she who had the idea of building a bridge linking the château to the other bank of the Cher. Catherine de Médicis, wife of Henri II, takes her revenge on the death of her husband. She hunts Diane and gives the château its current look by having the bridge created by her rival covered. Here, the widowed queen, dressed in black, dominates the Court. She knows everything thanks to her "flying squadron", the pretty, devoted women she sends to gather the confidences of the lovers she chooses for them. Also passing through Chenonceau are Reine Margot, queen of pleasure, Marie Stuart, the beheaded queen, or Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont, the white queen, inconsolable widow of Henri III. Louise Dupin brings Chenonceau into the Age of Enlightenment: she welcomes Jean-Jacques Rousseau and works on women's rights. She saves Chenonceau from destruction during the Revolution, reminding revolutionaries that "the château is a bridge, and a bridge can always be useful."- Château, pardon, chapeau Madame!
Later, Madame Pelouze showed off her lawns to the Tout-Paris. Then the Menier family, of the famous chocolate, takes over and still owns the estate. Under their care, Chenonceau became a military hospital during the First World War, then clandestine passage to the free zone during the Second. Today it's one of France's most popular tourist spots, visited each year by several hundred thousand curious visitors who have come to cross the Cher and history.
What to see in Chenonceau: gardens, park and château
Les jardins renaissance du château de Chenonceau. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance: Mor65 via Depositphotos.
The gardens of Château de Chenonceau: a Renaissance masterpiece
On arrival, a huge driveway leads straight to the castle, which can be made out in the distance. But don't take it immediately! Take detours, follow the map handed out at reception: on the right, the parc aux ânes, then a petite ferme with various animals - a real treat for the kids. We come across swans, ducks, and further on the potager aux fleurs, teeming with varieties. Small signs indicate their names, and one is never long without coming across a gardener with whom to chat. A floral workshop exhibits magnificent bouquets, a must for plant lovers. The walk continues to the farmhouse and the carriage gallery, featuring antique horse-drawn carriages, horse-drawn carriages and carts - a fascinating testament to the ingenuity of yesteryear.
The château emerging from Renaissance gardens. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
The labyrinth and "false ruins" of Chenonceau
To the left of the main aisle is a labyrinth of living wicker. A surprising place where one loses oneself with pleasure. At its center, a monument adorned with caryatids by Jean Goujon pays homage to the romantic gardens of the XIXᵉ century. We discover Pallas and Cybele on one side, Hercules and Apollo on the other. The place is photogenic: don't miss it, even if the château already attracts you.
The Labyrinth monument. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
The contemporary gardens of Chenonceau: between art and nature
Before or after visiting the château, explore the green garden, laid out on the site of Catherine de Médicis's former menagerie and aviary. This garden, planted with remarkable trees - holm oak, locust, blue cedar, catalpa - pays tribute to domesticated nature. Further afield, the Russell Page Garden, named after the great British landscape designer awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1952, celebrates the dialogue between art and nature. On view are works by François-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008), an animal sculptor with a singular poetry.
The Renaissance gardens of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis
Château de Chenonceau from the airPhoto by Antoine2K/Shutterstock
In front of you, the château emerges, half bridge, half palace, offering one of the Loire's most famous panoramas. To the right, the jardin de Catherine de Médicis, intimate and full of flowers (roses, lavender...), borders the river where canoes are often seen. To the left, the jardin de Diane de Poitiers, slightly below, retains its original design. The terraces, veritable ramparts, protect the estate from the floods of the Cher - a capricious river!" The climbing roses here are sublime in fine weather.
Visit the Château de Chenonceau: inside the masterpiece
The entrance to Château de Chenonceau arriving from the gardens. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.com: Milosk50 via depositphotos.
The tour is perfectly organized: you just have to follow the signs, even if you quickly get caught up in the beauty of the place. We start with the oldest part of the dwelling (before the bridge), where we discover the bedrooms, the intimate chapel, the apothecary's room and the superbly reconstructed kitchens - it's like being in Downton Abbey.
View of the apothecary's room (since Chenonceau was also a convent and the nuns had to be treated. the château was also a hospital during the First World War. Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: silverbackstock via dépositphotos.
Next comes the grande galerie, a long promenade above the water, adorned with paintings and antiques. The light here changes according to the time of day, giving a magical impression of floating on the Cher. After the tour, you can see Madame Dupin's tomb in the forest park, before returning to the château.
The chapel (detail). Photo chosen by monsieurdefrance.Com: giuseppemasci.me.com via dépositphotos.
Planning your visit to Chenonceau: duration, itinerary and tips
Count on at least half a full day to get the most out of Chenonceau. The ideal: the gardens right-hand side on the way in, left-hand side on the way back, with at least an hour for each part. Inside, you go up and down a lot, but the traffic remains fluid. Even at busy times, it's still possible to take a great photo without the crowds - well done to the château team for this exemplary organization. Look at the ceilings, the sculptures, the details: they're magnificent and often overlooked by hurried visitors. The staircases and fireplaces offer splendid photo angles, different from the usual shots.
Practical information: access, opening hours and prices of the Château de Chenonceau
Don't forget to look at the details. Sculptures are everywhere at Chenonceau, and they're subtle. Photo chosen by Monsieurdefrance.com: Jérôme Prod'homme (c)
GPS address: Château de Chenonceau, 37 150 Chenonceaux (Indre-et-Loire).
The estate is 210 km from Paris (approx. 2 h via the A10) and 33 km from Tours (30 min).
Getting to Chenonceau
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By car: A10 freeway, Bléré or Amboise exit, towards Chenonceaux.
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By train: Chenonceaux station, right next to the château, with connections from Tours and Paris-Austerlitz (journey ≈ 2 h 30).
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By plane: Tours-Val-de-Loire airport 30 min away.
Rates and opening hours
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Adult admission: about €15, brochure included.
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Online booking recommended.
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Open all year round, opening times vary according to season (see: chateau-chenonceau.fr).
Please note that prices are indicative and not binding on Monsieur de France / Check the official website.
Château de Chenonceau Photo by proslgn/Shutterstock
Distances from Chenonceau to other Loire castles
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Chambord: 54 km – approximately 1 hour by car
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Amboise : 12 km - ≈ 15 min.
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Azay-le-Rideau: 52 km – ≈ 40 min
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Blois : 45 km - ≈ 45 min.
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Cheverny : 60 km - ≈ 1 h 10
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Villandry: 55 km – ≈ 45 min
The history of Château de Chenonceau: the Château des Dames
Before the marvel we discover today, there were already several castles at Chenonceau. First a fortified castle designed to control - and tax - passages on the Cher, the river that flows beneath. Of these medieval buildings, almost nothing remains, apart from the Tour des Marques, a vestige of the former fortified castle.
Restitution of the south facade overlooking the Cher, of Thomas Bohier's château. Drawing by Félix Roguet (1823 1888).
The origins of Chenonceau: from château-fort to château de plaisance
It was Thomas Bohier and his wife, Katherine Briçonnet, who turned Chenonceau into a pleasure resort. They bought the place in 1514 and began by eroding the old château-fort to build a new one, on the banks of the Cher. Katherine Briçonnet was the real architect of the place, managing the estate and the works during the long absences of her husband, an influential man at the French Court. After the couple's death, financial malfeasance by Thomas Bohier led to the confiscation of the château from his son, Antoine Bohier, by King François I in 1535. The château then became part of the Crown domain.
Diane de Poitiers: the king's favorite and builder of the bridge
Henri II, King of France, inherits the château confiscated by his father François I. In 1547, he offered it to the woman of his life: the sublime Diane de Poitiers, his mistress twenty years his senior. It was she who had the idea of building a bridge linking the château to the other bank of the Cher - a visionary idea, which would save Chenonceau from revolutionary destruction: "a bridge is useful", Louise Dupin would later recall.
Probable portrait of Diane de Poitiers by François Clouet (1510 - 1572).
Diane reigned over the château and the king's heart for twelve years. But when Henri II died, killed during a tournament on July 10, 1559 (he received a spear in the eye), Catherine de Médicis, his wife, took her revenge and drove Diane from the Court. The favorite is forced to relinquish Chenonceau, which she exchanges for Chaumont-sur-Loire.
Catherine de Médicis: the queen who covers the favorite's bridge
Now a widow, Catherine de Médicis took over Chenonceau in 1559 and set about transforming it. She had the bridge built by Diane covered and gave it its current appearance as a suspended gallery over the Cher (1576). She also commissioned the creation of new gardens.
Catherine de Médicis by François Clouet (after 1559).
Strategic queen, dressed in black, she dominates the Court. She relies on her "flying squadron", the seductive, intelligent women she sends to glean information from influential men. At Chenonceau, politics and intrigue mingle with refinement.
Queen Margot, Queen Marie Stuart and Louise de Lorraine, the future "White Queen", pass through here. These are the great hours of Chenonceau, royal residence and beating heart of feminine power.
Louise de Lorraine, the White Queen of Chenonceau
It was at Chenonceau that Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont retired after the assassination of her husband, Henri III, in 1589, by a fanatical monk ironically named "Clément". Very much in love, she never recovered from her loss. Little Lorraine princess with no royal destiny, she nevertheless became Queen of France, and Chenonceau her mourning refuge.
Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont, Reine de France by By Jean Rabel - This image comes from the Gallica online library.
Dressed in white every day - the color of mourning for the queens of France, she transformed her bedroom into a dark oratory decorated with tears and silver-painted bones. Her grief left a melancholy mark on the château. Upon her death, Chenonceau passed successively to the houses of Vendôme and Condé.
Louise Dupin, Madame Pelouze and the Meniers: Chenonceau through the centuries
Louise Dupin (1706 1799) by Jean Marc Nattier
In 1737, the Duc de Bourbon, an absentee owner, sold the château to financier Claude Dupin (1686-1769). His wife, Louise Dupin, turns it into a place of thought and culture. She welcomed Jean-Jacques Rousseau and took an interest in women's rights. She was one of the first French feminists.
During the French Revolution, she saved Chenonceau by recalling :
"Eh quoi citoyens! Don't you know that Chenonceau is a bridge? You only have one bridge between Montrichard and Bléré, and you want to demolish it? You're the enemies of the public good!"
Hats off to Madame Dupin!
Later, in 1864, Madame Pelouze undertakes an ambitious renovation of the château and organizes fancy worldly receptions. Her extravagances ruin her: she has to sell Chenonceau back to Crédit Foncier de France. The estate then passed to the Terry, a family of Cuban origin, before being bought by the Menier, famous chocolatiers.
The Menier family: saving the castle
Henri Menier (1853-1913) buys Chenonceau for his wife, Hélène Thyra-Sellières, whom he adores. He died shortly afterwards, and his brother Gaston Menier continued the family work. Patriotic, he transformed the gallery into a military hospital during the First World War. His wife, Simonne Menier, treated the wounded herself. A few years later, the Menier family, aviation enthusiasts, welcomed Charles Lindbergh, the first man to fly across the Atlantic. During the World War II, the gallery becomes a clandestine passage to the free zone. The château is damaged by bombing: the chapel's stained glass windows are destroyed by an American plane, whereas they had survived the Revolution.
A poster of the Menier Family / Poster publicitaire de 1893, créée par Firmin Bouisset.
Today, Chenonceau is still owned by the Menier family. Laure Menier, the current owner, continues the line of the "Dames de Chenonceau" and watches over this emblematic monument. It's now one of the most visited sites in France, where every visitor crosses both the Cher... and five centuries of history.
FAQ - Château de Chenonceau
The gardens / Château de Chenonceau Photo by Viacheslav Lopatin/Shutterstock
How long does it take to visit the Château de Chenonceau?
Allow at least half a full day: two hours for the gardens, two for the interior tour.
Why is it called "Le Château des Dames"?
Because it was powerful women who shaped Chenonceau: Katherine Briçonnet, Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Médicis, Louise Dupin....
Can you see the gallery above the river?
Yes, the grande galerie spans the Cher, offering a view unlike any other in the world: a bridge castle on water.
Château de ChenonceauPhoto by Felix Lipov/Shutterstock.fr
Can you visit the gardens without entering the château?
Yes, the ticket gives access to several gardens: Renaissance, floral, kitchen garden, labyrinth and green garden.
Is the château accessible by train?
Yes, the gare de Chenonceaux is just a few meters from the entrance.
Was Chenonceau used during the wars?
Yes: military hospital during WWI, then passage point to the free zone during WWII.
Where exactly is Chenonceau?
In the Loire Valley, in the commune of Chenonceaux (37), about 210 km from Paris and 30 min from Tours.
What's the best vantage point from which to photograph the castle?
From the Renaissance gardens or the rift of the Cher, where the reflection of the château shimmers in the water.
Does the château still belong to the state?
No. It's still owned and run by the Menier family, famous for chocolate.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, it's best to book online, especially in summer or at major weekends.
