Château de Chenonceau

The Château de Chenonceau is located in the Loire Valley near the town of Chenonceaux in the French department of Indre-et-Loire, not far from Amboise and between Blois and Tours. The name of the castle is spelled without an -x, in contrast to that of the village Chenonceaux.

It is one of the most distinctive castles of the Loire because the castle is situated on the water of the Cher River and has remarkable gardens. It is open all year round.

The old castle dates back to 1432 and was built by Jean II Marques, a follower of King Charles II. Thomas Bohier bought the castle in 1513. He sold the castle to King Francis I to pay off his debts.

Henry II gifted the castle to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. Henry's wife Catherine de' Medici had Diane removed from the castle. Both of them designed a garden. Because of these events, the castle earned the nickname 'Château des Dames'.

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