Château de Chenonceau

What a beautiful Chateau! It was absolutely magical to walk around the gardens during the sunset time. The history of the chateau was super interesting and the interior was beautiful. The added decorations were a little much and too Christmasy and not related to the vibe at all but I appreciate the efforts made. The chateau and its natural state is gorgeous as it is!

A castle with a moat is quite common, a castle near a river is also common, but a castle in a river—now that's unique! Just south of the village of Chenonceaux stands the truly magnificent Château de Chenonceau (yes, without the x) in (or over) the Cher River. The very first castle was built on the waterfront in the 13th century to control river traffic. During the Hundred Years' War, the castle was severely damaged, and in 1432, Jean II Marques was authorized to rebuild it. The new castle was surrounded on three sides by a moat and on the fourth by the Cher River itself. Of this feudal castle, only the so-called "Tour de Marques" remains. After a complicated legal battle, the castle ended up in the hands of Thomas Bohier and his wife Katherine Briçonnet, who demolished the old Château de Marques and built a new one on the foundations of a watermill in the Cher River. After Thomas's death, it was revealed that he had embezzled funds, resulting in Chenonceau falling into the hands of King Francis I in 1535. He used Chenonceau twice as a hunting lodge but did nothing further with it. His son, Henri II, gave Chenonceau to his favorite mistress, Diane de Poitiers, in 1547. She commissioned the creation of the Jardin Diane de Poitiers and, between 1556 and 1559, also had a bridge built at the castle to improve access to the forests for hunting. In 1559, Henri II died, and Diane had to relinquish Chenonceau to his widow, Catherine de Medici. She also commissioned the creation of beautiful gardens in 1561, and in 1576, her architect, Jean Bullant, began construction of the famous gallery that spans the Cher River to this day. After Catherine's death in 1589, Louise of Lorraine, wife of King Henry III, inherited Château Chenonceau, but, burdened by royal debts, she was forced to sell it to Gabrielle d'Estrees. In the following years, the castle passed from lady to lady until Claude Dupin, a wealthy tax farmer, purchased it in 1733. His second wife, Louise, restored the now somewhat dilapidated Chenonceau to order, organized literary and philosophical salons there, and made it a meeting place for the most famous writers and philosophers of the time (Voltaire and Montesquieu were among her guests). Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the son's tutor, wrote part of his "Émile" at Chenonceau. The prestigious château survived the French Revolution unscathed, thanks to its popularity with the locals and, allegedly, to Louise Dupin's omission of the "royal" x at the end of the name (the château's name has been spelled without the -x ever since). In 1864, Château de Chenonceau passed into the hands of Théophile Pelouze, whose wife, Marguerite, spent her entire fortune restoring the château (where she also hosted lavish parties). In 1913, Chenonceau was auctioned off and passed into the hands of the Menier chocolatier family, who still own it today. From 1940 to 1942, the château found itself in a peculiar situation: the Cher River formed the demarcation line between "free" Vichy France and the German-occupied north, and this border ran right through the building. This made the château a frequently used escape route. The Château Chenonceau, also known as the Château des Dames (Women's Castle) because of the many famous women who have lived there, is a magnificent and unique castle that is definitely worth a visit!

Probably one of the most beautiful castles in the Loire valley. The grounds are simply magical with gorgeously kept gardens and the castle is stunning for photos against the reflection of the river. You can spend a couple hours exploring and they also offer a large restaurant or small cafes/food trucks for coffee or a sandwich throughout. Great place to picnic too! Nice gift shop available for a souvenir.

Simply magical place. Among all the other Chateau's quite unique because of its location. The exhibitions are nice and it is not overwhelming. The gardens and parks around are beautiful, with plenty of benches to sit down and relax. I recommend doing a quick wine tasting in the wine cellar, maybe not the most engaging or informative but still a nice experience. This place is definitely worth the trip.

This chateau was the best chateau we have visited in France. The restoration, presentation and information available was first class. So much history from one location. Kind of overwhelming as you slowly self-guide around. Recommend Autumn as the time to visit with trees in their gold, red, and orange phases.

One of the most spectacular chateaus in the Louire Valley. A rich, storied history, amazing views, and beautiful gardens make this a must see place to visit! Seriously, come visit!

Visiting Château de Chenonceau was a wonderful experience. The castle is elegant and romantic, beautifully set over the river, and surrounded by lovely gardens. I loved the charm and history of the place — it feels both graceful and full of life. Truly one of the most beautiful castles on the Loire Valley.

Very beautiful but crowed. Big and meaningful. I didn’t have time to finished all the Château and the Jardin but it’s all fine and beautiful

I visited this sprawling chateau on a crisp autumn day in late October. The home itself was inspiring, I especially loved the kitchen and its copper cookware collection. What made the biggest impression was the stunning floral arrangements in each room. Whoever the designers are have a connection with the seasons and a brilliant eye for bringing the outdoors in. Bravo! The grounds were enchanting, and one could envision what it would look like in peak growing season. We enjoyed the labyrinth and walking through the moody woods with cyclamen making their debut for the winter. Spent 4 hours wandering and had a delightful experience.

Château de Chenonceau is beautiful and one of the best castles in the Loire Valley. The architecture and garden are magnificent. One of the best pictures you can get is actually across the river. Unfortunately, you cannot exit the castle on that side of the river, even though you actually do cross the river inside the house. To get to the other side of the river, you have to go all the way around which is not quick. Ensure this château is a planned stop on your trip to the beautiful Loire Valley!

This chateau actually needs half day to visit. We only have two hours before they close. It actually divided into 6 areas to visit. The chateau, park of Francueil, Diane garden, Catherine Garden, wine cellar, carriage gallery. The chateau has some unique room. It includes the Catherine de Medici bedroom, Louis XIV's Drawing room, five queen room, Cesar of Vendome's bedroom and more. The chateau also has a private chapel. This chateau has a gallery hallway build over the Cher River. One of the foundations of the building allow the boat entrance through river. This hallway is divided to different level. The top is small apartment, then the gallery, the bottom are the kitchen and more. It is unique design. Through the gallery, you can access to back of the park Francueil. Please remember the door closed at 5:30 pm at the back. Make sure you get back at that time. The Diana and Catherine Garden is Spectacular. We did not have the time to visit the wine cellar and the carriage gallery.

If you have a few days, a few extra days whilst in Paris - you may want to take a short trip to the Loire Valley, which is famous for their wine, fruit, cheese etc. It's only about 3 hours Southwest of Paris, so it's very doable for a day trip. And in the Loire Valley is Chateau Chenonceau. It was built in the 1500s and it's survived the French Revolution, WW I and WW II - that's unbelievable!! A chateau by the way is like a big country home or a small castle. And rich dudes built chateaus all over France to show their wealth, they also created elaborate and adjacent gardens to impress their wives. This is the most, well the second most visited chateau - only second to Palace de Versailles. It's built over the Cher river. Do plan to spend at least a half a day here. Everything was so charming and beautiful. When will I be back? Yo no se, but hopefully soon.

Wonderful time spent at the castle. You're allowed to roam round t your leisure. Buy your tickets early because they have the slots for tours. The gardens are spectacular!!

Lovely old castle rich in history. The timeline on the walls in the gallery is fascinating. Get the audio headset 4 euros for more explanation of the castle. Cher River runs under the castle for great views from many windows. The gardens are beautiful. Rich silk tapestries line the walls. We visited at 3:00 pm on a Monday and there were no crowds and no lines.

Lovely chateau along the river - there was a huge history with Catherine de Medici and her husband's mistress - for whom this castle was built Garden along the side is worth a visit for sure as it offers a lovely perspective of the castle. We were equally impressed by the plaques of history outlining the life of the castle and how it was designed, how the intrigue and scandal that followed the castle's construction saw it in fame and infamy. There looked to be boats / kayaks along the river although we did not partake. If you have time to spend here, there is definitely enough to enjoy a full day

A trip to the Loire is the best excuse to walk through a surreal dream. The Chateau Chenonceau is a fairy tale princess castle. The grounds & gardens deserve your time to stroll & enjoy these story book surroundings. Pack a lunch from local purveyors, a baguette, cheese & a bottle of wine. Indulge on the country air, the sites, aromas & tastes of the area. There are picnic tables near the parking area. Take your time taking in the Chateau & the gardens, slow down & enjoy it all.

Amazing history. Beautiful chateau on the river Cher.Incredible that the moat was added after the chateau was originally built.....what. Incredible story about the trap door in the main bedroom chamber floor. You can't make this stuff up. A must see Very highly recommended Slainte

Absolutely fantastic. One of the highlights of our trip. Pay for the audio headsets!! There's an enormous amount of information in the audio tour and it truly enriched the experience. They even have a different audio tour for the kiddos. Mine raved about it. Among other things, the audio tour leads you to the kitchen. And it explains that the kitchen sits above the bank of the river and was situated such that provisioning boats loaded with supplies could dock below. They'd then send a runner up the stairs to alert the pantry staff. The boatman had tied off by this point and one of the pantry staff would lower the pulley. The boatman would attach the pulley and the pantry man would reel it in. It's an awesome arrangement and was so cool to see the equipment live. But the audio tour explained that things got really exciting when the river ran high. Can you imagine being the master of the pantry and watching the river rise higher than it had the day before? And the next day to see it lapping at the loading door. And to watch the weather and know that the rain will probably continue for the next few days as you scramble to try to make the door watertight and to get all the food up off the floor so that it doesn't spoil? And then you make your way to the hall. And if you close your eyes for a moment you can almost see the tables set up for a banquet and the couples flirting and dancing. I stepped out of to one of the balconies and tried to imagine how many lovers had stepped on to this same balcony and whispered to one another and held each other close against the chill. Once you've enjoyed the castle head outside again. The maze is really simple but it's fun. The farm area had a wide variety of fruits and veggies that I'd eaten but never seen growing. And closer to the path leading back to the castle is a kids zone with outdoor instruments including a few drums and three different sized xylophones. One for tiny, little tots, one for grade schoolers and one for everyone else. I had a fabulous time and would go again in a heartbeat!

This Takes the Cake for most romantic exploration. Why? Everything, from the journey, food & scenery was Amazing. First, just the sight of the Chateau is amazing. One can understand why Walt Disney was inspired and modeled his fairy princess castle after seeing the Chateau. But this is a 5 star experience because we decided to indulge all our senses. What I describe may seem cliche, but its critical to experience the Loire Valley. Started by renting bikes in Amboise, stopping at the Amboise farmer's market and buying INCREDIBLE fresh bread, wine & cheese. Then, biking 15km through the countryside thru little towns & fields. Sitting outside the Chateau's gates and having a picnic of the wine, bread & cheese (no food or drinks are allowed inside, but they provide picnic tables outside). Finally, exploring the grandness of the Chateau. Did this in June so the weather was a bit overcast (perfect for a long bike ride) and we had a little bit of drizzle, but this did not deter from the experience, at all. Look at the pics, and judge for yourself.

One word: charmed! The Power of Three cast a spell on this chateau to entice visitors. Chenonceau's entrance to bewitch visitors really begins after leaving the parking lot where you must walk a long path lined by tall trees. Visitors cannot see the sky, or the chateau waiting at the other end. Chenonceau is maybe the most easily recognizable chateau of all France. The gardens are large and beautiful while the castle itself is on the smaller side. It is possible to walk into the forest behind where many hunting parties likely took place long ago. Early Renaissance architecture designed by Philibert Delorme yet delightfully charming as it sits in a small village of Chenonceaux, the Loire Valley in France. It was built on the site of an old mill on the River Cher. Chateau de Chenonceau is like a picturesque background found in travel photo books of France--my favorite of this whole "City of Light" excursion. Oui, ooh la la!

Château de Chenonceau is one of the oldest and most beautiful castles in France (only surpassed by the might of the famous Versailles in Paris). It was originally built over the river Cher in the 11th century. The castle is an architectural mixture of late Gothic and early Renaissance styles designsed by the French Renaissance architect Philibert de L'orme. This place is the most exquisite chateau I've ever seen. In addition to the stunning castle, the gorgeous manicured gardens-one named after Catherine de Medici and another for Diane de Poitier-give both solace and amazement. Castle is well preserved and well decorated with lots of natural flowers. Walking around the chateau, i feel the absolute power of the beauty of architecture. It's a reminder that building something extraordinary, something that can sit for centuries and centuries, only begins at the enjoyment of the builder -it really goes far deeper than that. This place is filled with history and inspiration. I came back from the trip and started watching "Reign" and "Medici" series on Netflix to learn more about Catherine de Medici and so much more.

We had a lovely visit of the inside of the castle and the many manucured grounds surrounding this marvel. Both Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medicis were majorly instrumental of the designs, functions and resources derived by the property in the early years. Diane was Henry II's mistress, Catherine was Henry's wife... Other ladies later on took possession of Chenonceau, why it is also called "Le Chateau Des Dames".

I've visited my fair share of chateaux in Europe, and this one ranks amongst my favorites. Its immaculately maintained interiors with stunning fresh flower arrangements, the picturesque spot spanning the Cher river, and the surrounding formal gardens, has something for everyone and leave no doubt why it is the 2nd most visited chateau in France (Versailles is #1). If you have time or stamina to visit only a couple of the many chateaux in the Loire valley, make sure this is one of them.

Château de Chenonceau is one of the most beautiful castle must visit in a life time. It has a long interesting history. Build on top of Cher River, the Château de Chenonceau took 42 years to finish. The castle is an art of architecture, the view is amazing. You can sit here all day enjoying the view of the fresh river water running underneath the castle, the beautiful garden, and the surrounding not getting bored.

This was one of my favorite chateaus in France. When my husband and I traveled through Loire Valley, we had an opportunity to visit a couple chateaus and this was a nice treat. Paid admission fee to go inside and see what the interior was like. My husband's favorite was the massive kitchen. The bedrooms were plentiful and beds were tiny! I really liked the grand hallway... We also spent a good deal of time outside in the gardens, Diane's garden and Catherine's garden. Interesting to hear about the story of these 2 ladies and how they are so intertwined in this chateau. :) You can get some really gorgeous photos of this place at almost any angle. So glad we came!

This château is like looking at a post card. The gardens and the chateau are both gorgeous!!! There is a bag check and you are not allowed to bring in any food.

Beautiful Chateau. We did a tour with a guide, which is really the best way to tour the various chateaus in the area. Our guide provided a lot of information about Chateau de Chenonceau, which I won't go into here. The Chateau has been beautifully maintained, and contains a good number of tapestries. The floral arrangements throughout are pretty spectacular. There is also a restaurant on the premises - long lines, but the food is good, which you can enjoy while dining al fresco.

Beautiful place to explore for a few hours, especially outdoors - the gardens and labyrinth. And the path leading up to the chateau is tree-lined on both sides. Very serene place!

A must visit! Beautiful Château with a cast of previous owners-with interesting histories & characters. Very popular with local & foreign tourists, touring the chateau itself can be a challenge since there is no crowd control. Hard to imagine what it must be like in the peak of the summer season-it can be stifling inside. Best advice is to visit late in the afternoon after all the bus tour crowds have gone. And the gardens more pleasant with the cooler temps. Don't miss the wine cellar for a bit of wine tasting after touring.

Chenonceau is one of the most popular castles in France! The castle is nicknamed "Chateau of the ladies" because of its history of housing several famous women over the centuries. I recommend coming in early to buy the tickets and enjoy the castle before the crowds start swarming in. Built in the 15th century by Thomas Bohier and his wife Kartherine Briconnet, the castle was later occupied by Henry II. Henry II gave the castle to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers, who expanded the castle by building a bridge across the Cher River and beautiful gardens, which to this day are named after her. After Henry II's death, his wife, Catherine de Medici seized the castle from Diane and built the three stories above the bridge that Diane had originally built. Fortunately, the castle was saved during the French Revolution and today is immaculately preserved for the public to enjoy. Just like any other castle, Chenonceau has a beautiful chapel with high vaulted ceilings and decorated glass windows. You will walk through the lavish bedrooms that were used by the queens who lived in this castle, Catherine de Medici's study room, the library overlooking Cher River and the lovely gardens. You can't miss those colossal 15th century tapestries in almost every room inside the castle. Spend some time aimlessly strolling through the well-manicured gardens, the plant maze, the vegetable and flower gardens, and the carriage gallery in the property. The plant maze was originally planted by Catherine de Medici.

The sheer size of this chateau is astounding. The architecture is beautiful as are the gardens and decor. It was definitely more crowded than other smaller castles we had previously seen, especially considering it was a Tuesday afternoon. But, the visit was still well worth it. They give out free informational brochures in most languages at the entrance. The Medici Gallery on the second floor had interesting readings about the chateau's rich history. Many people we saw had the audio tour sets, but I don't feel as if we missed out on the experience without them. I highly recommend walking around the gardens (including the vegetable and flower garden) after touring the inside of the property. You can also enjoy views of the castle from a canoe on the river Cher, which looked like fun. The crowd died down around 5, and I would recommend arriving around then. The property stays open until 8, which leaves plenty of time to see everything even if you arrive late in the day.

I've seen many castles, or chateaus while in France. This is one of my favorites! I love the interiors, like most chateaus, this one is one I'd like to live in, someday when I come back in my 2nd life. I love the gardens, and I love the fact that it's sitting on the River Cher. It was fascinating to hear stories about the Ladies of Chenonceau. I want to be a part of them! I'd visit here again!

Simply put, Chateau de Chenonceau is one of the most spectacular castles in the Loire Valley, if not all the world. In fact, it is often featured in many of the Top 10 Castles to see. Chenonceau is not the largest or the most vast, but if you like charming, this is the one to see. The entrance is unique as you walk through a long road covered on each side by trees. As you look at the chateau after you enter the clearing, it looks a bit small, and unassuming. However, once you enter the gardens on the left, see how the chateau spans the Cher River, you will see how impressive it can be. This was my second time here and we took the audio tour which went through the history of the chateau, from when it was built, the influence/ownership of the Medici family (From Italy) building it to resemble Ponte Vecchio, to its use during WWII. It will take you through all the rooms on all floors. Allow several hours to see the chateau (I would say 3-4 hours to see it and its grounds) which allow you to take plenty of pictures. Earlier in the morning is best since many tourists will be visiting here nearly any time of the year.

This is a great chateau with an excellent audio tour. I know it's more beautiful in the spring/summer/fall, but I also enjoyed the winter, since it's way less crowded, and you get to see a lot more.

Beautiful chateau both inside and out! Unlike most chateaus in the Loire Valley, Chateau Chenonceau is beautifully decorated inside and outside. Most chateaus are bleak and barren in the inside. The chateau was built in 1513 by Katherine Briçonnet, and then remodeled by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. The Chateau sits right on top of the River Cher and is surrounded by beautiful gardens. My biggest regret at the Chateau was treating it like an American on vacation - blitzing through the palace and gardens and not really taking everything in. There was so much more to see in the gardens and I'm definitely going back some day to explore the grounds even more. I missed the farm, the flower-vegetable garden, and the donkey park. The maze was ridiculously easy but it was also small. I love how the chateau is built right over the river Cher. I could stare out the windows at the river for a very long time. The chateau is such an enjoyable place to visit but can get really, really crowded. Get there as soon as it opens, explore the chateau first, then the gardens and you'll have the place to yourself. A weird aside: I had the tastiest latte I've ever had at the vending machine right next to the creperie and the bathroom at the entrance of the chateau. Yes... a VENDING MACHINE! I dunno...it could have been cuz I was really, really hungry but it was yummy!

Went to Chateau de Chenonceau after visiting Chambord in the morning. Chambord was practically empty, but I regret that Chenonceau castle was too crowded to go inside. Nevertheless, 10 miles of walking done that day. By walking, seeing, smelling we fed our souls. No wheelchair access in France, so glad that we didn't invite the in-laws.

This castle is just beautiful! I love walking past the row of tall green trees that lead you to the castle. It's quietly tucked away from everything else and once you get to the castle, it's on a river that creates such a serene setting. One of the top castles I would recommend in the area!

This chateau is by far the most charming castle I have ever been to, and so well-kept. Every room has vases filled with fresh flowers and the grounds are lovely. The architecture is late gothic, early Renaissance. I was told the chateau survived the Nazi occupation during the war because it was the only bridge across the river Cher in the vicinity. The arched bridge, Pont de Diane, is a lovely ballroom/gallery. It was built upon the instruction of Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henri II, who had gifted the castle to her. She loved the chateau and planted the four gardens on the right surrounding the fountain. Poor Diane. After Henri died, his widow, Catherine de Medici, kicked Diane out and took over the chateau. To spite Diane, Catherine built much larger gardens on the left side that dwarfed Diane's beloved gardens. To make things worse, Catherine changed all the engraved initials of Henri and Diane in the rooms to hers. Yelpers, be sure to go down to the kitchen and take a look at the magnificent old stove. It's enormous. It's a pleasure to wander around this beautiful chateau, with its manicured gardens, park, and airy, sunlit rooms filled with flowers. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

Worth every penny. You can get a discount and beat the ticket line by passing by an office de tourisme (like in Amboise). Be sure to plan enough time to check out the flower gardens (used for the fresh flower arrangements in the château) and the woods that surround the estate. The bathrooms by the café next to Catherine's garden were very clean. If you have time, take the boat ride or canoe trip.

This castle and it's grounds are so beautifull. We visited it on our holiday and realy loved it. Be sure to visit the grounds to. And maybe even a bit further than the highly precise landscaped gardens. The forest and it's inhabitants are more than worth the walk.

This was awesome. Lots of history you can read about in here, super cool rooms and unlike a lot of old castles and shit, lots of stuff is original, not copies. There's a reason behind that but you'll find that out when you go in and read about Madame Dupin, the lady who basically saved the castle. I've never learned about this castle ever before, I don't know if I wasn't a good enough student in my Art History classes or if this really is just an obscure hipster ass castle... but it's cool. Unique in the fact that it's preserved pretty well. Check out Louise of Lorraine's room. Basically she was emo as fuck. Very rare. pros - lots of shit is original not copies, louise of lorraine's emo girl room, rich history cons - i don't know to be honest. GO HERE

This was my favorite experience in Europe. Just walking up the long path, surrounded by trees and greenery, was like going into another world. The combination of the castle, gardens, and river/moat is phenomenal. The audio tour is informative, and most of the castle is available to tour - they let you go practically everywhere. The rooms are all staged with furniture and art, much of it from the castle and its royal occupants. The original floor in the front room is a cultural mosaic dating back several centuries. The views from the castle are spectacular, the gardens are a geometrical work of art.

Beautiful Chenonceau, one of the most exquisite spots in all the world and the most iconic and easily recognisable of the French Loire chateaux. It has associations with several French Queens and royal mistresses from the sixteenth century onwards and it is easy to see why it was so beloved by them. The exterior is absolutely beautiful and the interior, especially the long gallery and the room of Queen Louise, widow of Henri III is gorgeous and worth visiting. The gardens are beautiful as well. Come in the Summer to see them at their best.

One of the castle plus cool from la vallée de la Loire, it's a mandatory visit. The castle is great in May, when you can walk aroun it, visiting the gardens and the forest. If you like eating, it's better to do it out there, the brasseries are economics and the food is ok

Chenonceaux was one of a couple of chateaux that we visited while in the Loire Valley, and by far our favorite. There is a TON invested in the care and upkeep of this spectacular property, and it shows. They have done an incredible job preserving the historical integrity of the property, and there are some rooms that you walk into and feel as if you've been transported into the 1500s. The grounds are stunning and could be their own full day between the gardens, farm, maze, etc., but the star is really the chateau itself. The building is incredibly beautiful inside and out, and for any history nerd like me, the place is bursting with stories and possibility. The building is essentially a museum with many of the original possessions (art, furniture, etc.) of the various inhabitants over the years. There are also good resources at the property to help give you some of this historical context and guide you through your experience there. I honestly can't say enough about what a magical experience it was to visit this very special place!

We took a day trip from Paris to the Loire Valley, and Chenonceau was the last stop. It was well worth the wait and long drive back to Paris! It is an absolutely beautiful chateau built across a river. The rooms are authentically decorated, and there are gorgeous bouquets of flowers throughout - with the flowers taken from the lovely gardens on the grounds. I would highly recommend a guided tour so you can learn more about the history of the chateau and the French Royal family.

My absolute favourite Chateau of the Loire, a true extravagance.

Impressive château built across a river! Worth a stop. Entrance is 11.50 EUR. Lots of tourists.