This stunning castle,
Château de Chenonceau, is like a fairy tale.
It gracefully straddles the River Cher in the Loire Valley region of France.
It was a cloudy day in May, 2016, when I visited Chenonceau, a castle I had heard so much about. I found it to be both gorgeous and fascinating--not only because of its' location on the water,
beautiful interiors,
But, it is with the cast of characters where this fairy tale ends--and the dysfunction, or soap opera, begins. This 16th century story is about a king, two women and their gardens.
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The corridor that spans across the river |
It was a cloudy day in May, 2016, when I visited Chenonceau, a castle I had heard so much about. I found it to be both gorgeous and fascinating--not only because of its' location on the water,
beautiful interiors,
or the even the antique carriages on display.
One enters this sizable property by first strolling through an allee of trees that cuts through a small forest.
The castle and gardens are virtually surrounded by water.
Chenonceau is known as the 'castle of women,'
Chenonceau is known as the 'castle of women,'
referring to the six women who were the succession of owners.
Two of the most intriguing women, each with a namesake garden on either side of the castle, were Diane de Poitiers, whose garden is to the left, and Catherine de Médici's, whose garden is to the right.
Both women oversaw the planting of gardens, including flowers, vegetables and fruit trees, at different times during their stay at the Château.
Both women oversaw the planting of gardens, including flowers, vegetables and fruit trees, at different times during their stay at the Château.
Diane's garden |
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Catherine's garden |
Only one year later, 15-year-old Henry becomes romantically involved with the beautiful Diane de Poitiers, who was 35 years old at the time.
Henry and Catherine live at the castle. But then, so does Diane. The women are not exactly friends (which is the only part of this story that strikes me as normal).
Meanwhile, Diane (who also has a role caring for Henry II when he was 11 years old) apparently raises those heirs to the throne, and spends five years overseeing the planting of her gardens.
As I get ready to put this blog post to bed, I am aware that this dysfunctional tale
doesn't end happily ever after.
Well, I'd like to think the Queen was happier.
It seems Catherine finally was able to find her own voice, plan her own gardens
and own the Château de Chenonceau,.
The End.
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