Chenonceau

River-spanning French castle

Chenonceau is a French château in the Loire Valley, famous for spanning the River Cher on a series of arches.

Built in the early sixteenth century and expanded by successive owners—notably Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici—it ranks among France's most visited castles: We spent the afternoon touring Chenonceau.

architecture

château

French country mansion

gallerySpace for displaying artwork
archesWeight-bearing curved spans
bridgeStructure spanning an obstacle

turrets · Renaissance · dormers · balustrades · towers · façade · pilasters · medallions · corbels · keep

gardens

parterre

Patterned ornamental garden beds

DianaRoman hunting goddess
mazePuzzle of passages
labyrinthIntricate passage network

Catherine · topiary · flowerbeds · geometric · boxwood · fountain · orangery · kitchen-garden · roses · borders

history

Diane

Female given name

PoitiersWestern French commune
MediciFlorentine banking dynasty
FrancisMasculine given name

Catherine · Henri · mistress · rivalry · queens · royal · court · intrigue · succession · Renaissance

Loire

Cher

riverLarge flowing watercourse
valleyLow ground between heights
spanningExtending across something

waterway · reflections · banks · currents · flooding · tributary · crossing · stream · flow · riverbed

wartime

hospital

Medical treatment facility

ambulanceEmergency medical transport
WWIFirst global conflict
woundedHaving sustained harm

soldiers · nurses · wards · stretchers · convalescence · refugees · WWII · demarcation · escape · resistance

tourism

visit

Trip to see another

ticketsDocuments permitting entry
toursGuided sightseeing expeditions
crowdsAssembled multitudes

audioguide · photography · admission · seasonal · illuminations · parking · accessibility · UNESCO · monument · attraction

Chenonceau

château

parterre

Diane

Cher

hospital

visit

Chenonceau

Opposites

Categories