Château de Chenonceau is in the town of Chenonceaux which is 30 kilometres from Tours. We arrived by train, the stop being only about 500 metres from the chateau. Chenonceau is very different from previous chateaux we have visited as it spans the river Cher. It was built in the 16th century & was expanded by each of its owners.
It has a very interesting history as Henry II gave it to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. When Henry died in 1559, his wife, Catherine de' Medici wanted it, so forced Diane to exchange it for Château de Chaumont which was actually much more grand. Like Diane, Catherine made many changes & it became her favourite residence. She held many spectacular parties. On Catherine's death in 1589 the château went to her daughter-in-law, Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont, wife of King Henry III. Other women made their mark on the chateau during its history including Louise Dupin & Marguerite Pelouze from the wealthy aristocracy.
Chenonceau was used as a hospital in World War I. During the Second War the château was bombed by the Germans in June 1940. It was also a means of escaping from the Nazi occupied zone on one side of the River Cher to the "free" zone on the opposite bank. Today it receives over 1 million visitors a year.