They call it the castle of the ladies for its elegance and for the role that several women had in its history.
It is one of the smallest castles in France. However, the beauty and history of Château de Chenonceau captivate those who visit it . Its delicate forms and the role of various women in that history have made it known as the castle of the ladies. If you ever have the chance to visit the Loire Valley area, you can’t miss it!
The Château des Dames, a jewel in the Loire Valley
Chenonceau Castle.
The castle stands out for its location, since it is in the middle of the Cher river . The river, placid and calm like a lake most days, reflects the white surface of the castle stone and the delicate towers, forming an unforgettable image.
The whiteness and the refined air that this castle possesses made it popular as the ladies’ castle. Although its delicate forms are not the only reason for its nickname .
Over the centuries, powerful women have built Chenonceau, maintained it, expanded it, loved it, fought for it, and given it a place in history. Next, we will tell you about some of them and their role in the history of the Château de Chenonceau .
1. Katherine Briçonnet, first lady in the history of Château de Chenonceau
Chenonceau Castle inside.
Katherine Briçonnet is the first of the Château de Chenonceau ladies. She and her husband purchased the property in 1496 and replaced the existing medieval castle and mill with a new castle.
It was Katherine who supervised all the details of the construction , since her husband was away working for the king.
2. Diana de Poitiers, the mistress of Henry II of France
Soon after, the castle became the property of the king and came under the control of Henry II of France , in whose life there were two important women: Catherine de’ Medici, his wife, and Diana of Poitiers, his mistress.
Henry II gave control of the castle to his mistress , which angered the queen. Diana showed her talent for business and developed a successful farm in the castle.
The profits from the farm were used to expand Chenonceau and build the most spectacular gardens of the time. Also, he built a bridge over the river.
3. Catherine de’ Medici, the wife of Henry II
Chenonceau Castle.
After Henry II died, Catherine de’ Medici kicked Diana out of the castle and took control of it . On the opposite side of the castle, Catherine built her own garden. In addition, she put two galleries to the bridge of Diana.
He transformed the vineyards of his rival into a place dedicated to sericulture. He produced a silk of the highest quality that became famous throughout the world and was known as “the queen’s cloth”.
4. Louise Dupin: the savior of the castle
Another important woman in Chenonceau’s history was Louise Dupin. So important that she managed to avoid a terrible fate for this beautiful castle.
When, during the French Revolution, the revolutionaries wanted to destroy it as a symbol of the excesses of royalty, Dupin reminded them that many of their heroes: Voltaire, Rousseau, etc. they had lodged there and thus saved Chenonceau .
5. The Meniers: when Chenonceau became a hospital
Chenonceau Castle at sunset.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the war came to Chenonceau. The Menier family converted the castle into a hospital for the wounded from World War I. An operating room was created and more than 120 beds were introduced to accommodate the wounded.
The Menier family paid all the expenses and helped 2,254 wounded soldiers. Simone Menier was the head nurse and ran the hospital with her husband.
During World War II, Chenonceau played an important role in the French resistance . In June 1940 France lost a decisive battle and was divided in two. The line that separated the French territory controlled by the Nazis from the free one passed through the Cher river.
A part of the bridge was controlled by the Nazis but the castle was free . Although there were German guards patrolling the river, Simone Menier opened the doors to the bridge galleries whenever the guards were not there. She thus helped hundreds of Jews and French to escape.
As you have seen, the history of the Château de Chenonceau is exciting, thanks to the incessant struggle of the women who have lived in it. If you are lucky enough to visit the Loire Valley, make sure you stop by Chenonceau and let yourself be carried away by the force of these women.
