October 20, 2004
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Chenonceau , le château des femmes
Chenonceau , the women ' castle .
English version below the pictures
Situé dans la vallée de la Loire sur la rivière Cher ce château construit en partie sur un pont a reçu la marque de femmes célèbres .
Catherine Boyer fut la bâtisseuse ( 1521 ) pendant que son mari suivait les rois de France en Italie .
Puis ce fut la toujours belle Diane de Poitiers , maîtresse du roi Henri II, célèbre par sa beauté et son intelligence .
Quand le roi Henri II fut tué dans un tournoi sa veuve la terrible reine Catherine de Médicis chassa Diane et s 'installa au château . Des fêtes magnifiques étaient données .
Puis ce fut Louise de Lorraine , la dame blanche qui ne pouvait pas se consoler de la mort de son mari le roi Henri III assassiné . Le blanc étant la couleur du deuil . Nous sommes alors à la fin du XVIème siècle et les rois cessèrent de venir à Chenonceau sauf Louis XIV en 1650 .
Au XVIII ème Madame Dupin la femme d 'un riche financier créa un fameux " salon " où venaient de scientifiques ( buffon ) , écrivains ( Montesquieu ....) et philosophes ( Voltaire , Rousseau ...) du siècle des lumières .
Comme vous voyez il y a beaucoup de choses à dire sur ce château . C ' est la même chose pour tous les châteaux de la Loire . Et je ne parle pas de la splendeur de la décoration et du mobilier à l 'intérieur . Tout est parfaitement conservé .
Château de Chenonceau vue partielle Chenonceau castle part view Photo taken by Janine Fauquet 2004
Located in the Loire Valley ( the heart of France ) on the river Cher this castle is for a part built on a bridge . It bears the stamps of famous women .
Catherine Boyer was the builder ( 1521 ) while her husband followed the kings of France in Italy .
Then it was the always beautiful Diane de Poitiers , mistress of the king Henri II . She was renowned by her beauty and her intelligence .
When the king Henri II was killed in a tournament , his widow the terrible queen Catherine de Médicis chased Diane and installed herself in the castle . Unforgettable feasts were given .
Then it was Louise de Lorraine , the white lady , who could not be consoled after this husband the king Henri III was murdered . The white was the mourning color and she always wore white clothes .
We are at the end of the XVI th century and the kings stopped to go to Chenonceau excepted Louis XIV in 1650 .
In the XVIII th century Madame Dupin a rich financier ' s wife created a famous " salon " where numerous famous scientists ( Buffon ), writers ( Montesquieu) and philosophers ( Voltaire , Rousseau …) came regularly .
As you see there are many things to say about this castle . It the same for the other Loire castles . And I don' t speak of the splendour of the decorations and furnitures inside . All of things is perfctly preserved .
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Nous avons admiré les jardins à la française créés au XVI àme siècle par Diane de Poitiers et Catherine de Médicis . Les jardins à la Française sont caractérisés par leur formes géométriques et leur symétrie . Il en est de même pour les jardins de beaucoup de châteaux en France , Versailles par exemple .
Vous comprenez pourquoi il est impossible de visiter plus d ' un château par jour c ' est pourquoi nous retournerons dans la Vallée de la Loire . Et le vin y est si bon !
Catherine de Médicis ' s garden Photo Michel Fauquet 2004
Diane de Poitiers ' s garden photoJanine Fauquet 2004
We have admired the gardens in the French way created at the XVI th century by Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Médicis . The gardens in a French way ( formal gardens or gardens ala French ) are featured by their geometrical forms and their symetry . It is the same for the other Castles gardens in France , Versailles , for instance .
You understand why it is impossible to visit more than one castle per day so we will go again in the Loire Valley . And the wine is so good !
Comments (128)
wow, that castle is absolutely beautiful!!
I could live there, and I'm not even female.
I would love to visit a castle someday~!
and sample the wine too, of course. *wink*
have a great day, michel
~janny
The gardens and that castle are so beautiful. The French knew how to make things beautiful.
I love castles! I have never seen one, and I am going to see my first castle in Toronto--Casa Loma. I can hardly wait!
This castle is gorgeous. I remember learning about it and basking in its beauty in French class. I hope to one day see it in person. I want so much to visit all of France one day. Those gardens are magnificent. I have never seen anything like them.
Thank you for sharing, Michel. What a wonderful blog! Have a wonderful week! God bless, my friend.
It is my desire to someday visit France. I would like to see all of the beautiful gardens. It is my understanding that the gardens of France inspired beautiful gardens in other countries.
In friendship,
Carol Suzanne
re: New Rochelle. of course founded in 1688 by Huguenots from La Rochelle. In 1966 La Rochelle sent enormous bronze doors embossed with the Fleur-de-Lis for New Rochelle's City Hall. They continue to do exchanges, and New Rochelle (actually the old library building I describe) is the home of the major French-language newspaper in the US.
These pictures are breathtaking and that is I’m sure only a small measure of what they are in person. And I LOVE the stories behind them – they’re so interesting! I think it would be great to tour these castles and gardens one day.
Wine is good! I’m a big believer in drinking it and often! Haha!
Now there's a pet shop!! hehe (and a bakery, diner, hotel, residence, clothing shop, beauty parlor, etc...)
Just breathtaking, thank you
I am reminded of the film 3 Musketeers when I see the gardens and the castle. How many hours does it take to drive to the Loire Valley for you michel and how far is it from your home?
ahhh, j'adore les vieux batiments! Merci Michel pour nous le montre...
je voulais taper MONTRER, bien sur...
Wow! I need to get a map of France so I can see where all of these places are.
Il est est mon préféré ! Sans doute parce que c'est le château des dames comme tu dis
)
Magnifique ton reportage. Cela me donne envie de le re-visiter tout de suite !!
Amitiés
Answer to Sagiscoobious and merrow_mistral : Chenonceau is located in an area around a town called TOURS . The town of Tours is on the river Loire about 200km from Paris towards the south West .
Amiens - Tours = 400 km .
The castle and garden are not something one would want to rush through. Sounds like a good way to spend the day, and enjoy the wine!
WOW!!! I have always loved pictures of that castle but never knew it's history. You are the luckiest person in the WHOLE WORLD to live in such a beautiful country with beautiful surroundings.
I have read about King Henry II - the only person killed in a jousting tournament I think. Or at least the only Royalty.
Thank you so much for the blog! Made my day~
J'en ai visité trois en un seul jour: Blois, Chenonceau et Chambort. Mais il faut dire que c'était un tour organisé à partir de Paris et ils font des itinéraires pour touristes.
Je me rappelle vaguement que le guide a parlé de la rivalité entre les *femmes* du roi. Une qui a bâti une partie *sur* l'autre et le sceau (crest) du roi, un H et un C formaient le D de Diane.
Il faudrait que je retourne un jour visiter les châteaux de la Loire. Comme tout votre pays, cette vallée est si riche en histoire, pas besoin d'aller faire du tourisme à l'étranger.
Merci pour ton amitié continue, Michel.
Clara
RE: Ils l'ont vraiment fait. Mais c'était pris avec humour et pas du tout sérieux.
I visited that castle during my last trip to France. It's SO fantastic. I really felt that it's a special place with all the history and richness of it there. I can still remember touching an archway passage inside the castle and imagining how it must have felt for Catherine Medici to live there, and looking in wonder at the frescoes and tapestries and monogramming all around on the floors and ceilings. And that big celebration hall over the water that they used for strategic purposes in times of hostility. I really got the feel for what it might have been to live there, even if those past eras were sometimes harsh, despite the grandeur of it. I really like visiting the Loire valley castles. *smile*
beautiful. i usually am bored with history, but for some reason, royal history is highly interesting to me.
Je viens d'écrire au sujet de ma visite à Chenonceau il y a cinq ans cette semaine... je vais partir pour Paris demain.
mike
Wow. Impressive.
Beautiful pictures Michel.
Absolutlely beautiful castle. I am sure it was lovely inside as well. I love castles.
Rosemary
The gardens are so pretty. I wish I could make gardens like that! I love the paths.
thank you for these wonderful pictures. well done!
it's so amazing to know that there are things as beautiful as this castle put together for the world to find and see. i think secretly i wanted to be an architect ... among other things : )
That castle looks beautiful! I'll have to put it on the list to visit next time I'm in France.
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j'aime mieux firefox que internet explorer!
-Khanh
no one does castles and history like you do...amazing stuff...
What a beautiful place the castle is . Its also wonderfull that the gardens the two women created have been kept the same for so many hundreds of years . Thank you for showing such a wonderful place .
Just to let you know Mum has a PC virus so is waiting for Damo to come and fix her PC
J'adore les photos, mon amie!
Bonjour!!
Wonderful photos and background info. Thanks for sharing these with us.
Quelqun qui parle Francais! Dommage je ne peux pas ecrire tres bien...
French speaker! Yay!
quel château magnifique! les photos sont belles, Michel.
J'ai visité ce chateau en 1977
Merci pour l'instruction de l'histoire. Le chateau est grand and beau, et les jardins sont comme un gateau d'anniversaire.
Thank you for the response, michel. Now i have a sense of just how long you are willing to travel for a a good wine
For me, that would be like going from where I live in southern california to San Francisco. My family does this drive once or twice a year, to visit my daughter who is away at school in the San Francisco area.
I love your Xanga it helps me so much with my French. I just learned ''suivre'' yesterday in French class.
Absolutely fascinating, Michel!!
You live in such and interesting country, full of history and beauty. 
That garden shown in this picture is fantastic! Such symmetry and perfection. Glenn is most interested in visiting your country some day, as I am!
Thanks for recommending my "Teddy bear" post.
It is sad that our one trip to France was confined...I so wanted to go to Versailles...We enjoyed the Rodin Museum so very much and I loved Montmarte.. do not think the spelling is good. We did not have a very good time in Paris...I did enjoy dancing at the Moulin Rouge...but for the most part we were a tired bunch after 2 weeks of sportscars in England and most of the people we met were not fond of us. I think perhaps 1982 was not a vintage year
I never knew of this castle, but it does sound fascinating! And I love the pictures! Thanks for sharing!
Have a wonderful evening!
Les Chateaux de la Loire sont come le vin Francais, le meuilleure du monde.
Il y a toujour quelque Italien dans l'histoire, Leonardo et Caterina de Medici, elle avais introduit la cuisine de Florence en France.
We can say that the French has Italian other.
Thanks for sharing, beautiful post as usual.
Amitié
Carlo
When I was in school, in French class, this castle fascinated me more than any other. It has always been my dream to go to Chenonceau..."Merci" to you for posting such beautiful pictures, and sharing your culture's rich history with all of us here.
lovely
Such beauty. I would so much love to wander through this beautiful castle and grounds. You are blessed to have such a rich history in your land. And, of course, the wine!
~Paloma
I can almost see the ladies of the past walking the gardens in their elegant gowns, with a gentleman courting them and sipping wine from a crystal goblet! Ahhhhh...how full of grace and joy that would be!
You have a way of capturing the moment so beautifully...thanks for sharing.
That's one of the things I love about Europe, it's the history of the place! I adore castles too.
I was flicking through a friend's photographs recently and I saw a photo of him sitting on a park bench looking at a lovely piece of grass. I said "that has to be Paris". Hehe. You want to know what I think of when I think of French gardens? People sitting on gravel looking at the grass. I'm sure there's a reason, but it seems so odd that people just look at grass instead of sitting on it and playing on it.
I spent a lot of time yesterday searching the internet about Catherine de Medici after reading this blog. She wasn't a very nice person. Got to read a lot about French history of the Kings and Queens. Very amazing history.
And saw more pictures of Mont. St. Michael. And I always think of you when I see that!
Sometimes when I have dreams, I am in large buildings, like castles. Perhaps because since childhood, I have always been fascinated by them
They hold such beauty, charm and history. I am so glad I found your site!!
Blessings, ~Helena
Thank you for all that information. I always like to learn something new especially history. Beautiful photos as well Michel.
I apologize for not reminding you of my birthday, my internet connection has been inconsistent the last 3 weeks and can only access some sites without it freezing on me.
Beautiful pictures.Have a great day..
Oo... wasn't there a rumour that Queen Catherine the terrible haunted the castle?
I love a good story of haunted castles!
C'est bizarre. Je ne sais pas comment a resoudre la probleme. Mozilla a un client d'email "Thunderbird". Downloader ce logiciel a http://www.mozilla.org/products/thunderbird/. Il est mieux que Outlook Express
How lovely! I've never seen a castle on a bridge before, and thanks for sharing those stories of the women who lived there.
J'adore les jardins à la françaises!!! Est-ce que c'est Catherine de Médicis qui a fait construit une partie du jardin de Luxemburg?
J'attends avec impatience de visiter un château français un jour... ça doit être très fascinant! Merci pour la belle racontre des histoires de ce beau château.
Dear Bear . Although I missed a lot of France, at least with your photos. I am catching up. Lovely thanks. Cheers Marjie
What beautiful pictures. The castle is simply put, breathtaking. I would love to see the artisically crafted and perserved furniture from inside. Some day...I dream of going here...where some of my family was born...France is just beautiful...many huggs...Sassy
Hello sweety hope you and yours are doing well have a great week end HUGsand LOve
I've never tasted wine in my life. :-/ Well, I'm not supposed to... because wine has alcohol...
Anyhow, I like your picture! You always have interesting posts... how do you do it?
Quite a list of queens and notorious ladies to go along with the beautiful photos.
I just love your castle pictures and reading some of the history behind them. Very interesting. France must be a beautiful place to live in.
My hands are a little better, at times. Thanks for asking. Lots of inflamation for some reason. If I just leave eprops, please understand it is because I cannot write much. I still enjoy visiting your site.
Wish I had gotten picture of mother bear and three cubs also, but called my neighbor instead to warn her to stay inside. Mother bears can get very protective of their little ones.
Have a great weekend!!!
Love
Edie Rose
It seems like everywhere in France (and Europe) for that matter is absolutely beautiful and historical!
Thank you for your kind comment Michel! In truth, I am no real poet, but sometimes I get the urge to try to be. hehe. And yes, I love where I live now. I love being close to the beach, I love that I look forward to going home after work. Even when I lived in the Blue Mountains I did not look forward to leaving work, because it meant the start of the 3 hour trip home and I only ever really saw where I lived on weekends and then I was just too tired to do anything. There are still things I miss, like having a garden and a piano and my friends who are mostly in Melbourne, but for the time being I really like where I live.
Michel, Thank you for stopping by my site. I am well, just extremely busy lately. I rode up with Mike to Canada Friday night, sleeping in the car a little & then rested abou 3 hours & returned to Ohio alone. He is staying a while to help with winterizing things at the family cottage & to visit the family. So I am a little tired, but I'll try to post soon on my site.
Your castle pics are wonderful! The gardens! Oh, I could stay looking around that part for hours I know! We'll watch for your next visit to be posted here. Enjoy the wine!
Love,
Deb
I need to hurry up and make my fortune so I can spend the next 10 or 20 years travelling the world to see all the great sites like this castle and garden
RYC: Pour les photos qui sont en médaillon, quand tu mets ton curseur dessus, il y a une main qui se forme (j'espère que c'est la même chose chez toi.) Tu n'as qu'à cliquer dessus et une nouvelle page s'ouvre avec la page en grand format.
Bien sur que tu sais ce qu'est un "hokie", c'est le nom de Jonathan, mon ami et l'auteur des pages et son nom est le dindon emblême de son université. (Je te l'ai expliqué une fois.)
Pour ce qui est de Chris, *moi* je ne le taquine jamais et les taquineries de hokie, John et fatcatdad l'amusent.
C'est presque fini le dimanche chez toi, Michel.
PS: Tu lis mon blog, Michel et c'est ce qui compte. Tout le monde ne le fait pas...
Merci.
Clara
Amazing garden
I remember using the French "Mintel" which existed before the internet. that was crazy and randomized, but it worked in a Gaulisitic way.
Another beautiful castle with an interesting history! I didn't know there was a river in France that shares my name. I feel special
What a magnificent castle such good photos you take. And the gardens wish I could have some like that
Take care Angela
I agree! Not enough days to visit castles....and the wine?! Not enough days to drink it!
wonderful pictures, looks really lovely.
Such splendor, royalty, and history!
Lovely Michel. It is a beautiful castle. The history is a bit sad but interesting. The gardens are wonderfully kept and seem a joy to travel. We spent some time going through Ludwig's Neuschwanstein Castle on the Rhine. The castles in Europe all hold such wonderful history. Thank you for sharing your trip. Your pictures always make me wish for time to travel again.
You are so right it is very funny that we posted at the same time! I was sitting here at 4 am thinking the same thing. How small a world old friend!
I sent you an email Michel.
hahahah! well not far from cooking! for we all cook the book!
I study development studies at the institute of development studies, hague. My major is in public policy and management.
phew.:)
What a fabulous place! I really enjoy your blogs about the places you visit. I would love to have a glass of that wine, too!
that's a wonderful piece of history... the gardens remind me of a photograph I took in the Amer palace in Jaipur, India. It had a similar geometric layout and was laid out under the rule of the Rajput Kings.. I'm not sure what century but most probably the 17th.
It's interesting
(Je vais bien. Merci de demander!
) C'est histoire intéressante! Je me rappelle d'entendre parler du Médicis et me rappelle l'enseignement de Byron au sujet d'eux à ses étudiants l'année dernière à l'école.
"Et le vin est good!" J'aime cela! J'ai pris du vin gâté aujourd'hui. C'était un merlot fabriqué en Argentine.
Ils ont une idée différente au sujet de la façon dont le merlot devrait goûter, LOL! 
To this day, I still continue to joke with my husband to ask him where are MY castles!! haha! Your suggestion for a cold was very interesting....I had seen that suggestion on the net but it did not say what to do with the paste! Now I know. And the best thing to read when you are sick is perhaps not only xanga
, but in my case, websites with recipes for french & italian cooking. *sigh* I really am too greedy....
Wha !! Tant de dames pour un même chateau. ça donne envie de le visiter.
il faudrai qu'un jour j'ailles a Versailles, visiter le chateau de Marie Antoinette, que j'admire beaucoup.
mais j'ose pas !! Imaginer que son esprit soi là !! PAreil pour le chateau de Chenonceau... et si toutes les habitantes y logé encore?? ^^
- Nana -
Hey Michel
I've changed the picture for the last post. Didnt mean for it to be a crucification pic, i saw them more as puppet hands on a string .. but realised my mistake when you pointed it out.
It's a time to meditate... and think
Oh Michel, such beauty in the gardens and castle.. I nice glass of wine would be good, too! Please email me your name and mail address, as I would like to add you to my Christmas card list.
a wonderful adventure! how great of you to share your thoughts and facts and photos! thank you.
Pray for Jesus's kingdom to come!
what beautiful places you are able to visit, and the wine makes the trips worth while
it sounds like you know how to enjoy life
It must be like the art museum...it's hard to take in so much beauty and history all at one time.
Do you get the feeling of all of those stories as you stand in the castle?? I just wonder what kind of energy you feel there.
Beautiful pictures, as always!!
Hugs,
Lisa
Hello there Michel,
Thanks for your comments.Love the castle,would channonangel have fun hiding the computer there I would never have a chance,hard enough to get it here.Will get some more photos and comments posted as time goes by.Nice to know you .see you soon.
such beauty...you know this little culture war between the US and France is pathetic. there is so much to learn and admire in France that it is infantile to think we are not allies!
Tu me manqueras, Michel. C'est un repos bien mérité, c'est sur. Tu es à la retraite après tout et xanga est du gros travail. Tu seras toujours proche.
Amuse-toi bien et merci pour tout.
Clara
(Ce que Jon a fait est changer quelques personnages et le dialogue dans une bande dessinée connue: Calvin & Hobbes.)
To stand on the grounds and feel the "history" of the place! I want to visit Europe so bad!
I can't believe how beautiful everything is.
The architecture and gardens were simply oppulent at those times.
::Amazing::
*hugs* Asnhoopla=)
Take care.
I missed this blog somehow.
These are beautiful pictures.
Your last comment has me worried. I hope you are okay?
Take care sir.
Those gardens look like a good place to hide from your friends! Hide-and-seek!!
J'ai l'intention de pauser bientôt moi-aussi de xanga pour un moment, j'espère que vous profiterez d'un maximum de la vôtre.
les chateaux sont magnifiques, ils nous rappellent que désormais, les concepts d'habitats ont complètement changé, ainsi que les proportions et les mœurs. Alors quand on a cela devant soi, on ne peut rester indifférent.
Cher Michel,
Tu me manques! J'espere que tu vas bien! Et ta familly sont bien.
Amities,
Clementine
Dear Michel, I watched a travelogue this morning about Normandy. It is making me want to visit France more than ever, and now this beautiful entry of your blog today reinforces that desire! You asked what I meant in my last blog about "no joy in Mudville." It is a metaphor for our city, St. Louis, whose baseball team, the Cardinals, just lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox. (Mudville is the name of a town in a famous poem about baseball called "Casey at the Bat." ) Blessings, Claudia
your in my thoughts my friend God Bless ALWAYS
Thinking of you here Michel....with fond thoughts. Take care....love Libby
Me, je vous manquerai pendant que vous n'êtes pas ici, mon ami. J'envoie des prières au bon Dieu que tout est bien dans votre vie et avec votre famille douce.
Please write about the wines in Lorie Valley. I would love to know about them
Truly wonderful! I enjoy your descriptions and historical trivia along with the photographs. ;o)
I hope all is well with you!
You are indeed missed. I hope everything is okay with you and your lovely family Michel... your xanga friends love you
I hope you are well and your family also. Take care of yours and look forward to your return.
The castle is so beautiful. However I love the gardens. They are so beautiful and different! I so love when you visit somewhere and share itwith us. I learn so much from you. Of course I had a feeling you would mention the wines. lol What a wonderful blog! I thank you so much for sharing your life and your travels with us, it is so interesting and we learn so much! When my family was in France many years ago. We are talking like around 1959 or 60, my mom and dad lived in Joan of Arcs mothers house! I nearly did to, however my dad was sent to England and that was where I was born. I hope you are having a good time off. Take care of you and Janine! Have a great day and a wonderful tomorrow ! ! ! Much love and many hugs ! ! ! Thanks for all your visits and emails to! Much love and many many hugs ! ! ! May you and Janine sleep with the angels and wake up fully rested and ready for a new and wonderful day ! ! ! !
Congrats! You have been nominated for a Xanga Superlative. Come by and join in the fun.
That picture is soooooooooooo prettty i want to be there!
Hope you and yours are well, Michel.
and {{{hugs}}}
Still thinking about you ...
when you do return, I have some wedding photos available if you are interested
they can be found here.
My friend, I miss you. Be back when things are better!
Happy weekend to you my friend.lov and hugs fancy
what a beautiful place..
Hope you and your family are doing well..
hugs,
rubymoon
Michel, I miss reading your updates very much. It seems like you have been gone from Xanga for far too long, and I anxiously await your return. I hope that all is well with you and that you are having a good week.
much love,
savannah
I wanted to stop by and say hello my friend. I hope life is treating you very well and that you and your family are doing wonderfully!
I hope all is well with you and yours. Your bright countenance is missed greatly by one and all here. Take care and come back to us soon please.
A Big Hug and Kiss,
With Love,
Brenda
wow! i have no clue wut that ment but i liked the pics. i dont speek france
kezely
on pense a vous.
I've missed you my friend.Happy Holidays lov and hugs fancy
I am thinking of you and your family today. And missing your wisdom and bright optimism about life. Hope you are well.
It is very interesting to me that white was the mourning color. Is this still true in France? It has traditionally been black over here in the USA, but the custom of wearing black for a certain length of time after the loss of a loved one is no longer strictly kept. I suspect it went by the wayside after the Second World War when so many people were mourning all at once. But, there was some sense to the practice of officially mourning for a year or so. Studies have shown that the usual human grieving process takes at least a year. If one wore black while mourning, and curtailed a number of usual activities, perhaps one would be more spiritually healthy because one would be acknowledging his or her grief and trying to concentrate on working through it rather than avoiding it. Oh well, there are far more cheery subjects your blog today also brings to mind, such as beautiful gardens!!! Hugs, Claudia
So very beautiful and interesting. So much history.
Comments are closed.