Of all the châteaux in the Loire the gracious Chenonceau is my favourite. Not only is it wonderfully elegant arching across the River Cher (hardly surprising that a series of women were its principal creators) but it is just about imaginable that one could live there. In marked contrast to the gigantic and excessive Chambord build not for comfort but to impress, only the moated Azay-le-Rideau runs a close second.
It was also at Chenonceau that some of the first Chenin Blanc was planted in Touraine, by François I in the early 16th century, some time after it was planted at Cormery by the eponymous Bishop allegedly at Mont-Chenin around the middle of the 15th century. For many years Château de Chenonceau made its own wine, vinified in one of the old buildings in the grounds into which they had ingeniously crammed modern vinification equipment such as temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The vineyards now are looked after by, and the wine made by, Bougrier in La Chaise, part of Saint-Georges-sur-Cher.
Some of the best views of the exterior of the château are from the small track that runs along the south bank of the Cher, which is where these views were taken.
During the lifetime of Vichy France during the Second World War the River Cher was the border between German occupied northern France and Vichy France and the château was an escape route to relative freedom.
It was also at Chenonceau that some of the first Chenin Blanc was planted in Touraine, by François I in the early 16th century, some time after it was planted at Cormery by the eponymous Bishop allegedly at Mont-Chenin around the middle of the 15th century. For many years Château de Chenonceau made its own wine, vinified in one of the old buildings in the grounds into which they had ingeniously crammed modern vinification equipment such as temperature controlled stainless steel vats. The vineyards now are looked after by, and the wine made by, Bougrier in La Chaise, part of Saint-Georges-sur-Cher.
Some of the best views of the exterior of the château are from the small track that runs along the south bank of the Cher, which is where these views were taken.
During the lifetime of Vichy France during the Second World War the River Cher was the border between German occupied northern France and Vichy France and the château was an escape route to relative freedom.
2 comments:
It is my favourite too Jim. I "discovered" it when a student. In the days before I even owned a computer, and the internet was in its infancy, I found it using a tiny guide book heavy on text rather than pictures...so I had never actually seen an image of the chateau before my gaze fell upon the real thing. Can you imagine how seeing it like that for the first time, without any knowledge or experience of the potential grandeur and beauty of Loire chateaux, took my breath away?
I like Villandry too - in itself perhaps not the most attractive, but I like the fact that, as a result of the building have been erected in stages, it encompasses both the Medieval, castellated style and the Renaissance style, with its slate-tiled roof. And the gardens are more than beautiful!
Yes Chris I can imagine that the first glimpse was sensational. The gardens at Villandry are great.
Post a Comment