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Château de Chenonceau, Chenonceaux, France - Everything about this château is extreme; It's built on arches crossing the span of the Cher River, it's protected by a deep moat, and it's riverside gardens are magnificent. Today it's owned by the Menier family, who purchased it in 1913. Tours run 11€ (15€ with audio guide). The property rose to prominence in the early 15th century when a château and fortified mill were built. By 1513 it had fallen into the hands of Thomas Bohier, who subsequently tore down the existing château and built the waterfront "castle" we see today. By 1547 it was in the hands of King Henry II, who gave it to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. She oversaw the expansion of the château in the form of an arched bridge crossing the river. After the king's death his wife (Catherine de' Medici) booted the mistress and took it over for herself. She hosted elaborate parties here, including the first ever fireworks display in France. The château passed hands many times over the subsequent centuries, alternately falling in and out of disrepair. It survived the French Revolution, was once owned by a Scotsman, later a Cuban, served as a WWI hospital, and even marked the boundary between Nazi-occupied France and the "free" south. There are plenty of châteaux to visit in the Loire Valley, but you'll be kicking yourself if you miss this one.

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Suxanne Robert

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