24 August 2024

Chenonceau's gallery and gardens

Above are two photos of Chenonceau's grand gallery, built late in the 16th century on the bridge that spans the Cher river. Of the gallery, the Cadogan guide I have says "despite its magical light, it's slightly disappointing to find the long, elegant room empty. The place is so patently made for celebration that nothing short of candles, moonlight, and dancing would make the atmosphere live up to imagination." The gallery is 6 meters wide and 60 meters long. That makes it nearly 4,000 sq. ft.

The Château de Chenonceau reflected in the waters of the Cher.

There are two formal French gardens at Chenonceau. One was commissioned by Diane de Poitiers, who lived at Chanonceau from 1547 until 1559, when she was forced to go live in the Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire by the queen, Catherine de Médicis, who wanted Chenonceau for herself. Catherine commissioned her own garden, which measures 55,000 sq. meters. Diane's garden measures 120,000 sq. meters and supposedly looks now just as it looked in the middle of the 16th century.

6 comments:

  1. Jan from Perth24 August, 2024 15:38

    I love that water-reflection picture, Ken; thanks!

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  2. Thank you, Jan.

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  3. Such a beautiful place and your pictures are beautiful as well.
    BettyAnn

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  4. That garden is a paradise of begonias and boxwoods.

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    Replies
    1. I can't help but like the guy mowing the grass, on the left side of the picture, wearing a T-shirt almost the same color of the flowers. I wonder if he wore it on purpose.

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