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Le château de Chenonceau est un château de la Loire situé en
Touraine, sur la commune de Chenonceaux, dans le département
d'Indre-et-Loire en région Centre-Val de Loire. Chenonceau avec sa
célèbre galerie à deux étages qui domine le Cher est l'un des
fleurons de l'architecture du Val de Loire.
Chenonceau, France
The Château de Chenonceau is a French château spanning the River Cher, near the small village of Chenonceaux in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley in France. It is one of the best-known châteaux of the Loire valley.
It is also known as The ladies’ château. The six women of Chenonceau included: Catherine Briconnet, Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de' Medici, Louise de Lorraine, Madame Dupin and Madame Pelouze.
The estate of Chenonceau is first mentioned in writing in the 11th century. The current château was built in 1514–1522 on the foundations of an old mill and was later extended to span the river. The bridge over the river was built (1556-1559) to designs by the French Renaissance architect Philibert de l'Orme, and the gallery on the bridge, built from 1570–1576 to designs by Jean Bullant.
An architectural mixture of late Gothic and early Renaissance, Château de Chenonceau and its gardens are open to the public. Other than the Royal Palace of Versailles, it is the most visited château in France.