We returned to see the Chenonceau chateaux in daylight and even though it is a slightly overcast day, this chateaux is still breathtaking. It was built in the 16thC on the foundations of an old mill and was later extended to span the river, the bridge being designed by the French Renaissance architect Philbert de l’Orme. An architectural mix of late Gothic and early Renaissance, it’s the most visited châteaux in France.

A potted history of ownership……..In 1555, the mistress of Henry II, Diane de Poitiers, oversaw the planting of the extensive vegetable and flower gardens along with a variety of fruit trees. Set along the banks of the river, but buttressed from flooding by stone terraces, the exquisite gardens were laid out in 4 triangles. After years of delicate legal manoeuvring, she also took possession/ownership of the châteaux.

Henry’s widow, Catherine de Medici, in the following year, forced Diane to exchange it for Château Chaumont…Queen Catherine then made Chenonceau her own favourite residence, adding a new series of gardens.

The Bourbons in the 17thC had little interest in the châteaux except for hunting, with the castle contents being sold and statues ending up at Versailles.

In the 18thC, Claude Dupin purchased the estate and his wife, Louise established a literary salon that attracted leaders from the ‘Enlightenment’ such as Voltaire and Fontenelle. She saved the chateaux from destruction during the French revolution arguing it was “essential to travel and commerce, being the only brieg across the river for miles”. Made sense to the Revolutionary Guard!

In 1894 Marguerite Pelouze, a rich heiress acquired the châteaux commissioning a restoration of the interior. Jose-Emilio Terry, a Cuban millionaire, acquired it from Marguerite, then sold it to Henri Menier, a member of the Menier family, famous for their chocolates, who own it to this day.

Terry and John explored the interior of the chateaux and gardens while I went to explore Saint-Aignan, another charming medieval town in the Cher river valley at the crossroads of 3 provinces (Touraine, Orleans and Berry).

Lots of half-timbered houses, cobble-stone alleyways and the collegiate church, with its frescoes from the 12th and 14thC.

Montrichaud was our last stop for the day – we had a fantastic afternoon tea from Richard Chateigner patisserie and chocolaterie !