Chenonceaux is a small rural commune of approximately 300 residents which is located to the north of the River Cher, 25 kilometres east of Tours in the Centre Region of France. This charming village remains much as it was when the Chateau de Chenonceau was built in the 16th century, and today owes its popularity to the elegant, architectural beauty and the proximity to the chateau. This stunning Renaissance chateau is built over the River Cher and consists of a two storeyed gallery built upon five elegant arches and includes a drawbridge and an isolated tower, and is decorated with turrets, towers, spires and chimneys creating what is considered to be the most visited and most photographed chateau in the Loire valley. The building is also complimented by stately avenues of plane trees and traditional French gardens, which include many meticulously shaped shrubs. The chateau and formal gardens are part of the Loire Valley U.N.E.S.C.O. World Heritage Site, which is described as containing - ‘exceptional cultural landscape, of great beauty and comprised of historic cities and villages, and great architectural monuments’.
The village provides visitors with a small range of accommodation and restaurants, a tourist information centre, and easy access to this major historical building which is located on the River Cher approximately one kilometre to the south. Within the village evidence of the chateau is reflected by the 16th century ‘Pages House’ of Francois I, which can be seen from the square in front of the Church, and the Baptismal Font of the Church which was donated by Catherine de Medicis. As visitors walk along the leafy lane towards the chateau from the village, they will pass the old Town Hall and the Gate Keeper’s House, which is built in the Gothic style and is the only one of its kind in the chateau.
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