Château de Chenonceau was built in 1513 by the Receiver of Finances of Louis XII and Francois I. Its strategic position on the Cher then makes it possible to control the very important fluvial trade on this river. By becoming the privileged residence of Diane de Poitiers, favorite of King Henry II of France who has the reputation of being the most beautiful lady of the Kingdom, Chenonceau is gaining importance. It was at the death of the King that his widow and new Regent of France Catherine de Medici made her hands on the estate and enlarged the castle by having the two galleries on the bridge built in the Florentine spirit. It is today one of the Loire Valley's most visited and well-known castles.
Opening hours of Chenonceau Castle:
Every day
From November 14th to February 21st: from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm
From February 22nd to March 25th: from 9.30am to 5.30pm
From March 26th to May 31st: from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
June / September: from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm
July / August: from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
From the 1st of October to the 1st of November: from 9:00 to 18:30
From the 1st of November to the 13th of March: from 9.30 to 17.00
Select the desired date for the visit before adding the tickets to the shopping cart. The tickets are only valid on the day of the show date - so check your selection carefully before purchasing the tickets for a fee.
The ticket is dated and valid for a day visiting the Château de Chenonceau with its collections, French gardens and the Wax Museum.
Adult price in € plus service fee / booking / shipping (VAT included)
Child rate (> 18) / student (> 27)
Student rate subject to presentation of proof.
The visit of the castle can be done in guided video with iPod. Available in 16 languages (including French, German, Italian, English, Hungarian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Dutch ...)
Addition Audioguide: 4,50 €
Chenonceau is located south of Paris. Accessible by car from the A10 motorway 2 hours from Paris - exit Blois or Amboise or by TGV train to Tours then TER - 1h25 from Paris-Montparnasse or Paris-Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Château de Chenonceau is open from 9.30am to 5pm all year long with extended hours in high season.
Take advantage of the Orangerie, the gourmet restaurant.
A withdrawal of our tickets on site in Chenonceaux is not possible. We kindly ask you to order your tickets in advance and print them in A4 format before going to the castle.
Electronic ticket (e-ticket) - sent by e-mail after receipt of payment
Tickets for visiting Chenonceau Castle are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Tickets can not be returned or exchanged.
Restaurants (gastronomie, creperie, self-service restaurant) and picnic areas near the castle - toilets / toilets for the physically disabled, free parking and free lockers.
Beautiful ! Simply beautiful ... there are not many words to describe this castle of the Loire Valley. On the contrary, Chenonceau has not played a significant role in the history of France in contrary of the royal castle of Amboise. The castle is located near Amboise and is worth seeing for its tourist history and beauty.
The beauty of the castle is directly related to the anthological beauty of Diana of Poitiers. And that's why so many tourists come from all over the world to visit Chenonceau every year. The gallery bridges the Cher and provides a sailing trip on the river. Take half an hour to rent a boat and relax on the river overlooking the castle. The gardens of Diana and Katharina also surprise visitors with their well-kept beauty, reminding them of the relationship between these two ladies, who marked the French Renaissance.
Chenonceau Castle is known as the Ladies' Castle. In fact, the story of Chenonceau was characterized by characterful women. Its location on the north bank of the Cher is based on its original function as a mill and later with the construction of the bridge as a customs office for traffic on the Cher, where the trade as well as on its main river Loire
The bridge did not have a gallery as we know it today, when Katharine of Briconnet had the castle built, or when Diana of Poitiers lived there or rather visited.
Chenonceau probably best represents this historical dispute between Diana of Poitiers and Catherine de Medici for the love of the French King Henry II.
During your visit, you will not be able to miss the crescents of Diana and the intertwined C of the Florentine queen.
Whether the two women really hated, can probably deny. After all, Diana inherited from Poitiers after the death of her royal lover of Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle.
This change of the owner of Chenonceau marks the end of an era. The love between Henry II and the twenty years older Diana of Poitiers symbolizes the "court courtois" the courtly love, which was established at the time of the knights in the customs and in the literature. This time was over when the French king died. He succumbed to his wounds after a tournament in Paris. The Knights tournaments were banned after this on June 30, 1559 throughout the kingdom.
Louise of Lorraine, the Duchess of Mercoeur, Madame Dupin and Madame Pelouse are other owners of the castle, who have certainly provided for the beautiful and pleasant furnishing of Chenonceau.
Chenonceau, with its exceptional location above the River Cher, has become one of the most spectacular sights of the Loire Valley. It is just a few kilometers from Amboise and Clos-Lucé and is now the most visited palace in France after Versailles.
The farmhouse, the caryatid center in the woods, the gardens and the galleries complete the tour of the domain.
Directly at the castle there are restaurants. There is the possibility to eat. Be sure to enjoy the atmosphere by the river and there is nothing to enjoy a boat ride on the Cher under the bridge.
The absolute plus of Chenonceau is that the castle is completely furnished unlike other castles like Amboise. Be sure to visit the kitchens, which are located in the foundations of the bridge.
The location of Chenonceau Castle has a special historical significance in contemporary history. In this place ran during the Second World War, the French inner demarcation line. Many opponents of the Nazi regime and the persecuted could cross the river thanks to the castle and find refuge.
With your Chenonceau tickets you can visit the following places:
The gardens:
Chenonceau spreads on a very large estate. You can walk in the 70 hectares of wood where you will come across the labyrinth, which overlooks the monumental caryatids.
While facing the forecourt and tower of the Marques, behind the griffin-guarded entrance, the Gardens of the Diana of Poitiers and the Catherine de Medici are revealed on the Cher shore.
The flower garden and the farm provide further relaxation not far from the castle.
Castle of Chenonceau:
Of course, the ticket to Chenonceau does not only apply to the gardens but also to the castle itself. Your visit will probably start with the wax hall, where you can admire the C and H decorated chimney. The tour will take you through the main tower of the castle, which houses the magnificently furnished apartments of the famous former owners of Chenonceau.
The Diana, Catherine de Medici and the Louise of Lorraine. There are also the rooms of the five queens, the César de Vendoôme and the Gabrielle d'Estrées, a favorite of the later Bourbon King Henry IV.
The castle also offers other rooms such as the Salon Louis XIV, our Sun King, and the Salon Francis I with paintings of Primaticcio, the Library, the Green Cabinet and the Chapel. The entrance hall and the stairs from the main tower of Chenonceau Castle are also masterpieces that should be looked at longer.
The gallery:
The landmark of the castle of Chenonceau remains nevertheless the bridge over the river Cher, this tributary of the Loire. In 1576, Queen Catherine de Medici commissioned the construction of a gallery. With its 360 square meters, the gallery with slate tiles and alcoves acts as a gigantic ballroom.
On the first floor of the Medici Gallery, visitors will find the adjoining room of Étampes with a collection of paintings, furniture and tapestries.
The absolute hit are the kitchens in the pillars in the basement of the castle of Chenonceau with a direct view through the windows on the Cher. Such a kitchen would really like to have at home.
Our tip :
Visit Chenonceau in combination with the castle of Amboise and Clos-Lucé, which are only a few kilometers away. Take your tickets for the three castles. For example, visit Amboise and Clos-Lucé in the morning and enjoy the afternoon in Chenonceaux. Stroll through the gardens, admire the many rooms of the castle and borrow a boat for half an hour. They combine business, culture, relaxation and aesthetics in one day.
If you have more time, you can plan a bike ride on the Cher and the Loire. Numerous bike paths have been set up at the Loire Castles.
