Day Eleven - Chillin' and Checking Out Château de Chenonceau

Details on the Front Door

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It was a little tricky getting inside the chateau. A bunch of people were jammed up in front trying to get in. At the very moment a handicapped guy in a wheelchair pulled up and there was a great commotion trying to get him and his wheelchair inside.

Demontration Shot of the Wacky Front Door

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s you can see here one has to climb over part of the door to go inside. Apparently this proved to be very difficult for the non-handicapped tourists because we had to wait a couple of minutes for all of them to pass through. When the wheelchair guy pulled up there was more confusion but finally a guide came out from inside, pulled a secret latch, and the entire door including that bottom section swung open to let him inside. Cassie and I waited for them to re-latch the door so we could make our grand entrances.

The Temple Owl Room?

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Actually this was inside the chapel that lies just to the left of the front door. I assume it's some sort of Christmas or New Year's decoration. I don't get it but it looked pretty cool.

This Reminds Me of the Opening Scene of "Camelot"

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It's a totally fake and artificial depiction (cotton balls) of a snowy winter but it gets its meaning across in a beautiful way. It also reminds me a little of some of the Nativity scenes we used to see in the Moravian churches back home.

Chapel's Stained Glass

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I couldn't find any information regarding this stained glass picture of the Virgin Mary, but since the Infant looks like a space alien I assume it's by a modern artist.

Tapestry in the Royal Guard's Room

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I think I took some pretty nice pictures inside but this website has some great views and a much better explanation of what was inside: http://www.chenonceau.com/vr_gb/histoire_visite.php#vr. Maybe one of the best internet tour sites ever. Very interesting and easy to use.

Diane de Poitiers' Bedroom

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Despite that full parking lot there weren't a whole lot of tourists getting in the way of my shots. It did get a little more crowded down in the basement where the rooms were much smaller.

Should've Aimed Lower

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I was drawn to the portrait but the real point of interest in the room, according to Michelin, is the fireplace built by someone I never heard of. Yet somehow the green guide found it important to mention Jean Goujon. Wasn't he in Les Miz too?

Amazing Tapestries

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I'm not much for slobbering over old furniture, art or plinths and lintels but the old tapestries we see on these tours through old European homes always impress me. Many times we've been tempted to buy a reproduction made in China in the gift shops, but even those can cost in the thousands. When I win the lottery and buy my Swiss villa perhaps I could buy a couple of these from Chenonceau or those ratty looking ones in Bayeaux.

Cassie Studying Up on Late Renaissance Art

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Despite her objections about coming with us Cassie seemed to be getting in the spirit of things. The pre-college Cassie would've found the nearest bench to sit on while we looked around. Today she was reading through the guidebook and even pointing out things we had missed.

Right in the Middle of the River Cher

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And now the skies were getting Sonny. Yuk yuk. We climbed all over each other trying to shoot this view out of de'Medici's Green Study room.

And on into the Gallery

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This was where the parties were held back in the day. It stretches across the river. The door on the opposite side meant freedom from the Nazis for escapees during WWII.

Now That is Some Christmas Tree!!!

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I think there's a genuine Tannenbaum underneath all that glitz. It looks like something out of Paris Hilton's apartment. This was at the very backend of the Gallery.

Just One of the 18 Windows Stretching Across the Gallery

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And each one was decorated with more of that natural gold vegetation and flowers.

Down to the Kitchens

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Right around the time we headed downstairs to see where the servants labored, we caught up with a tour bus full of Asians who seemed intent on getting in the middle of every one of my shots. I just let them take their pictures of their friends flashing peace signs in every nook and cranny of the basement then got my picture when they cleared the room. In the summer this would've been unbearable. Check out the bread oven to the right of the main cooking fireplace.

I Kind of Doubt This Place Ever Looked Like This in the Old Days

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I imagine back when this was a working kitchen the walls would've been black with smoke, the copper would've been tarnished and thrown about, food would be rotting on the floors and there would be no Asians leaning over the handrail with two fingers extended.

Very Impressive

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Despite the historical anachronisms it was still a very interesting place to look about and explore. They had some pretty nifty baking and roasting tricks up their sleeves back then. I get the impression there was a whole lot of omelet making going on in this room.

A Very Clever Rotisserie

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This series of cables and gears used a counterweight to power three rotisserie skewers in front of the big open fireplace.

Servants' Dining Room

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I doubt the cooks and wait staff dined quite this lavishly in the past, but it was surprising to see that they shared such a large room for their meals. They were treated much better than the average servant. Is that a one-armed bandit by the window?

Nope, Just the Watercooler

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Actually this pump brought water up from the muddy disgusting Cher River. Let's hope they had Brita filters back then.