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However, it gets more interesting when his son, Henri II comes to power and donates the chateau to his mistress Diane de Poitiers. She was 19 years older than Henri, but had great influence upon him and remained his mistress until his death. Diane added the bridge over the River Cher and the extensive gardens.
In 1733, the castle was purchased by Claude Dupin. Madam Dupin created a bourgeois salon at Chenonceau which included the most famous names of the time. Jean Jacques Rousseau was her secretary and her children's tutor. The castle survived the Revolution intact because he and his wife were so respected by the local population. However, upon her death in 1799, the castle was abandoned. Madam Pelouze bought the castle in 1864 and started to restore the castle to the time before Catherine de' Medici. Fortunately, the Pelouzes went bankrupt before too many changes could be made to the structure of the castle -- only a few windows had been eliminated. Henri Menier, whose descendants still own the castle, bought it in 1888. In the First World War, the castle was transformed into a hospital. Madam Menier even nursed the soldiers herself. During the second World War, the castle became a route for the Résistance to enter Vichy France from the occupied territory because the River Cher was the dividing line.
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In
1512, Thomas Bohier acquired a small fortress on the river Cher from Jean
Marques who was always in debt. The Bohiers decided to construct a new castle in
the latest Renaissance mode and tore down all but the keep located in front of
the castle. The castle bears the imprint of Catherine Bohier who oversaw the
building in the frequent absences of her husband. The high costs of construction
may explain the Bohiers motto, "S'il vient à point, me souviendra"
(If the castle is finished, it will preserve my memory).
Upon
the death of the Bohiers, the castle was confiscated by François I in payment
of debt. However, some say it was just because the king wanted to take
possession of the magnificent chateau. In any event, François I used the castle
for hunts, fêtes and other activities.
When
the King died, the Queen, Catherine de' Medici, forced Diane to return the crown
jewels (which Henri had given her!) and move out of Chenonceau. All this in
spite of the fact that Diane was now the legal owner because she had bought the
property at an auction when Henry had repealed the Act of 1535 that had made it
part of the royal estates. Legend has it that Catherine proceeded to put her
initials and her husband's (C & H) on the fireplaces, on the ceilings, etc.
Ironically, the intertwined initials appear to be a "D" for Diane.
Catherine's contribution to the outline of Chenonceau was the grand gallery and
ballroom she built on Diane's bridge. Many grand fêtes were held there.
