The ghost of The White Queen - Chateau de Chenonceau

Majestically situated on arched pedestals over the languorously beautiful river Cher, Chateau Chenonceau is fascinating in its original architecture, history, and opulent furnishings. 

Built in 1513 by Catherine Briconnet, for four hundred years the chateau was nurtured and expanded by the loving care of its female owners. 


Diane de Poitiers

Diane de Poitiers was Chateau de Chenonceau's most famous owner and resident. Known in the French courts as a great beauty with good taste, she became King Henri II’s mistress even though she was twenty years older than he. Theirs was a deep and lasting love. When the king passed away, his widow, Catherine de Medici, took her vengeance upon Diane de Poitiers by taking the chateau away from her. 


Catherine de Medici

Catherine de Medici had a great love of art and a thirst for opulence. She added much to the gardens and the grounds, built the great gallery, and threw magnificent feasts for her contemporaries. 


Madame Dupin

In 1733, Madame Dupin became owner of Chateau Chenonceau and held salons for all the great literary people of the period. Over the years, Madame Dupin gained the respect and affection of the local villagers and the Chateau was untouched during the French Revolution, making it one of the most spectacular chateau’s in the Loire Valley today.


The grand gallery, built by Catherine de Medici.

The kitchen, located in the base of the part of the castle which spans the river. Food was delivered by boat and water was pulled directly from the river for drinking and washing up. 

Now that you know a bit of the castle's history, on to The White Queen, Louise de Loarraine-Vaudemont.

Louise de Loarraine-Vaudemont, wife of King Henry III, inherited the Chateau de Chenonceau when her mother-in-law, Catherine de Medici, passed away in 1589. 

King Henry III, fourth son of Henry II and Catherine de Medici, was thought to be homosexual or bi-sexual. He is represented in that vein by actor Vincent Cassel who plays Henry, Duc d'Anjou, in the fantastic film, Elizabeth, which stars Cate Blanchett . It is true that Henry III, Duc d'Anjou, courted Queen Elizabeth in 1570 but, as we all know, it came to naught. 

Louise de Loarraine-Vaudemont suffered a traumatic childhood and was consequently quite meek and pious. Her marriage to King Henry III was a surprise as she was not considered noble enough to be Queen. Her calm and subservient personality pleased Catherine de Medici, a tyrant who manipulated her entire family. Louise suffered a miscarriage with Henry which prevented her from producing children. She worshipped her husband. In brief, hers was a rather tragic life which left her weak and unstable. 

When her husband King Henry III was assassinated, she fell into a deep depression and withdrew from social life for the rest of her natural years. She wore only white, the traditional mourning color of French queens. She even had her room decorated in mourning: the walls and ceiling were painted black and the black tapestries were stitched with skulls and crossbones. She spent the rest of her days wandering listlessly around the castle dressed only in white. 

Here is a photo of the ceiling in her room. 

Her bed mostly black in mourning. Even the floors were black!

 A depressing image of some real happy people on her mantle! 

It is said that her ghost wanders throughout the castle, just as she did when alive and in mourning. She has been seen as a white apparition throughout the castle. Some people claim to have images of The White Queen in their photos. Who knows. It seems to me that their are a number of good reasons for her to haunt the Chateau de Chenonceau.

Voila! Gros bisous de fantome et a demain.

Love, Charley