May 12, 2017 (132/365)

« La maison d'un homme est son château. » - François Mauriac

Mauriac may be right that a man's home is his castle, but a woman's castle is Chenonceau. Know as le Château des Dames -- the Ladies' Castle -- Chenonceau was home to seven powerful women, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici. There are bigger and perhaps more beautiful châteaux in the Loire Valley, but Chenonceau, spanning the Cher River with its bright gallery, private chapel, extensive kitchen, and elaborate flower arrangements, has always been my favorite.

This French Friday is also Flashback Friday to me at Chenonceau in 1998.