France's Famous Fairytale Castle Is A Breathtaking Escape With Gardens, Priceless Art, And Wine Tasting

As far as fairytale castles go, the Château de Chenonceau in France's Loire Valley is perhaps the most exquisite. It has the requisite towers that appear plucked from a children's storybook, elegant gardens punctuated by fountains and a maze, and it sits as a bridge, astride the River Cher, adding to its whimsy. The castle's history is long and, intriguingly laced with the stories of many women of note, leading to it gaining the moniker: Château des dames (The Ladies' Chateau), and its various interior rooms, formal gardens, and even its stables hold stories from women like Catherine de' Medici, Regent of France, and Diane de Poitiers, the mistress of Henry II of France.

For visitors, the castle is like a time capsule of eras, with some parts of the building dating as far back as the 12th and 13th centuries and others to the 16th century. There are stunning interiors ornamented by art by Tintoretto, Rubens, and Mino de Fiesole, and for those with a love of French wine, the Cave des Dômes offers wine tastings in its remarkable 16th-century cellar, with wines from the surrounding AOC Touraine-Chenonceaux vineyards, part of the famed Loire Valley, one of the best yet underrated French wine regions.

In a region of France known for its incredible fairytale-like castles. This one, the exceptional Château de Chenonceau, is the castle that stands out as prettiest and as a must-see on any itinerary, whether sampling Loire Valley food and wine or adding it to an exploration of Rick Steves' favorite region for biking.

Exploring Château de Chenonceau is like a lesson in French history. On one side, there are the architectural elements like the medieval dungeon, the last remnant of the original chateau, the iconic bridge added in the 16th century, and the various gardens. But then there's the history of women who have left their mark here. As Henry II's royal mistress, Diane de Poitiers was the first woman to take ownership of the chateau, adding gardens to the right bank of the river and creating the bridge. But then Catherine de' Medici, Henri II's wife, took ownership of Château de Chenonceau upon the king's death, and added several floors to the bridge, giving it the unique appearance we see today.

Of course, there are more tales. Some are haunting stories, such as the prolonged mourning of Louise of Lorraine after the assassination of her husband, King Henry III. Others contain important histories like the rescue of the chateau from the French Revolution by Louise Dupin, who cleverly argued its use as a bridge for crossing the River Cher. Most modern stories revolve around the numerous restorations and the castle's use in the World Wars. Specifically, as a hospital ward in WWI and as a demarcation line in WWII, dividing occupied France on one side of the river, and the free zone on the other.

For a perfect visit, first explore the four floors of Château de Chenonceau's enchanting interiors to learn more about the people who lived there. And afterwards, stroll through the romantic gardens before finishing with a row on the river, gliding beneath the castle via the iconic arched bridge.

The closest airport to Château de Chenonceau is the Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF), which has extremely limited routes and is only really of any use for flying via London or Marseille. A better option is to travel from the capital's Charles de Gaulle airport via Paris' excellent public transport. If going directly, you'll take the train from the airport to Saint-Pierre Des-Corps, and then change to a local train to the Gare De Chenonceaux, the village home of Château de Chenonceau. The entire journey takes around two hours and 41 minutes.

The route from central Paris is almost identical, traveling the same scenic route through the Centre-Val de Loire countryside. However, you'll take the train instead from Paris-Montparnasse to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps in around one hour and 50 minutes, before completing the trip to the Château de Chenonceau in around 40 minutes by train. You can also travel the entire route by car, which takes around two hours and 37 minutes, and is useful if you intend to tour more of the Loire Valley's sublime castles.