Chateau de Chenonceau Reopens Post COVID-19
Chateau de Chenonceau has reopened to the public on 30 May 2020 with staffs outnumbering the visitors to ensure strict enforcement of social distancing norms for the safety of the visitors. Chateau de Chenonceau has enforced several sanitary measures following the latest government announcements to ensure the best experience for its visitors.
COVID-19 Safety Measures and Guidelines at Chateau de Chenonceau
- According to the latest government announcements, all visitors must adhere to the sanitary measures in place.
- Visitors are required to reserve a time slot to enter Chenonceau Castle.
- It is advised to book the tickets online in advance so that you can reserve a time slot to gain entry into the chateau.
- Guests need to present a Sanitary Pass at the entrance to the Domaine de Chenonceau to access the castle and the grounds.
- The Sanitary Pass must have a QR code and should be displayed as a document or on an electronic device. Visitors also need to present a valid and government-approved ID with the pass.
- It is mandatory to wear a face mask at the Chateau.
Why visit Chateau de Chenonceau?
- Explore the most important and the most visited chateau in France, Chateau de Chenonceau, which is only second to the Royal Palace of Versailles. Admire the architecture of Chenonceau Castle, a beautiful blend of Gothic and Renaissance style that can be seen in the rooms and the gardens of the castle.
- Enjoy a magical view of Loire Valley from the Chenonceau Castle that stretches over River Cher with a stunning arched bridge. Stroll through the beautiful gardens and mazes designed over the years that enhance the beauty of the Castle.
- Learn about the history of the Chateau from its origin in the 11th century to its reconstruction in 1514-1522 by Thomas Bohier and his wife.
- Understand the role and the influence of powerful women in the architecture and design of the Chenonceau castle, which is why it has been nicknamed the ‘Ladies’ Castle.
Your Chateau de Chenonceau Tickets Explained
Chateau de Chenonceau Entrance Tickets
Save your time and give your start off your experience at the Chenonceau Castle with a special treatment, thanks to your Chateau de Chenonceau Entrance Tickets. This entrance ticket lets you explore the castle at your own pace as you marvel at the beauty and elegance of the castle’s architectural works, which showcases late-gothic design and early renaissance influence. Explore the lush royal gardens, royal living quarters, the chapel, along with their vast collection of artwork and period furniture, before you set off to enjoy the unique experience of walking over the Cher river on the gallery bridge.
Free Tickets: For infants 6 and under.
Discounted Tickets: Children aged 7-17 (with valid ID)
What is the Best Way to Buy Chateau de Chenonceau Tickets? Book Online
Due to the present circumstances, social distancing is advised because of which Chenonceau Castle operates under limited capacity. Itt is always advisable to book your tickets in advance by purchasing tickets online. This ensures that you get to enjoy special discounts and deals while guaranteeing your safety.
- Advance Reservations: Chateau de Chenonceau tickets are subject to availability. So it is advisable to book your tickets in advance by purchasing your tickets online and avoid the inconvenience of tickets being sold out.
- Convenience: Avoid wasting your time by standing in long ticketing queues by purchasing your tickets online to gain access to the castle and explore the prestigious site without any hassle.
- Great Discounts: Book your Chateau de Chenonceau tickets online to enjoy discounted tickets and amazing deals on the ticket price.
Chateau de Chenonceau Highlights
Renaissance Architecture
Chateau de Chenonceau features late Gothic and Renaissance-style architecture that makes it beautiful to look at. Formal gardens were added to the castle by Diane de Poitiers during the French Renaissance period. Catherine de Medici added chimneys, enameled tiles, and several windows throughout the gallery to bring Italian Renaissance influence to the castle.
Renaissance Gardens
Stroll through the two formal French gardens at Chenonceau castle that were contributed by Diane de Poitier and Catherine de’ Medici. You will find gray Santolina shrubs in intricate curls in these gardens. Both the gardens have been designed in the French tradition with a few modern additions and showcase the different personalities of the two inspiring women.
Chateau de Chenonceau Rooms
Inside Chateau de Chenonceau, there are around 20 distinct rooms and locations that give you insight into the lives of powerful women who lived here. Visitors will notice a ‘lived-in’ feeling at the castle due to the wood fires burning in the fireplaces in many of the rooms at the castle to give a cozy and comfortable feel. Also, the flower arrangement in each room is impeccable and is changed twice a week using the flowers from the gardens.
Chateau de Chenonceau Masterpieces
You will find an extraordinary collection of paintings, tapestries, and furniture at Chenonceau Castle. A few of the masterpieces by some of the greatest European painters in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries can be found at the chateau. Rubens, Ribalta, Van Dyck, Mino da Fiesole, etc. are just a few renowned European artists whose works can be found here that reflect the history of the castle and the important role of women that helped save and maintain it.
Chateau de Chenonceau Gardens
Diane De Poitier's Garden consists of two perpendicular paths, two diagonal paths, eight large triangular lawns with Santolina shrubs, and a fountain. There are raised terraces to protect the garden when River Cher is overflowing and is decorated with ornamental basins. It also offers a view of the bushes, yew, spindle, and others that line the flower beds. You will find climbing Iceberg roses on all the terrace walls around the garden.
Queen Catherine de Medici worked on a smaller garden that faces both the lake and the park. The design of this garden follows the five panels of lawn that meet at a beautiful circular basin. On the east side of the garden, a walkway overlooks the moat where Clair-Martin roses are growing. The garden of Catherine de Medici offers a stunning view of Chateau’s west facade.
The Green Garden is a collection of centuries-old trees to provide shade to the lawn. The collection consists of Spanish fir, three plane trees, two redwoods, a black walnut, and many other remarkable trees that you visitors would love to stroll under. Lord Seymour designed this garden in 1825 for the Countess of Villeneuve who wished for an English-style park.
Built by Catherine de Medici, the Italian Maze consists of 2,000 yew trees covering over 1 hectare of area. Enter the maze and reach the center to enjoy a view of the entire maze from the raised gazebo. In the maze, you will find a statue of Venus, a nymph who carries a child named Bacchus, at the top of a cedar trunk. Vases of ivy and boxwood are placed around the ensemble and one can find Caryatids and Atlantids placed at the end of the maze.
Discover a collection of over 400 roses, beautiful flowers, a wide variety of vegetables and plants in the Flower Garden. Here, you will find two greenhouses that are used to cultivate amaryllis, tulip bulbs, hyacinth, etc., and to plant the seedlings. A new garden named Musical Garden has also been added for families where they can play with ‘drum’ turrets and ‘xylophone’ animals.
Learn to make amazing floral arrangements in the unique Floral Workshop that have been held in France for 20 years, from Saint Nicholas Day (6 December) to Epiphany (6 January). Watch how natural materials are transformed into beautiful creations in the hands of florists. During this period, you will find all the rooms, kitchens, galleries, offices, etc. are decorated with a magnificent floral arrangement.
Chateau de Chenonceau - the ‘Ladies’ Chateau’
Chateau de Chenonceau features unique architecture and has been designed, cared for, and curated by several influential French women over the years. From the 1500s to the 1800s, some of the most powerful and influential women maintained and cherished the castle, like- Catherine Briçonnet, Louise de Lorraine, Françoise de Lorraine, Madame Pelouze. Out of the women who lived here, Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de Medici, and Louise Dupin inspired the name: the ‘Ladies’ Chateau.
Read on to know more about the influence of these amazing women on the Chenonceau Castle.
Diane de Poitiers
Diane de Poitiers was gifted the Chenonceau castle by King Henry II of France after a debt settlement. She loved the castle and made a lot of changes, one of them which was the amazing arched bridge built over River Cher. This bridge connected the house to the other bank and made it easier to commute. She also added sprawling gardens behind stone terraces to keep them from being flooded.
Catherine de Medici
After the death of King Henry II in 1559, his wife, Catherine de Medici, removed Diane from the castle and moved into it. It is said that the first-ever fireworks in France were set off at this castle to celebrate the ascension of Catherine’s son, Francis II, in 1560. The Queen added a splendid gallery to the castle that spread across the bridge and extended the gardens too, which still remains functional.
Louise Dupin
After two centuries, Louise Dupin inhabited the Chenonceau castle and held a literary salon at the castle. In the late 18th century, she even saved the property from being destroyed during the French Revolution. She argued that this bridge was the only means of travel and commute over River Cher for miles around and kept the castle intact in all its glory, thus playing a key role in the castle's history.
Where is Chateau de Chenonceau?
Château de Chenonceau is one of the best known castles of the Loire Valley region. This castle is located near the Chenonceaux village of the Indre-et-Loire department of Centre-Val de Loire region. With 37150 Chenonceaux, France, as its address, the castle in Loire Valley is close to SNCF railway station, making it one of the castles in the region with the most number of visitors.
Plan Your Visit To Chateau de Chenonceau
The opening timings of Chateau de Chenonceau and gardens are from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. They are open every day. The opening hours of the castle can change depending on the time and day. Make sure to reserve your time slot to explore the interiors of Chenonceau Castle.
- 1 January to 5 January: 9 AM to 5 PM
- 6 January to 3 April: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- 4 April to 29 May: 9 AM to 5:30 PM
- 30 May to 3 July: 9 AM to 6 PM
- 4 July to 31 August: 9 AM to 7 PM
- 1 September to 27 September: 9 AM to 6 PM
- 1 October to 1 November: 9 AM to 5:30 PM
- 2 November to 18 December: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- 19 December to 31 December: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Opening Timing On Holiday Weekends (11th to 13th April, 1st to 3rd May, 8th to 10th May, 21st to 24th May, and 31st May to 1st June): 9 AM to 7 PM
Last admission to the castle: Half an hour before the closing time.
Address: Château de Chenonceau, 37150 Chenonceaux, France
- By Car: Duration From Paris: 2 hours
It takes 2 hours to reach Chateaux de Chenonceau from Paris via car. Use A10 and take Blois or Amboise exits. A large parking space is available at Chateau de Chenonceau, which is reserved for motorcycles, cycles, and campers. Visitors can also make use of the large coach park. - By Train: Duration From Paris: 1 hour
The quickest way to reach Chateau de Chenonceau is by taking TER Tours-Chenonceaux that takes 25 minutes. You can also take T.G.V. Paris-Montparnasse / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps or Paris-Aéroport Roissy-CDG / Saint-Pierre-des-Corps to reach the Chenonceau castle in 1 hour from Paris. The SNCF station is close to the ticket counter of Chateau de Chenonceau.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair on loan
- EV charging station
- Cafe & Self-Service Restaurant
- Gift Shop & Book Shop
- Free WiFi
- Picnic Area
- Animals are allowed inside the castle and must be kept on leads in the garden. Smaller dogs can be carried in a basket or hands. Guide dogs are also allowed with visitors who suffer from blindness.
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- The Orangerie: This is a fine dining restaurant in the Green Garden where visitors can enjoy French cuisine. It is open every day from mid-March to mid-November.
- Tea Room: For fancy pastries and snacks, visit the elegant terrace in the Green Garden which is also known as the Tea room. It is open every day from 3 PM to 5 PM.
- Caves des Domes: Enjoy a la carte tasting of a variety of wines under the 16th-century vaulted ceiling at Caves des Domes. It is open every day from mid-March to mid-November.
- Self-Service Restaurant: Try the Self-Service Restaurant located in Bâtiment des Dômes for lunch on a shaded terrace. This restaurant is in the former royal stables and serves desserts, salads, hot dishes, and more to the visitors. It is open every day from mid-March to mid-November.
- Château du Clos Lucé: Formerly known as Manoir du Cloux, Château du Clos Lucé is a large chateau located in Val de Loire region. Visit this museum to learn about its history and more about Leonardo Da Vinci’s life, who stayed here in 1516-1519.
- Château Gaillard: Visit the ruins of Château Gaillard, a medieval castle, that overlooks River Seine in Normandy. The castle was built in just two years and has a complex, advanced design that is worth looking at.
- Château d'Amboise: The palace of residence for several French kings, Château d'Amboise is a Renaissance architectural jewel. Plan a visit to witness the beauty of the Loire from the roofs and terraced gardens of this chateau.
- Château de Montpoupon: A fortified castle that dates back to the Middle Ages, Château de Montpoupon features furnished period rooms, stables, and a hunting museum.
Visitor Tips
- Visitors must reserve a time slot on JeFile after booking their tickets to enter the interiors of Chateau de Chenonceau Castle.
- Visitors are required to carry the Sanitary Pass and present it at the entrance to Domaine de Chenonceau.
- There is no dress code to enter the monument, but wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is recommended as you will be walking a lot on this tour.
- People who suffer from reduced mobility can book a wheelchair free of cost.
- Plan a visit to Chateaux de Chenonceau in winter, fall, or autumn season to avoid the crowd.
- You can bring your dog to the castle but make sure to keep them on leads in the garden.
- There are lockers available free of charge.
- It is forbidden to take drinks or snacks into the grounds of Chenonceau. Visitors are requested to use designated picnic areas at the Chateau.
All Your Questions About Chateau de Chenonceau Tickets Answered
A. Yes, Chateau de Chenonceau is open to visitors with the implementation of Covid-19 safety guidelines. Chateau de Chenonceau tickets are also available online.
A. Yes, there are many health measurements implemented at Chateau de Chenonceau to ensure the safety of the guests and the staff members. Along with your Chateau de Chenonceau tickets, you need to show the health pass at the entrance to gain access to the monument and wear a face mask at all times.
A. Chateau de Chenonceau tickets cost €15 for the visitors aged 18 and above. Buy your tickets online to enjoy various deals and discounts.
A. Yes, for a contactless experience, it is recommended to buy Chateau de Chenonceau tickets online and in advance.
A. Yes, visitors aged 7-17 can enjoy reduced pricing on Chateau de Chenonceau tickets.
A. Yes, children between the age of 7 and 17 can avail a discount on their Chateau de Chenonceau tickets. On the other hand, children aged 6 and below can avail free entry to the monument.
A. Visitors are advised to buy Chateau de Chenonceau tickets online and reserve a slot for themselves in advance, as it is not possible to enter the monument with a reservation.
A. Chateau de Chenonceau tickets cannot be canceled or changed. If you cancel the tickets, you won’t get a refund on cancelation.
A. Yes, with the Chateau de Chenonceau tickets, you can gain access to the attraction.
A. The best time to go for the Chateau de Chenonceau tour, if you wish to avoid the crowd, is either morning before noon or late afternoon.
A. With the Chateau de Chenonceau tickets, you can enjoy a nice stroll through the lush royal gardens as well.
A. Chateaux de Chenonceau is at a distance of 214 km from Paris. It takes around 2 hours to drive to this monument from Paris.
A. The current Chateau de Chenonceau was built in 1514-1522 on the site of an old mill. The Chateau was later expanded over the river.
A. Chateaux de Chenonceau is around 12.8 km from Chateau D’Amboise, and it can take 20 minutes by car to reach.
A. Visitors will need around 2 hours to take a tour of Chateau de Chenonceau.
Best Castles Of Loire Valley
It is really hard to categorize the Castles of Loire Valley as the word “Chateaux” is a broad term, which includes over 7000 castles in France. The abundance is such castles is mainly due to the influence of the French Renaissance and the country's rich historical background. Of the 7000, about 1000 are culturally significant and are open for public access. Here are some of the best Loire Valley castles with their tickets.
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![[object Object]](https://cdn-imgix.headout.com/tour/25342/TOUR-IMAGE/d39d27bd-662c-45ef-90ed-ad4766191177-13161-paris-cha-teau-de-chambord-skip-the-line-ticket-02psd.jpg?w=900&h=450&q=75&ar=16%3A10&crop=faces&fm=pjpg&auto=compress)
![[object Object]](https://cdn-imgix.headout.com/tour/24550/TOUR-IMAGE/81c47636-2439-4b1e-9de8-50c67c8ea951-12777-france-skip-the-line--cha-teau-of-azay-le-rideau-ticket-05.jpg?w=900&h=450&q=75&ar=16%3A10&crop=faces&fm=pjpg&auto=compress)
![[object Object]](https://cdn-imgix.headout.com/tour/25383/TOUR-IMAGE/a8922ab0-9f26-4111-bf2b-63ee63f88372-13190-loire-valley-cha-teau-clos-luce----leonardo-da-vinci-s-last-home-08.jpg?w=900&h=450&q=75&ar=16%3A10&crop=faces&fm=pjpg&auto=compress)
![[object Object]](https://cdn-imgix.headout.com/tour/19536/TOUR-IMAGE/1fd8238d-730e-48dd-bfee-9fb8679f3a03-10505-paris-amboise-castle-priority-entrance--11.jpg?w=900&h=450&q=75&ar=16%3A10&crop=faces&fm=pjpg&auto=compress)
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