Online dictionary of France travel and tourism: castle

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Amboise castle

French words: Château d'Amboise
alternative words: Amboise, Château d'Amboise
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related topics: Tours
related web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Amboise , http://www.chateau-amboise.com , http://www.renaissance-amboise.com , http://www.amboise-valdeloire.com
explanation: Occupying a strategic point on the southern bank of Loire river between Tours and Blois, King Charles VII confiscated the castle from the lord due to his treason. King Charles VIII, born at Amboise , began to enlarge it in 1492. After an expedition to Italy, he brought not only Italian furniture but also artists to make it very Italian. King Francois 1st, raised there, continued to improve the castle before moving his court to Blois. Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last life as a guest of Francois at Amboise.

Andelys castle

French words: Château Gaillard
alternative words: Les Andelys castle, Gaillard castle, Andelys fortress
keywords: castle , normandy , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.ville-andelys.fr , http://remi.placier.free.fr
explanation: Located 100 km north-west of Paris, the castle of les Andelys was build in 1198 at the top of a hill which dominates Seine river by Richard the Lionhearted, King of England and Duke of Normandy, in order to protect his fief against the French king Philippe Auguste. After Richard's death in 1199, Philippe successfully captured the fortress in 1204. The castle was dismantled by Henri IV 400 years later.

Azay-le-rideau castle

French words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
alternative words: Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, Azay-le-Rideau
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related topics: Tours
related web sites: http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/chateaux-loire/7.shtml , http://www.loire-france.com/visites/chateaux/azay-le-rideau/ , http://www.casteland.com/pfr/chateau/centre/indreloire/azay/azay_hist.htm
explanation: There had existed already a medieval castle on an islet inside Indre, tributary of Loire, since 11th century, but the crown prince (future Charles VII) being insulted by the garrison of the castle in 1418, he ordered to burn it out. Later, King's treasurer and Tours' mayor, Gilles Berthelot, began to build a new castle in 1518, inspired by Blois castle. Though, Gilles, being accused of a fraud, couldn't add the eastern wing, its stairwell is one of the master pieces among French renaissance style castles.

Blois castle

French words: Château de Blois
alternative words: Blois, Château de Blois
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www-02.ville-blois.fr , http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/centre/loir_cher/blois/blois_desc.htm
explanation: Located at the hill which commands Blois on the northern bank of Loire river, there had existed already a medieval castle since Carolingian period, but only the Chamber of the Estates General in the north and the tower of Foix in the south remain until today. The real expansion of the castle started when King Louis XII installed his court there in 1498 and added a renaissance flavour to it. The next king, Francois 1st transformed it to a full renaissance style castle with a magnificent spiral stairwell.

Carcassonne

French words: Carcassonne
keywords: castle , human heritage , southern france , tourist resort , town
related web sites: http://www.carcassonne.org , http://www.carcassonne.culture.fr
explanation: Located in southern France, Romans had already built a fortress there due to its strategic importance. During the middle ages, Carcassonne had been a strong hold of Cathars to resist Albigensian Crusade until 1209. After the incorporation to France in 1247, an outer rampart was added to make the fortress impregnable because Carcassonne was a border town with Aragon kingdom. In 1997, medieval city was enlisted to Unesco's human heritage. Carcassonne is the capital of Aude prefecture and the population 44000.

Chambord castle

French words: Château de Chambord
alternative words: Chateau de Chambord, Chateau Chambord
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chambord.org , http://www.chambordcountry.com , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Chambord
explanation: Located near Blois and 150km south of Paris, Chambord is the largest among "Chateaux de la Loire". Its construction started in 1519 as second residence of King Francois 1st and achieved only in 1559 after his death. Owning 4 central towers served by the stairs with a double spiral, a guest of Francois 1st, Leonardo Da Vinci may participate in conceiving this renaissance style castle. After Francois's death, the castle decayed slowly. Surrounded by a vast forest, Chambord belongs to UNESCO's human heritage.

Chantilly castle

French words: Château de Chantilly
alternative words: Chantilly palace, Chantilly
keywords: castle , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chateaudechantilly.com , http://www.chantilly-tourisme.com , http://www.ville-chantilly.fr , http://www.institut-de-france.fr/patrimoine/chantilly/chantilly.htm
explanation: Though existed since Roman period, Chantilly began to develop when the last of Orgemont family bequeathed in 1484 the domain to his nephew Guillaume of Montmorency, because his son, Anne de Montmorency served as constable for 6 French kings. The small castle built around 1560 contains furniture of 17-18th century belonging to the next castle owner, Conde family, while the park was designed by King's gardener, Andre le Notre in 1663. Located 40km north of Paris, Chantilly also owns a famous horserace course.

Chenonceau Castle

French words: Château de Chenonceau
alternative words: Chateau de Chenonceau, Chateau Chenonceau, Chenonceaux
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://www.chenonceau.com , http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_Chenonceaux , http://www.linternaute.com/sortir/chateaux-loire/5.shtml
explanation: The pre-existing castle on the northern bank of Cher River, tributary of Loire, having been erased due to a treason of its lord, the new owner, Thomas Bohier, Chamberlain for King Charles VIII, built a new one between 1515 and 1521, by keeping only the donjon. Then the castle was handed in 1555 to Diane de Poitiers, a mistress of King Henri II, who would extend the castle over Cher river. After the king's death, Queen Catherine Medici confiscated it to make her residence and to lay out a beautiful garden.

Chinon castle

French words: Château de Chinon
alternative words: Chinon, Château de Chinon
keywords: castle , human heritage , loire region , tourist resort
related web sites: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jean-francois.mangin/capetiens/fenetres_filles/chateau_chinon.htm
explanation: Though there had existed already a fortress since Roman period on a spur on the northern bank of Vienne, tributary of Loire, Chinon increased its importance, when the count of Anjou, conquered the castle in 1044 and later the count Henri II became king of England in 1154. He fortified the castle by adding Moulin tower and Fort Saint Georges but French King, Philippe II conquered the castle in 1205. He reinforced further the fort of Coudry. French King, Charles VII met first Jeanne d'Arc in 1492 at Chinon.

Cite Island

French words: L'île de la Cité , La Cité
alternative words: Ile de la Cite
keywords: castle , human heritage , locality , paris , tourist resort
related topics: Notre-Dame cathedral , Saint Chapel
related web sites: http://www.insecula.com/musee/M0073.html , http://www.pariserve.tm.fr/quartier/00ilecite.htm
explanation: Initially, it was merely an islet lost inside Seine river but offering a secured place against invaders, a town had developed slowly. During Roman period, the town was called Lutece. It resisted against Attlia in 451, encouraged by Sainte Genevieve. Clovis of Merovingian dynasty made Paris its capital. In 885, the resistance organised under the command of Eude against Vikings. Rich in medieval monuments such as Notre-Dame, Sainte Chapelle and Conciergerie, the island belongs to UNESCO's human heritage.

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