Europa 2017 – Castles

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France – The Val de Loire offers a unique architectural ensemble that we owe to the Valois but also to the great figures of the kingdom.On the Indre is the small castle of Azay, an ancient fortified town burnt by King Charles VII. Rebuilt by a great financier, it is still unfinished when the king confiscates it. The new owner finds it so charming, it will retain its form of L. The various owners have worked hard to develop it and Azay is a beautiful jewel of what is made of the finest and delicate in the Renaissance. It is currently the object of a major renovation but still welcomes a large public.

The chateau of Chenonceau, also called “the castle of the Ladies”, is the perfect illustration. Built in the place of an old fortified mill, it subjugates by its originality in spanning the Cher. It was owned by a member of Parliament whose wife, Katherine Briçonnet, undertook the first adjustments. Seized by the king, it was then offered to Diane de Poitiers by Henry II. He owes it the extension on the bridge as well as the creation of the gardens. The following illustrious owners have perpetuated this tradition: Catherine de Medicis, Louise of Lorraine, Odette Menier … Always owned by this family, it was a hospital during the First World War and remains a privileged destination for tourists.

Former hunting lodge, Chambord was the great project of François Ier. Unfinished too, it remains one of the most beautiful testimonies of renaissance art. Its most impressive element is undoubtedly the large double-staircase where those who climb never cross those who descend. The very situation of the castle makes it a jewel of the Loire Valley: in the heart of an immense forest park, visitors appreciate the building as well as the pleasure park that surrounds it.

Technical Details

Issue Date: 16.05.2017
Designer: Broll & Prascida
Process: Héliogravure
Size: 60 x 25 mm
Values: 1.10€