TRAVEL / HISTORY / LOIRE VALLEYThe Women Who Shaped the Loire Valley
Behind some of the Loire Valley’s most famous châteaux are women whose ambitions, rivalries and personal tastes helped shape both the buildings themselves and the history of France. From Anne of Brittany in Blois to Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici at Chenonceau, their influence is still visible throughout the region today.
The Château Royal de Blois was home to seven kings and ten queens, but few figures are as closely associated with it as Anne of Brittany. The only woman to have been Queen of France twice, she married Louis XII in 1499 and spent the final fifteen years of her life in Blois. A notable patron of the arts, she established the château as one of the important royal residences of the period.A generation later, Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France and later mother to three kings, became one of the most influential political figures of the 16th century. Her apartments occupied the François I wing of the château and she died there in 1589. Her intertwined initials can still be seen throughout the royal apartments today. Walking through the Château Royal therefore reveals more than changing architectural styles. Its rooms reflect generations of royal women who lived, governed and raised their families here.THE TWO WOMEN OF CHENONCEAU
Perhaps nowhere is female influence more visible than at Château de Chenonceau, often known as the Château des Dames because of the succession of women who built, transformed and protected it.In 1547, Henri II gave Chenonceau to his favourite, Diane de Poitiers. She created its celebrated gardens and commissioned the bridge across the River Cher.After Henri II’s death in 1559, Catherine de’ Medici took possession of Chenonceau. She expanded the gardens and added the two-storey gallery over Diane’s bridge, transforming the building into the château we recognise today. From her Green Cabinet, Catherine also continued to involve herself in the affairs of the kingdom.Their rivalry has become part of Chenonceau’s legend, but their respective gardens still offer perhaps the clearest reminder that both women left a very physical mark on the estate.THE VERTU EXPERIENCE
On the banks of the Loire in Blois, Fleur de Loire makes a particularly fitting base for exploring this chapter of the region’s history.
The 5-star hotel occupies a 17th-century building commissioned by Gaston d’Orléans, brother of Louis XIII, and today features 44 rooms and suites, two restaurants and a 450 m² spa.
Chef Christophe Hay has built the experience around the Loire itself, with cuisine inspired by the region’s produce and landscapes. His signature restaurant holds two Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star.
The Château Royal de Blois is just across the river, making Anne of Brittany and Catherine de’ Medici’s story a natural starting point for exploring the valley.
HOTEL HIGHLIGHTS
Historic 17th-century residence overlooking the Loire
44 rooms and suites, with many offering river views
Two restaurants by Christophe Hay and a 450 m² spa
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CHATEAU DE CHENONCEAU
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BLOIS AND THE LOIRE RIVER
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FLEUR DE LOIRE HOTEL***** IN BLOIS