Chateau de Chenonceau

I absolutely did not take this picture. But this is it en totale. 

Today, I went to the Chateau de Chenonceau -BTW, since it has half of my name in it I claim half as mine-. It's about a ten minute car ride from where I am living in Amboise and I went with three other classmates. When you arrive, after walking down a road lined with tall symmetrical trees -comparable with the movie Ever After- this is what you see

From this side, it doesn't look like much at first but when you see it from the Loire its magnificent. It was built in the 16th century, and it was built for a woman. It is known as The Ladies Chateau. The Great Catherine de Medici lived here, she also was the lady who introduced le macaron to France. That's right people, le macaron is from Italy.

This massive hall is what stretches over the river, it is the Gallery. It was opened in 1577 and after seeing many pieces of art, dancing, and other festivities it played many important roles later in history. During the first world war the Chateau was turned into a hospital and this room held a great deal of the wounded or dead. In WWII the entrance of the Chateau was occupied by Germany, but the bank of the river on the other side was not. With German artillery always ready to destroy the castle, people secretly passed through this hall to the door -that you can see- to enter the 'free zone' on the other side and escape tyranny -so muther effing cool-. 

Floor of the Guards Room. Wear and tear but it's still there.

Standing in a building that's older than America's constitution is astounding. It is privately owned and generates 75,000 euros everyday in the summer time. Walking around a place as grandiose as this made me realize: Being a princess is over rated, being a queen is where it's at. I am made to be a god damn queen, but I'm born in the wrong era. 

Stupidly huge fire place. (All of them are enormous)

Centaur from a tapestry featuring Diana.

This is the second castle I've ever seen and first ever to actually go inside. My inner history geek took all her clothes off and started running around naked from all the excitement.

End blog 3.