Château de Chenonceau
Chenonceaux, France
A Renaissance château built on arches across the river Cher, with formal gardens on either bank.
The Château de Chenonceau in Chenonceaux spans the River Cher with its arches. The main building went up in the early 16th century under Thomas Bohier. Diane de Poitiers, to whom Henri II gave the château in 1547, had the bridge built across the Cher. On it, Catherine de’ Medici built the gallery in the 16th century; according to the official visitor guide it is 60 m long and 6 m wide, with 18 windows. In the Second World War the demarcation line ran along the Cher: the main entrance lay in the occupied zone, while the south door of the gallery led into the unoccupied zone.
Inside you can see Diane's bedroom, Catherine's green study and the François I salon, among other rooms. The gardens lie on both banks: Diane's parterre (about 12,000 m²) and Catherine's garden (about 5,500 m²), plus a yew maze in the 70 ha park. Allow around two hours; opening times vary by season, so check them before you travel.
- Nearest town
- Chenonceaux, France
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 47.3249, 1.0703
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- France: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autoroutes; the limit drops to 110 km/h in rain. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Aire ChenonceauxMotorhome stopover1 km from Château de Chenonceau · 25 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Caves du Père Auguste – Aire de servicesMotorhome stopover2 km from Château de Chenonceau · 6 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersWi-FiFree
- Aire de camping-cars – Saint-Georges-sur-CherMotorhome stopover4 km from Château de Chenonceau · 12 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedFree
- Aire BléréMotorhome stopover6 km from Château de Chenonceau · 9 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- MontrichardMotorhome stopover8 km from Château de Chenonceau · 40 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping des PâtisCampsite15 km from Château de ChenonceauTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in France · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Château de Chenonceau?
Château de Chenonceau is in Chenonceaux, France, at GPS 47.3249, 1.0703. It is about 12 km from Amboise.
Can you camp near Château de Chenonceau?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Aire Chenonceaux, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 56 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Château de Chenonceau?
Château de Chenonceau is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Loire Valley châteaux.
What is there to see near Château de Chenonceau?
Places worth a stop nearby: Château de Villandry gardens (42 km), Château d’Azay-le-Rideau (46 km), Château de Chambord (47 km) and Château d’Ussé (59 km).
When is the best time to visit Château de Chenonceau?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)