Every Wednesday, most students at the institute get out at noon. This half day provides us with extra time to go on institute organized excursions - among other things. Last Wednesday I got to go see le Château de Chenonceau. I have been learning about this château probably since ninth grade. This famous castle has occupied pages in every French textbook I have ever used. Everyone in my group got to come on the trip, so it was fun for us to reunited again. The château was constructed in the eleventh century over the River Cher (the other river in the Loire Valley). The complex and intricate design of the structure is amazing, I can not imagine how it was constructed. The front of the castle was under reonvation, so that was sad, but the rest of the building was incredible. The gardens are fabulous as well.
This is the chapel that is located inside of the château. Sadly, the original stained glass windows were blown out during the second world war.
This wing of the château was used as a hospital during WWI - there is a plaque on the wall commemorating the lives lost in the infirmary.
I learned that this castle was also used a means of escape during the Nazi occupation of France. Since the château could also be used as a bridge, people would flee to the other side of the river that still remained free.
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