Not just a ballroom - Chenonceau Chateau
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325209)
Rockingham, Australia
August 11, 2017 1:50am CST
My last post was about Chenonceau Chateau in the Loire Valley in France. The chateau spans the river Cher and the bridge has had a gallery built over it. The gallery is 60 metres long and six metres wide. Eighteen windows let in ample light. The slate tile floor and exposed beams in the ceilings created a magnificent ballroom. However, it has also served in other capacities in its lifetime.
During World War I, the chateau was owned by Mr Gaston Menier who set up a 120-bed hospital. All rooms were utilised for medical procedures. A total of 2,254 soldiers were treated with the last of the wounded leaving on December 31, 1918.
During World War II, The river Cher was part of the line of demarcation between German-occupied France and Free France. The south door of the gallery gave access to the left bank (free zone) and numbers of Jews and others were smuggled through to safety. The bank was regularly patrolled but once the all clear was given the door would be opened and people could make their way to freedom. A German artillery unit was kept at the ready throughout the war, ready to destroy Chenoneau. It would have been tragic if this beautiful building had been destroyed.
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12 responses
@JudyEv (325209)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
She will indeed. We haven't come across the Sonny River yet. No wonder he got a bit irate.
@Jackalyn (7559)
• Oxford, England
11 Aug 17
It is good some of these buildings are still standing even though I think they did to be destroyed during the war by the way they were used. I often wonder what it would have been like to live in a huge place in the times when Ballrooms and the like were actually used. Some days I could do with a lady's maid.
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@JudyEv (325209)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
When a regal visitor came to these places, they bought with them a huge entourage who all had to be fed and accommodated. It must have been quite stressful for the ones responsible for finding food and beds for everyone.
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 17
It's unfortunate that the history of a lot of these old buildings is war oriented.
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@Letranknight2015 (51489)
• Philippines
11 Aug 17
It's beautiful place, good thing they were able to preserve it though. It's nice to know that this place had saved soldiers and lived to see another day.
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@JudyEv (325209)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
Yes, it is good to think that it served a very useful purpose during the wars.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
11 Aug 17
I think you are now qualified as a an official tour guide!
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@JudyEv (325209)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
I must admit I'd be keen to help in some way at some of these places - mainly because I'd get to see behind all the locked doors!
@JudyEv (325209)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Aug 17
They have 10 gardeners just to look after all the gardens. The whole place is beautiful.
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
11 Aug 17
Plenty of elbow room there. France has done an excellent job of saving and preserving these real life fairy tale buildings that look like movie sets.
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