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DIANE DE POITIERS
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A cornerstone of the French nobility and an essential figure of the Renaissance, Diane de Poitiers (1499–1566) was far more than a mere royal favorite; she was the most influential advisor and the lifelong love of King Henry II, despite their twenty-year age gap. Upon her lover’s accession to the throne in 1547, she wielded near-royal authority, receiving prestigious titles such as Duchess of Valentinois and involving herself directly in state affairs,
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Henry II's gift to Diane de Poitiers: The king offered the castle to his favorite. She commissioned the creation of the magnificent gardens that bear her name and had the first bridge built, linking the castle to the south bank of the Cher.
CHATEAU CHENONCEAU
castle
1547