Azay le Rideau

Azay le Rideau is one of the more famous chateaux, with good reason. Located in a small village, the chateau site on an island in the Indre river. Built between 1518 and 1527, it is one of the first French Renaissance chateaux. Gilles Berthelot, then state treasurer of Francois I and mayor of Tours, commissioned the build, but it was his wife, Phillipe Lesbahy, whose inheritance paid for it, who supervised the construction. She is credited with the idea of the central staircase, for which the chateau is famous.

In 1528, Berthelot was suspected of embezzlement and was forced to flee. The unfinished chateau was acquired to the kind, who gave it to a high ranking soldier as a reward. In the 20^th century it was acquired by the French government, who restored it and opened it to the public.

The outside of the castle, with its romantic location, can be beaten by the interior. The famous staircase was one of the first straight-flight staircases built in France. Based on Italian designs, the staircase was meant to reflect the nobility of the Berthelots, which they felt was not adequately reflected with a spiral staircase. The castle also has traditional Renaissance architecture with its high roof and long rows of windows. It has to be fortified, as well as demonstrate wealth, but the turrets and other fortification elements balance out an excessively majestic design. The surrounding park has an English garden feel to it and is used for Son et Lumiere shows that run throughout the spring and summer.

The interior decoration is somewhat sparse. Loire chateaux were generally only used during the summer and rarely filled with furniture. Also, much of the existing furniture disappeared or was ruined over time. Today the rooms are decorated with rich tapestries and several historical paintings.

Chateau de Chenonceau

Built in the on the site of a mill on the Cher River, the chateau is located near the village of Chenonxceaux. Built some time in the 10^th century, the chateau was burned in 1411 to punish the then owner, Jean Marques. He quickly rebuilt the castle, which was inherited by his son Pierre Marques. The castle was quickly sold off to Thomas Bohier, Chamberlain for Charles VII. He destroyed the castle and rebuilt a new one between 1515 and 1521. The Renaissance aspects of the chateau, such as the wide staircases, are usually attributed to Bohier’s wife, Katherine Briconnet, who oversaw most of the work. The entrance hall, which is covered with rib vaults, are in excellent condition, considering they were built in 1515.

Eventually seized by Francois I, after his death Henry II gave the chateau to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. It as she who ordered the construction of the famous arched bridge, which joined the chateau to the opposite bank. After the death of Henry II, his wife and queen, Catherine de’ Medici took over the castle, expelling Diane to the Chateau Chaumont. Catherine moved into the castle and added her own touch to the gardens, already made famous with Diane’s triangular designs. The castle is also known as the Chateau of the Six Women because of the number of female owners, whose influences are still present throughout the site.

Practically every room in the house is impressively restored, even down to the kitchen with a large rotisserie and an attached butchery. The chateau has its own chapel, consecrated by Cardianl Bohier. Although the architecture and gardens are impressive, the detail inside the chateau is stunning. The tapestries, starting with Diane de Poitiers’s Flemish tapestry and ending with the gold tapestries in the Louise XII chambers, can be found throughout. The Gallery, which took eight years to complete, is enamelled tiles of chalk and slate.

After Catherine’s death, the castle passed through many hands, including Louise de Lorrain-Vaudemont, Gabrielle d’Estrees, and the Duke of Bourbon. It is now owned by the Menier family, who acquired it in 1913. Other than the Palais de Versailles, Chenonceau is the most visited chateau in France.

The Duomo of Florence in Italy. Construction of this cathedral began in the late 1200s but its consecration came only 140 years later. The Duomo features pink, green and white marble symbolizing the wealth and prestige of Florence. It contains art pieces of world-class quality and is considered one of Italy’s biggest religious buildings.

St. John Divine Cathedral in New York. This cathedral is said to be the focal point of the Episcopal church in New York and considered a real cathedral. It is one of the world’s largest cathedrals being the size of two football fields or 121,000 square feet.

Notre Dame of Paris in France. This cathedral’s name means Our Lady of Paris or the church in Paris dedicated to Virgin Mary. A sculpture of the Virgin Mary is displayed inside the church. It is one of the first Gothic cathedrals having been constructed during the Gothic period. The influence of naturalism is evident in its sculptures and stained glass. Notre Dame also boasts of being among the first buildings in the whole world to use the flying buttress.

St. Paul’s in England. The St. Paul Cathedral located in London is England’s largest and is one of the most visited spots in the city. An Anglican cathedral, St. Paul features a 365-foot dome inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica. The cathedral was also the site of the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. It has survived several bomb blasts and bomb threats in 1940 and 1941. St. Paul is Wren’s masterpiece which he built using Portland stone. This religious structure is a famous landmark in London and therefore, should not be missed by visitors.

Cologne Cathedral in Germany. Germany has its Cologne Cathedral to boast of, one of its famous architectural monuments. Completed in the late 19th century, the cathedral is a renowned landmark in Cologne. It boasts of having the biggest façade and continues to be the second tallest Gothic structure in the whole world. Its main façade has two towers measuring 157 meters tall. It is administered by the Roman Catholic Church and is dedicated to Saints Peter and Mary. Germany’s largest cathedral also features the relics of the Magi as well as 12 church bells and took 632 years to build.

The Duomo of Milan, Italy. This Gothic cathedral, the third largest in the world, took five centuries to construct. It features 135 marble spires, a triangular façade and thousands of statues surrounding the exterior.

St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy. This cathedral with an onion-shaped dome was inspired by Constantinople. This 1,000-year-old church started as a private chapel of the doges and houses the remains of St. Mark, the patron saint of the maritime republic of Venice.

Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, Italy. Although dedicated to St. Francis, the patron saint of small animals and birds, construction of this cathedral began long after the death of the saint. It was consecrated in the year 1253. The site of many pilgrimages, the Basilica features the frescoes of Giotto.