She was the most powerful woman in 16th-century Europe, ruling France for nearly 20 years. She brought haute cuisine to the country, created the Tuileries Garden in Paris, and was responsible for one of the bloodiest massacres in French history. People thought she was a sorceress who murdered her enemies. Her name is Catherine de Medici and she was one tough lady.
Read her fascinating story at Frenchly.
Another great article Keith!
Merci !
Whenever I look at photos of Chenonceau I think of Catherine de Medici taking it away from the King’s mistress. Granted, Diane de Poitiers did end up getting Chateau de Chaumont.
I love Catherine de Medici’s office at Chenonceau. Instead of the big, ornate rooms of a grand palace, it’s small and kind of triangular and must have been intimidating as heck for whoever walked in to meet with her!