While Francis’ library began at the Chateau de Blois, by 1544, it was on the move once again. Determined to expand his literary reputation, Francis made an effort to start a separate collection at the Chateau de Fontainebleau. On May 22, 1544, he ordered in inventory of the library at Blois to prepare them for
Category Places
Although Chambord receives credit for being a “typical” Renaissance chateau, the French renaissance actually began within the walls of the Chateau d’Amboise. The story of Amboise and its rise to royal residence starts with Charles VIII, the first husband on Anne of Brittany. Charles’ life started at Amboise. Without the constant threat of English invaders,
I tend to think of the Tuileries as one of Catherine de Medici’s projects. Like the Hotel de Soissons, it’s a Parisian home that I associate with her widowhood. But the Tuileries first became a royal residence decades later, during the reign of her father in law, Francis I. Francis bought it for his
Chateaux didn’t magically appear during the French Renaissance, but judging from the numbers of them still in existence across France, you would be forgiven for assuming that they did. They did, however, start to change their basic appearance during the 15th century and took on a decidedly foreign flair. During the Middle Ages, the typical
During the sixteenth and seventeenth century, you’ll hear the word “hôtel” tossed around frequently. If you’re an American like me, your first images will be of something between a Holiday Inn and the Four Seasons. In the hope of saving you from insanity, I’m going to make the explanation of a nobleman’s hôtel as simple
Today we’re going to look at the Louvre during the time that it was a Renaissance palace. It was really hard trying to do research on the Louvre because today we look at it first as a world class museum, and later as what “used to be a palace.” So today I’ll be focusing on