Chenonceaux

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Commune of Chenonceaux
Location
Coordinates 47°19′59″N, 01°04′09″E
Administration
Country France
Region Centre
Department Indre-et-Loire
Arrondissement Tours
Canton Bléré
Intercommunality Communauté
de communes de
Bléré Val de Cher
Statistics
Altitude 54 m–129 m
Land area¹ 4.33 km²
Population²
(1999)
325
 - Density (1999) 75/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 37070/ 37150
¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 mi² or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
² Population sans doubles comptes: single count of residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel).
France

Chenonceaux is a small village and a commune of France, located in the Indre-et-Loire département of the Loire Valley, about 26 km (16 mi) east of Tours. It is situated on the right bank of the Cher River.

The population of permanent residents hovers around 300, as of 2004, but there is a large influx of tourists during the pleasant months of the year, because the village is home to the former Royal Château de Chenonceau, one of the most popular destinations in France. The castle is distinctive in being built right over the river.

[edit] Name

The difference in spelling between the Château's name (Chenonceau) and the city (Chenonceaux) is attributed to Louise Dupin, owner of the castle during the French Revolution, who is said to have dropped the "x" at the end of the Château's name to differentiate what was a symbol of royalty from the Republic. Although no official sources have been found to support this legend, the Château has been since referred to and accepted as Chenonceau.

[edit] External link

Chenonceau Château and river
Chenonceau Château and river