A Route to Freedom

Château de Chenonceau straddles the River Cher. During WW2 this river formed part of the demarcation line between free and occupied France. To the left (southbank) the free zone, the front door to the right (northbank) the occupied zone.

Although the area was heavily guarded by the Germans the Resistance managed to pass large numbers through the château. Simone Menier, who during WWI had helped convert the château into a hospital using her families money from the Menier chocolate factory, carried out numerous actions for the resistance during this time.

I will add an extra of the ground floor gallery that crosses the river. This is where hospital beds lay during WWI and the path to freedom during WW2.

This is the first château today, we will be visiting another tonight to witness a 'night of 2000 lights'. If I manage to get some good images from that ill add them as extras.

I will be hosting Mono Monday during July. This monday, the 4th July, will have the theme 'FREE' to link with Independence Day. Please interpret this any way you wish. It could be Freedom, Freestyle, Freecycle or just something free. Lots of different options, I trust you'll come up with something. MM128 will be the tag.

Please spread the word.

Edit: More extras added of Château Villandry. They include costumes, 2000 lights, fireworks and a sword fight that went on for 2 hours!