Louise de Lorraine-Vaudémont was the wife of King Henry III (Catherine’s son) and was said to be a beautiful and gentle woman completely in love with her husband. Henri III was assassinated in 1589 and Louise chose to move to the château. She had inherited the château upon Catherine’s death.
At the château, Louise wore the white of mourning and became known as the White Queen. In addition to wearing mourning clothes, she also had “black tapestries” installed in her bedroom.
You can visit her bedroom, which is covered in black velvet and decorated with painted crowns of white thorns and cross-stitched with patterns of skulls and crossbones. Louise mourned her husband for the rest of her life and on her death in 1601 all her belongings were sold to pay her debts.
After her death, Chenonceau was never again the home of any Royalty.
