Château de Chaumont: Side facade, view looking out over the river Loire

The main entry portal is to the right; the visible tower is the left side of the portal. <br /> The Château de Chaumont was built by Eudes II, Count of Blois, in the 10th century with the purpose of serving as a fortress to protect the Blois from attacks. The castle was burned to the ground in 1465 in accordance with Louis XI’s orders and was later rebuilt by Charles I d'Amboise from 1465-1475 and then finished by his son, Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont from 1498-1510. Château Chaumont was later purchased by Catherine de Medici in 1560. She forced Diane de Poitiers, Henry II’s long-term mistress, to exchange Château de Chenonceau for Château de Chaumont. Diane de Poitiers only lived there for a short while. Madame de Stael later acquired the Castle in 1810.