Begun in the 13th century, the chateau was the main royal residence in France until the court was moved to Paris by Henri IV in the late 16th century. It was here that the Duc de Guise was stabbed to death on the order of Henri III. It was also the home of Henri s mother, Catherine de Medici, until her death. The castle is a mixture of architectural styles, from the Gothic design of the Salle des Etats - the only part of the structure to survive from the 13th century - to the Classical 17th-century Gaston d Orleans wing. Catherine de Medici s study is also of interest, featuring 237 secret compartments.
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