Chaumont. In the 10th Century, Eudes I, Count of Blois, establised a fortress to protect Blois from the constant attacks by Foulques Nerra, Count of Anjou. The Norman knight Gelduin was given Chaumont and had the fortres strengthened. Catherine de Medicis bought Chaumont in 1560 and forced Diane de Poitieerrs (her husband's mistress) to accept it in exchange for the castle Chenonceau. In the 19th century the chateau belonged sucessively to the Count of Aramon, to Viscount Walsh then, from 1875, to Marie Charlotte Say, the Say sugar producers heiress, who married Prince Amadee de Broglie in the same year. In 1938, the chateau was handed over to the State by the ruined Princess. This is a condensed history. It is my understanding that Christian's father first came to the castle as a young man to repair furniture.