A Real Life Story of Faith and Valor

By Donna Wichelman

If you’ve read my HHH blogs for any length of time, you may remember my series on French Chateaux and one in particular called Le Château De Lourmarin. Located in the region of Provence and the Luberon (hill country), I became fascinated by Le Château De Lourmarin when I discovered its history involving a community of pre-reformation Protestants known as Waldensians in the village of Lourmarin, France. The allure was based on having written two books in a romantic suspense series called the Waldensian Series.

Le Château De Lourmarin, May 2023 Donna's Gallery

Le Château De Lourmarin Gardens, May 2023 Donna's Gallery

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs dedicates less than a page to the Waldensians of the Cottian Alps west of Turin, Italy. Yet, their real-life story of valor and enduring faith in the midst of persecution in Europe throughout the second millennium AD touched and encouraged my heart so much, that I wanted to bring their story to life in a contemporary suspense novel that would give wings to courage and enduring faith in our time.

Historians debate the exact date and origins of the Waldensians, also known as the Vaudois or Valley Dwellers. Some have a compelling argument for the existence of this ancient sect, which originated with the first-century fathers, who settled in the Cottian Alps between France and Italy during a period of great persecution over the next two centuries. They continued to carry out their traditions into the second millennium.

The official Waldensian Church position says the movement began in 1170 A.D., when a rich merchant from Lyons, France converted to Christianity and took a vow of poverty. Others banded around Peter Waldo, and they became known as the Poor Men of Lyons. 

Regardless of which history is correct, a division arose between the Roman Catholic Church and the Waldensians by the end of the twelfth century. Though the Waldensians didn’t want to secede from the Roman Church, they hoped to sway the papacy to cease certain practices they said contradicted the Bible and the pure teachings of Christ.

The Waldensians also petitioned the papacy for various reforms, foremost among them were translating the Bible into the vernacular and allowing clergy to marry. The papacy would not concede to their position, calling Waldensians and any other Protestant sect heretics. Thus began centuries of martyrdom and persecution that helped set the stage for the Reformation in the sixteenth century.

Ancient School of the Barba Where Waldensians Translated the Bible into the Vernacular: Pra del Torno, Italy: Donna's Gallery 2006

Fast forward to the seventeenth century when Louis XIV became King of France in 1643. Believing he was God’s representative on earth and supported in that view by his mother, Louis brought on a renewed vigor to rid Europe of Protestant sects everywhere in Europe.

In 1655, a great persecution ensued, known as the Spring of Blood or the Piedmontese Easter. Men and women were flayed alive, burned at the stake, and drowned in lakes and ponds. Hundreds of Waldensian faithful were martyred for their faith.

By 1685, the Waldensians were forced from their homes in exile and fled over the mountains to Switzerland. Most wanted to return to their Alpine valleys and devised ways to make that happen. It wasn’t until the height of the Nine Year’s War in August 1689, when the tide of Europe turned against France, that William of Orange commissioned a militia made up of Waldensian and Huguenot soldiers to cross back over the mountains into their homelands in the Waldensian Valleys.

A Depiction of Waldensian Militia, Balziglia, Italy: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

Some of the French Peaks the Militia had to Cross Near Iseran, France During the Mini Ice Age: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

A Notable Ancient Bridge the Militia Crossed near Cluses, France: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

Under the leadership of Pastor Henri Arnaud, the soldiers braved not only French militia but the rains and snows of a mini ice age in the Alps, marching on foot for more than ten days from Yvoire on the south shore of Lake Geneva to their home valleys. They spent the better part of another year in Balziglia before they succeeded in defeating the French. At war’s end, the Protestant world hailed the Waldensians for their persevering faith and undying valor against all odds. They also received the honor and distinction of bringing their people back home in what became known as the Glorious Return.

A Copy of Henri Arnaud's Book on the History of the Glorious Return
Museum at Balziglia, Italy: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

Fortress and Museum at Balziglia, Italy: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

Waldensians lived in their ghetto valleys west of Turin for more than a hundred and fifty years under persecution. Then on 16, February 1848, the unified Italian government finally granted the Protestant church freedom to worship and assemble under the Declaration of Emancipation. On the seventeenth of February, local Waldensian assemblies lit bonfires in celebration of their civil liberties. Waldensians worldwide still light bonfires each year in commemoration of their freedoms.

A Typical Waldesnian House Furnished Simply in a Rodoretto: Donna's Gallery, September 2015

The largest group of Waldensians outside of Italy resides in Valdese, North Carolina. Each summer, the community puts on a festival of heritage, which includes a production called From This Day Forward in an amphitheater to honor the Waldensian's history. They’ve also constructed an outdoor replica of historical sites in Italy on their Trail of Faith. You can find more information about Valdese at www.visitvaldese.com.

Replica of the Cave of Faith in the Angrogna Valley, Italy in Valdese, North Carolina: Donna's Gallery, 

The Waldensian story lives on as a testimony of a people whose valor and enduring faith withstood the test of time. This ought to encourage and strengthen Christians as we hear and read stories about those who are persecuted and martyred around the world in our time.

Post Script: In the summer of 2015, four months after I published Light Out of Darkness, the first book in my Waldensian Series, Pope Frances apologized to the Waldensians for a millennium of religious persecution. It was a momentous occasion for the descendants of this pre-reformation group.

More About the History of the Waldensians:
• The History of the Waldenses by J.A. Wylie
• You are My Witnesses: The Waldensians Across 800 Years by Giorgio Tourn
• The Glorious Recovery by The Vaudois of their Valleys, by Henri Arnaud
• Waldensian Cultural Centre, Torre Pellice, Italy www.fondazionevaldese.org

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of Donna's love of travel, history, and literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic--an international college in Wales, U.K. She enjoys exploring people and cultures of the world and developing plots that show how God's love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, belonging, and forgiveness.

Donna received her master's degree in mass communication/journalism from San Jose State University and became a communications professional before writing full-time. Her short stories and articles have appeared in inspirational publications. She has two indie-published romantic suspense novels, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor, in her Waldensian Series. Her Gilded Age historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, will be released by Scrivenings Press in December 2024.

Donna and her husband of forty years participate in ministry at their local church in Colorado. The love spending time with their grandchildren and bike, kayak, and travel whenever possible.

Beginning July 4th in honor of Independence Day and through July, Donna is running a Giveaway of The Last Will and Testament of Anne Charbonnier, a seventeenth-century short story prequel to her Waldensian Series. Of those who sign up for Donna's newsletter, one person will also receive four full-length contemporary and historical novels written by Scrivenings Press authors. Visit Donna's website at www.donnawichelman.com to receive your copy of The Last Will and Testament of Anne Charbonnier and enter the contest.

Château de Chenonceau - Inside Out, Part II

 

Welcome back! Grateful you returned to view additional rooms inside this beautiful castle. In case this is your first visit with Château de Chenonceau, you could read Part I. The post displays a brief history, the approach, main door, stairway, tile floors, the Gallery, second floor hall, and a bit about the interior.

Today we will peek inside some of the bedrooms, the well-appointed kitchen, and what was once a hospital with full apothecary. During WWI, the kitchens were outfitted to serve as a hospital as well as portions of the farm buildings.

The first bedroom open for discussion is Cesar of Vendôme’s - photo below at left. Caesar was the son of King HenriIV and Gabrielle d’Estrées, also uncle of Louis XIV. He owned Chenonceau beginning in 1624. Notice the visible joints on the ceiling. The tapestries date from the 17th century, while the furniture is from the Renaissance. 

          

Catherine de’ Medici became regent when King Henri II her husband died. She required his mistress, Diane de Poitiers to trade Chenonceau for Chaumont. Catherine proceeded to add a gallery, gardens, and outbuildings. The tile floor and bed in the photo above at right were from the Renaissance. Notice the carvings in the coffered ceiling. H is for Henri and C for Catherine. The painting on wood to the right of the bed is by Correggio. While the 16th century tapestry depicts proverbs and fables from The Life of Samson.

Louise of Lorraine was married to King Henri III. She retired to Chenonceau after he was assassinated. The royal protocol for mourning in 1589 was to dress in white. Incidentally, she was referred to as the White Queen. Her bedroom remains decorated for mourning and houses furniture is from the 1500s. Louise wanted the Capuchin nuns near her as she meditated and prayed. They stayed on the third floor until the 17th century. After, they returned to their convent.

Next on our tour are the kitchens. They are housed in the two huge bases of the castle, the piers in the River Cher. The pantry had several purposes. The staff used this for their dining area. It also holds the largest fireplace and a bread oven. Within the pantry you will find the butchery. Hooks and chopping block are still in place. Produce was stored in the larder. Imagine all the staff necessary to care for the inhabitants of a castle this size. Not to mention staff to maintain the structure. Quite an operation from top to bottom.

See the piers in photo below.

Fireplace and bread oven.


  
Staff dining within the pantry.                         Additional table in the larder.

 

Butcher block above. I never considered the origin of that term before. Bread oven at right.

         

Notice the bells? Here are the back stairs the staff used to trek to the upper floors and serve.

         

Hand pump and sink. There was also an additional larger pump. Spit at right.

Look at those pots! Also my writing research travel partner, Cindy Kay Stewart. 

I wondered if the rope at the window above was for raising produce and fish from the river boats into the kitchen. It would have been handy for sure.

The last part of Chenonceau to explore today is part of the outbuildings that functioned as a hospital in WWI. In the photo you can see an example of the beds and also the nurses who tended patients. Take a gander at the apothecary. I have been unable to ascertain if these are the original cannisters or reproductions. Whatever the case, they are stunning. What do you think?

          

This was an amazing visit. It is no wonder tourists flock to the area. If you are ever in the Loire Valley, stop by and peruse this stunning château. You will be thinking about it and those who traversed the floors and opened the doors long after you cross the river.

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO/Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 100 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia.

Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest X

Château de Chenonceau - Inside Out

What is our fascination with castles? Or mine, for that matter? I read an article asking the very same question concerning Americans in general. The author shared that for inhabitants of Europe, castles are a common occurrence. For those living in the US, they are few and far between. I could only think of two when I first started writing this post, Biltmore and Boldt. I learned of a few more castles as I was researching. One resource claimed there are but 40 in existence in the United States. While in Europe there are tens of thousands.

Scarcity does not explain my proclivity toward castles though perhaps for others it does. For me it is much more. The history behind the structures sets my imagination in motion. When I see the worn floors and ornate doors, I wonder about the people who traversed the tiles and turned the handles. Who sauntered down those stately stairs? Who toiled in the kitchens and prayed in the chapels? What were their lives like? What did they face each day - joys, struggles? What were they wearing, eating, and discussing? What was important at that time?

After these questions consider fairy tales and royals. Stories and lives beyond our grasp. Lastly, the architecture. How did they build such magnificent structures with limited resources and technology? These feats are amazing.

I felt this awe to my core while visiting Château de Chenonceau in France with a fellow writer. Cindy Stewart and I were on a research trip in Europe. We thought we were taking a break from work to visit a site for amusement. However, we learned of the castle’s rich history while touring and the connection to WWII. In the end, the trip yielded many interesting nuggets. The château straddles the Cher River in the Loire Valley of France. See a portion of the river in the photo above left.

I'll add a link at the end for J. M. Hochstetler’s HHH post for the background of Chenonceau. Here, we will get an inside view. 

Speaking of views, visitors approach Château de Chenonceau by walking the length of a sycamore-lined path. Can you imagine the first inhabitants arriving via horse-drawn carriage? 

To give you a brief history, Chenonceau’s roots are from the 12th and13th centuries. It was once a château and mill belonging to the Marques family, of which only the dungeon remains. The round tower you see through the window is this donjon, the Tour des Marques. The rest of the château is the result of construction by Thomas Bohier and his wife, Catherine Briçonnet, from 1513 to 1517 as well as additions by later residents. Below is the timeline for and sketches of the changes.

To walk through this grand door from the time of King François I, is to enter a domain maintained by many notable women across time. Château de Chenonceau is often called the Château des Dames or the Ladies' Castle. In addition to Catherine Briçonnet, six women resided and presided here: Diane de Poitiers, Catherine de’ Medici, Louise of Lorraine, Louise Dupin, Marguerite Pelouze, and Simonne Menier. Every woman had a different purpose in life, yet each fulfilled the role of preserving Chenonceau.

Before we peek inside some rooms, take a gander at these images below. Do you wonder at all the feet and shoes that stepped there? Look at the timeworn tiles and battered stairs. How many people ascended and descended to wear down the stone steps?

The Gallery: Catherine de’ Medici employed Jean Bullant to build this gallery. Bullant built upon the bridge that Diane de Poitiers ordered. This Gallery has been used as a ball room, a hospital in WWI, and the South door with access to the left bank was an escape route for the Resistance during WWII.

 

(The text in the photo with the flowers reads, "Here were treated 2,254 wounded during the War 1914 - 1918.)

The Second floor Hall features the Oudenaarde tapestry from the 1500s which shows the Battle of Kosovo Polje. The painting is by Pierre Justin Ouvrié. The floor is from the Renaissance.

Did you know Chenonceau happens to be the second most visited château in France, behind Versailles? While I can attest that Versailles is opulent and grand, I prefer Chenonceau. Perhaps this is because it seems peaceful and is simpler overall. Most likely it is due to the representation of the medieval period as I seem to favor the older sites. Have you been to or read about Versailles? Which do you prefer? 

Please come back on the 3rd of November to see more of this stunning château. I do hope you'll return. Until next time you can learn more about the history in reading J. M. Hochstetler's post: Historic French Châteaux, Part 3: Château de Chenonceau.

As a child, Rebecca loved to write. She nurtured this skill as an educator and later as an editor for an online magazine. Rebecca then joined the Cru Ministry - NBS2GO - Neighbor Bible Studies 2GO, at its inception. She serves as the YouVersion Content Creator, with over 100 Plans on the Bible.com app.

Rebecca lives near the mountains with her husband and a rescued dog named Ranger. If it were up to her, she would be traveling - right now. As a member of ACFW and FHLCW, Rebecca learns the craft of fiction while networking with a host of generous writers. She is working on her first fiction novel. This story unfolds from the 1830s in Northern Georgia.

Connect with Rebecca: Facebook Goodreads Instagram Pinterest Twitter