The first of the Loire Valley châteaux to the north, Le Lude is a vibrant testament to the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 19th centuryIts four different facades lend a special charm to this prestigious historical monument, today private property of the Count and Countess of Nicolaÿ.
The origins of the Château du Lude date back to the 10th century. The original feudal motte was succeeded by a vast fortress erected on the banks of the Loir, an imposing building whose construction spanned from the 13th to the 15th century. In 1457, the castle became the property of Jehan de Daillon, chamberlain to Louis XIUnder the direction of Gendrot, architect to King René of Anjou, Le Lude was entrusted to Italian artists to transform the austere fortress into a pleasure palace. It is now the only French château to have preserved such ornamentation from the Italian Renaissance. In the 17th century, Le Lude was further enhanced by the elegant architecture of its main courtyard, typical of the French Renaissance. The symmetry and simplicity of its lines, the pilasters with their marble plaques, and the Baroque pediments of the windows create a wonderfully balanced and refined ensemble.
The great-nephews of the Daillon They ceded the castle in 1751 to a member of the East India Company, from whom the current owners are descended.Work punctuated life in Le Lude until the eve of the Revolution. under the direction of the Marquise de la VieuvilleThis was the origin of the construction of the simple and classical Louis XVI style wing. The castle then passed, through inheritance, into the Talhouët family, to whom we owe the transformations made in the 19th century.
The Château du Lude unfolds in a remarkable green setting. Over generations, different gardens have developed around the monument. From the 17th century onwards, two terraces bordered by an elegant balustrade were created to accommodate large gardens. The most notable transformations are due to the landscape architect Édouard André at the end of the 19th century, which plants the park in the English style and embellishes it with follies. Below the terraces, a French-style garden, refined and regular, follows the peaceful course of the Loir for more than 200 meters.
As to The Éperon garden, a more contemporary creation, was redesigned in 1997 by the Belgian landscape architect Augustin d'Ursel. and consists of a boxwood maze and a precious rose garden. Visitors can thus enjoy the sweet fragrances emanating from the Chinese rose bushes meticulously chosen. During events organized in the high season, and particularly during the Gardeners' Festival in June, everyone can stroll through the paths of the kitchen garden, restored in the 1990s. The romantic garden of La Source, the agricultural park, and the Pousse botanical walk are places appreciated for their tranquility and the rarity of the plant species they contain. An ancient house, very well furnished, with vibrant and richly decorated interiors, the Château du Lude offers visitors the the charm of a private residence inhabited by the same family for over two centuries.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit A great weekend between Mayenne, Sarthe and Eure-et-Loir which includes the Château du Lude.
