Built in 1420 by Pierre de Beauvau, then Grand Chamberlain to Charles VII, Rivau is a stunning castle listed as a historical monumentMen of war and men of letters, the Beauvau family were close to the Counts of Anjou and even allied themselves with the royal family in the mid-15th century. From 1714 onwards, several owners succeeded one another, from the Marquis de Castellane, Lord of Villandry, to the painter Pierre-Laurent Brenot, and since 1992, the Laigneau family, which undertook an essential and exemplary twenty-year restoration campaign. Inside, precious furniture—chests, sideboards, or four-poster beds—are juxtaposed with contemporary art works evoking the imagery of life in a castle and created by renowned artists. From Jeff Koons to Jan Fabre, 70 pieces by contemporary artists invite artistic emotion and wonder.
However, it is indeed a an atmosphere of grandeur and majesty emanates from the vast rooms of the castle. Everything contributes to this impression: from the monumental Gothic fireplaces to the whitewashed walls, from the sumptuous Brussels tapestry to the window seats in front of the mullioned windows. The biblical episode of Belshazzar's Feast, painted during the Renaissance by a Dutch master, decorates the great banqueting hall, while on the ceiling, the fresco the freshcreated by an Italian master evokes the four seasons of the vine.
The Château du Rivau is therefore a precious testimony of the past while being particularly rooted in its time. Outside, it combines history and botany in a whirlwind of wonders and fairy tales. fourteen gardens, created from 1995 onwards by Patricia LaigneauThey explore the universal language of flowers through their colors, fragrances, and patterns. Each garden has a color theme inspired by its orientation. The abundance of botanical collections, including many heritage varieties, ensures biodiversity while respecting the environment and blooms throughout the warmer months. Designated a Conservatory of the Fragrant Rose, the gardens showcase over 450 varieties of roses and thousands of other plantstransforming the exterior of the monument into a veritable botanical paradise thanks to the various aromas that the rose collection disperses into the atmosphere.
Contemporary art is also well represented in these unusual gardens: renowned artists have contributed to transforming the grounds into a world where the wonder of legends and fairy tales blends seamlessly with the vegetation. Visitors delight in losing all sense of proportion with the giant boots and watering can created by Lilian Bourgeat, while the Gargantua's vegetable garden is decorated with a striking mole created by Ghyslain Bertholon. From a walking forest to a carousel, The Rivau gardens gradually transform as you stroll through them into an idyllic place where dreams blend with reality.. Le Rivau is a living and very lively monument, to be discovered with the family while enjoying the many events that take place there every year.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit Around Chinon in which the Château du Rivau is located.
