On the borders of Anjou and Touraine, Langeais consists of two exceptional castles overlooking the Loire : the tower of Foulques Nerra and the castle of Louis XI. The former has the distinction of being the oldest keep in France while the latter has a dual aspect, medieval on the town side and Renaissance inspired on the courtyard side.
Around the year 1000, Fulk Nerra conquered Langeais and then founded a powerful fortress long contested between the Counts of Anjou and those of Blois. Along with all of Touraine, the place ultimately remained in the hands of the House of Anjou and then the Plantagenet Empire until the end of the 12th century. In 1206, Langeais became part of the royal domain Following the victories of King Philip Augustus of France, armed bands occupied the fortress during the Hundred Years' War. Charles VII bought it back in 1428, then ordered it to be demolished, except for the keep, which still stands today.
In 1465, Louis XI decided to build a new castle in LangeaisThe work is entrusted to Jean Bourré, a loyal advisor to the king, and to Jean Briçonnet, another close associate of the monarch and then mayor of Tours. This castle reflects the architectural changes that took place at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. The powerful towers, the drawbridge, and the wall-walk on the town side contrast with the elegance of the Renaissance-inspired facades on the garden side. In July 1466, Louis XI ceded the castle to his cousin, Dunois, son of Joan of Arc's comrade-in-arms. It was in one of the castle's large halls that the ceremony took place, in the presence of a small audience. Marriage of Charles VIII and Duchess Anne of Brittany, at dawn on December 6, 1491Strikingly realistic wax figures, sumptuously costumed, recreate this essential union in French history which saw the duchy attached to the French crown.
After a long period of neglect, Jacques Siegfried, a very active businessman and great lover of medieval art, acquired the Château de Langeais in 1886He then spent almost twenty years of his life restoring and refurnishing it, thus recreating the living environment of the late medieval nobility. In 1904, he donated the castle and its rich collection to theInstitut de Francewho still owns it.
The castle of Langeais offers veritable treasures evoking the splendor of a lordly residence Chests, tapestries, sideboards, thrones, and sumptuous tiles decorate the fifteen rooms of the manor house. The visit continues in the park, which features playgrounds, a treehouse in a cedar tree, and a belvedere offering breathtaking views of the Loire Valley. This unique heritage site is the setting for numerous activities and events, starting with the operation of the drawbridge, one of the last still functional to this day.
- Continue your exploration of the Loire Valley with the circuit The castles around Tours which includes the castle of Langeais.
