The Châteaux
Of the loire

An impregnable citadel combining Renaissance grace and medieval power, the fortress of Montreuil-Bellay is a privately owned historical monument, inhabited by the same family since 1822 and rich in precious furnishings passed down through generations. Quite unusually, it has retained all of its defensive features, thus constituting a valuable […]

Created in April 2016, the Château de Montsoreau – Museum of Contemporary Art is a radical, committed, and vibrant space, located two hours from Paris in the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Housed in a Loire Valley château, it boasts exceptional architecture, a remarkable collection, and extraordinary exhibition spaces that […]

Ideally located between Amboise and Chenonceau, the Château de Nitray is an authentic Touraine château. Surrounded by a 43-hectare English-style park, this spectacular Renaissance architectural ensemble has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1947. A wine estate since the 18th century, Nitray also produces fine Loire Valley wines, bearing the Touraine AOC label. The first Château de Nitray was probably built during the 13th century, when this fiefdom belonged to the knight Guillaume du Plessis. Ownership then changed hands with little continuity, some of whom became associated with the royal court. Such was the case of Émery Lopin, […]

Built during the Renaissance in the Loir Valley, on the border of Vendômois, Touraine, and Maine, the Château de Poncé is a magnificent building nestled in an exceptional green setting. Its impressive white tufa façade, rivaling the height of the park's trees, leaves no doubt […]

Listed as a Historical Monument, the Château de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire has overlooked the river for over 1,000 years. Originally, the structure was a fortified tower with wooden palisades, besieged and destroyed by King Louis VII in 1135. Construction of the current château began in 1180. Count Etienne I of Blois-Champagne owned the property at that time before it came under the control of the Archbishop of Reims, Guillaume aux Blanches Mains (William of the White Hands). Over the centuries, the château had various owners, and its architecture remained relatively unchanged until the great upheaval of the Renaissance! From 1567 onwards, […]

In the heart of the Coëvrons-Mayenne region, a designated Land of Art and History, the Château de Sainte-Suzanne is one of the most beautiful tourist sites in the department! Built on a rocky spur starting in the 1020s, it was constructed by the Beaumont family, a dynasty of local lords. A fortress designed as a defensive stronghold against enemy attacks, […]

The Château de Saumur, a palace-castle belonging to the Dukes of Anjou in the 14th and 15th centuries, where King René resided, is the last remaining example of the princely palaces erected at the end of the Middle Ages by the Valois dynasty. A residence of the city's governors, a prison, and later an arms and ammunition depot, it was later purchased […]

On the banks of the Cher River, the Château de Selles-sur-Cher offers a true journey through time. Over a thousand years, this ancient medieval fortress, with its turbulent history, has undergone successive destructions and reconstructions. The history of the Château de Selles-sur-Cher dates back to the Middle Ages with the construction of a fortified castle, a lasting mark of the establishment of a castle on the banks of the Cher. It was at the beginning of the Renaissance, in 1604, that the castle's history took a decisive turn. Philippe de Béthune, after a distinguished career as French Ambassador to King Henry IV, acquired the ruins of the medieval castle. An ideal estate for a visit […]

The last of the great Loire châteaux as you travel down the royal river, Serrant is a privately owned and inhabited monument, a testament to history but also a lively place where numerous activities take place each year. It houses a particularly precious and varied collection of objects and furnishings, starting with its library which preserves among its […]

A true medieval fortress, the Château de Sully-sur-Loire once defended the royal river. Today, it serves as the eastern gateway to the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Classified as a historical monument in 1928, the château maintains its distinctive appearance thanks to its wide, still-water-filled moat, its massive keep, and its tall towers with their pepperpot roofs. It has hosted illustrious figures such as Joan of Arc, Louis XIV, and Voltaire. The first recorded traces of the château date back to 1102; at that time, it was a defensive outpost on the left bank of the Loire. In the 14th century, after […]

Not far from Blois, the tapering roofs of the Château de Talcy rise above the cereal plains of the Petite Beauce Blésoise. This agricultural château, built in the 16th century, has had its destiny intertwined with that of poets. The owner's daughter, Cassandre, inspired Ronsard's poems entitled Les Amours: "My darling, let us go see if the rose…" […]

Welcome to the smallest of the Loire Valley châteaux! In the heart of the Loire Valley, nestled in its 12-hectare green setting, the Château de Troussay is an architectural gem. Owned by the same family for over a century, Troussay is a microcosm of Loire Valley architecture and […]

Overlooking the Nahon Valley, the Château de Valençay, with its Renaissance and Classical architecture, is exceptional. It already had a long history when Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord acquired it in 1803. Built over three centuries, the château incorporates several architectural styles without compromising its overall harmony. On the contrary, it is […]

In the heart of the Loire Valley, the Château de Valmer is a marvel of the Italian Renaissance, where a wine estate and an exceptional garden blend harmoniously. Its vineyard covers thirty-two hectares, six of which lie within the historic walls of the park. The long tuffeau cellars age the great wines of this château, whose winemaking tradition dates back to the 16th century. Jean de Saint Venant is today the fifth generation to passionately cultivate the vines of Château de Valmer, always striving to produce exceptional wines, "wines of […]

In the heart of the Sologne region, a few kilometers from the famous estate of François I, the Château de Villesavin is a unique place known as "Chambord's construction site hut." It was built in the 16th century by Jean Le Breton, Secretary of Finance and Controller General of Wars under François I, who also oversaw the construction work at Chambord. […]

An iconic site in the city, birthplace of Anne of Brittany, the Château des Ducs de Bretagne, at the heart of the Voyage à Nantes tourist and cultural event, has become a major player in Western France. A testament to Nantes' industrial history, the museum acquired new pieces in 2018 […]

Dominating the Brenne region, the Château du Bouchet is a former medieval fortress remodeled in the 15th and 17th centuries. Known for having belonged to the powerful Rochechouart-Mortemart family, from which Madame de Montespan – the most famous of Louis XIV's mistresses – notably descended, the Château du Bouchet tells us a long and fascinating story […]

Located near the Royal Château of Amboise, the Château du Clos Lucé offers a journey through 800 years of history. The former home of Leonardo da Vinci, it is dedicated to the memory of the Italian master. The epic story of this residence, built of pink brick and tufa stone on Gallo-Roman foundations, begins in 1471 during the reign of Louis XI. The king gifted the Cloux estate to his favorite, Étienne le Loup, a former kitchen boy who had been ennobled. There, he built the Château du Cloux as well as one of the most beautiful dovecotes in France, which has remained intact. In 1490, the site was […]

The history of the Château du Gué-Péan begins in Antiquity, when the Romans established a camp there. Evolving with the needs of its time, it became a feudal motte before being transformed into a lordly residence. However, it only truly flourished during the Renaissance with the arrival of the Alaman family. […]

The first of the Loire Valley châteaux to reach the north, Le Lude is a vibrant testament to the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its four distinct façades lend a unique charm to this prestigious historical monument, now privately owned by the Count and Countess of Nicolaÿ. The origins […]

Occupied since antiquity, this famous Vendée site was first fortified with a castle in the 12th century. Built by a certain Renaud du Puy du Fou, it belonged to the viscounty of Thouars, whose leader sided with the English from the very beginning of the Hundred Years' War. To fight alongside the king […]

Located in the Cher department, the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, a listed historical monument, is a magnificent family residence passed down through generations since 1467. Here, the medieval castle, landscaped park, and gardens, also listed as a Historical Monument and awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label, coexist harmoniously. Ainay-le-Vieil is a 13th-century fortified castle that has preserved a system […]

The last of the great Loire Valley châteaux built during the Renaissance, Villandry is a magnificent edifice that has evolved for centuries within a spectacular verdant setting. Construction began in 1532 under the impetus of Jean Le Breton, finance minister to Francis I. Drawing on his experience at Chambord, he decided to build a sumptuous monument of striking simplicity and great elegance. However, Le Breton chose to preserve the medieval heritage by retaining the massive keep, which still dominates the three new wings in the French Renaissance style. From the top of the terrace […]

Built in 1420 by Pierre de Beauvau, then Grand Chamberlain to Charles VII, the Château du Rivau is a stunning château listed as a Historic Monument. Men 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, who undertook an essential and exemplary twenty-year restoration campaign. Inside, precious furnishings—chests, sideboards, and four-poster beds—are displayed alongside […]

Royal Château of Amboise: share the emotion of kings…
A sublime residence of the kings of France during the Renaissance, the royal castle of Amboise is this year at the heart of the celebrations of the 5th Centenary of Leonardo da Vinci, whose tomb it houses.

The Royal Château of Blois, a listed historical monument since 1845, is an ideal introduction to visiting the châteaux of the Loire Valley. It has hosted numerous figures whose destinies are intertwined with the history of France and Europe. For centuries, the château has been the scene of dramas, intrigues, and games […]

Dominating the town of Gien and the Loire River, the Château de Gien was built at the end of the 15th century at the request of Anne de Beaujeu. It stands on the site of an old medieval fortress, of which only the "Jeanne d'Arc" tower remains today, built towards the end of the 14th century and known as […]

Between Sologne and Beauce, on the banks of the Loire River, stands the Château de Meung-sur-Loire. It is nicknamed the "castle with two faces" because of its medieval and classical façades. The cradle of the Capetian dynasty, it was, until the French Revolution, the prestigious residence of the Bishops of Orléans. It is one of the rare castles built by and for bishops. It was in the 13th century that Bishop Manassès de Seignelay erected a veritable palace, a residence worthy of him and his rank. Expansions were carried out in the following centuries, notably during the Hundred Years' War, when the bishops enlarged […]

Located in the heart of the Brenne Regional Natural Park, the Château d'Azay-le-Ferron, boasting architecture spanning the 15th to 18th centuries, will transport you through different styles and eras! Throughout your visit, you will discover drawing rooms, bedrooms, the dining room, the kitchen, and the library—approximately fifteen sumptuously furnished rooms in which the Hersent-Luzarche family, owners since 1852, lived. The last descendant of this family, Marthe Hersent-Luzarche, bequeathed the estate to the city of Tours in 1951, entrusting it with the mission of opening the doors of this exceptional place to the public. This ensemble […]

While Renaissance châteaux flourished in the Loire Valley, medieval towns are rarer. With its remarkable keep and main building, Loches boasts one of the most beautiful fortified towns in France, dominating the town and the Indre Valley. An unusual feature among the Loire Valley châteaux, the 37-meter-high keep is a masterpiece of military architecture and one of the best preserved in Europe. With its numerous painted and engraved inscriptions, it immerses visitors in the prison world of the period. Erected in the 11th century to defend the vulnerable side […]

In the Perche region, the hermit Bernard of Tiron settled in the parish of Gardais with a few disciples in 1114. There he founded the Abbey of the Holy Trinity. It quickly prospered thanks to the honorable reputation of Saint Bernard. Protected by King Louis VI the Fat, it flourished and oversaw nearly 22 other abbeys, in […]

The Chaumont-sur-Loire estate lies at the heart of the Loire Valley's cultural landscapes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owned by the Centre-Val de Loire region since 2008, the estate encompasses the château, the parks, the International Garden Festival, and the Centre for Arts and Nature. Perched 40 meters above […]