Museums in
Of the loire

Among all the Loire Valley châteaux, Beaugency stands out with its unique offering: here, history meets light in an unprecedented immersive experience. Much more than a château, it's a sensory playground where you learn while having fun, where you capture, explore, and immerse yourself in light. Between digital art and heritage, experience […]

In Mayenne, the original fortress of Guy de Laval has stood the test of time and invites visitors to discover its history. It was at the beginning of the 11th century that Guy de Dénéré built his motte-and-bailey castle on a rocky spur overlooking the Mayenne River. The first earth and timber structure was superseded […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

In the heart of Orléans, a stone's throw from the Maison Jeanne d'Arc, the Hôtel Cabu now houses the Museum of History and Archaeology. Built in 1547 for the lawyer Philippe Cabu, this private mansion, whose architecture is attributed to none other than Jacques Androuet du Cerceau, is one of the city's most remarkable Renaissance buildings. Its façade, organized […]

In the heart of Touraine, the Château de Saché offers a journey into the literature and life of one of France's most celebrated writers: Honoré de Balzac. A witness to a long history, its Renaissance architecture bears the subtle marks of its medieval origins and successive alterations, which have evoked a romantic atmosphere since the 19th century. Its magnificent two-hectare park invites contemplation of the surrounding landscapes, the village, and the Indre Valley. A visit to this familiar manor house, so dear to Balzac, allows one to immerse oneself in the writer's works […]

It all began in 950, when Thibaud the Trickster, Count of Blois, Chartres, and Châteaudun, commissioned a knight from his entourage to watch over the Perche, a small territory on the border between his vast county and the imposing Duchy of Normandy. Rotrou I volunteered and had a first wooden tower built in Nogent, overlooking the […]

For centuries, the Loire River was a vital waterway for transporting goods and passengers. The collections of the Loire River Maritime Museum trace the history of navigation on the river: the boats, the trade, and the people who made their living from the Loire. Housed in the former […]

Did you know that in the third millennium BC, southern Touraine was home to one of the largest flint knapping workshops in Western Europe, whose products were exported beyond the current borders of France? The Grand-Pressigny Prehistory Museum invites you to discover the daily life of the master knappers of the late […]

Eternally ambitious and a tireless worker, Cardinal Richelieu was not content with simply building a palace to his own glory: he undertook the development of an entire city bearing his name. In Indre-et-Loire, the town of Richelieu possesses an absolutely unique heritage, a prime example of urban planning in France during the Grand Siècle (17th century). This project was initiated by the principal […]

Founded after the French Revolution, the Orléans Museum of Fine Arts was established at the initiative of Jean Bardin, director of the city's drawing school, and Aignan-Thomas Desfriches, Lord of La Cartaudière, a draftsman, engraver, patron of the arts, and a major collector. In 1797, it was housed in the former episcopal palace before moving two years later to the chapel […]

In the heart of Tours, the Museum of Fine Arts unfolds within an exceptional historical setting. A dwelling place of the Turones during the Gallic period—as evidenced by a stone inscription in the underground passages—it was also chosen as early as the 4th century by the first bishops, who bequeathed to posterity a precious chapel adjoining the Archbishop's Palace. Today, the Museum houses an exceptional collection of furniture, paintings, and sculptures, encompassing works by the greatest artists since the Pre-Renaissance. The museum itself was created in 1801 thanks to the passionate energy of the founder of the school […]

Rich in over 1000 years of history, the Château de Mayenne has constantly evolved throughout the centuries. First a lordly residence, then a fortified castle and prison, its walls bear remarkable witness to its diverse lives. The Château de Mayenne is an exceptional example of a Carolingian-era palace. Reception hall, tower, and cellar are […]

A few kilometers from Chinon, the Devinière manor is a true haven of peace, the birthplace of François Rabelais in 1483 or 1494. The epicenter of the Picrocholine Wars in Gargantua, the writer's birthplace is now entirely dedicated to this major figure of French literature, master and prince in his own land […]