Parks and Gardens

Beauregard Castle, a former hunting lodge of Francis I, is a must-see for history buffs. It houses the renowned "Portrait Gallery" and its 327 illustrious figures, the largest collection of historical portraits in Europe. Inhabited by the same family since 1926, Beauregard has continually […]

On the border between Anjou and Touraine, Langeais boasts two exceptional castles overlooking the Loire River: the tower of Fulk Nerra and the castle of Louis XI. The former is notable for being the oldest keep in France, while the latter presents a dual character, medieval on the town side and Renaissance-inspired on the courtyard side. Around the year 1000, Fulk Nerra conquered Langeais and founded a powerful fortress, long contested between the Counts of Anjou and those of Blois. Along with the rest of Touraine, the stronghold ultimately remained in the hands of the House of Anjou and later the Plantagenet Empire […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Poulaines estate is a private garden located in Berry, in the heart of a village. The seat of a feudal lordship, which was part of the barony of Graçay, the Poulaines manor house is the last remaining vestige of a former fortified castle. A few magnificent centuries-old trees and boxwood hedges surround a Renaissance manor house and 18th-century buildings […]

Located in the Sarthe region, the first keep of Ballon was built by Count William I of Bellême in 1005. Attempting to expand their territory, the Normans initially faced this formidable obstacle, but William the Conqueror managed to capture it in 1064. Considered impregnable, the fortress changed hands 25 times over the centuries.

In the heart of Nantes, the Jardin des Plantes is a vibrant and welcoming space, much loved by residents and tourists alike, who make up half of its visitors. Its seven hectares of greenery offer a true haven of peace in one of France's most dynamic urban areas. Since its […]

In Indre-et-Loire, in the commune of Rochecorbon, the garden of the Manoir des Basses Rivières is laid out around a folly built in 1730 for the Papion du Château family, an important line of silk manufacturers and wine producers, by the Tours architect Pierre Meusnier, a student of the renowned Gabriel and future architect of the King's Works. This very elegant […]

In the Loir Valley, nestled in a small valley against a limestone hillside, the Jardin du Plessis Sasnières invites you to stroll. Discover all the charms of this most English of French gardens. This eleven-hectare English-style garden offers a peaceful and gentle atmosphere where the plant displays are […]

On the left bank of the Loire, a rose garden has sprung up around the Roquelin farm. This former agricultural estate has enjoyed a new lease on life for several years now with the opening of the Roquelin gardens, which have been awarded the "Remarkable Garden" label. This designation places the Roquelin gardens among the select group of the most beautiful gardens in the Loire Valley.

Founded in 1107 by Robert of Arbrissel, creator of Fontevraud Abbey, the priory of Notre-Dame-d'Orsan was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries. At the heart of these buildings, listed as historical monuments, medieval-inspired gardens have been meticulously recreated. The adventure began thanks to two architects and a gardener who redesigned the form, the structure, and rethought […]

George Sand, born Aurore Dupin, discovered the Nohant house at the age of eight. This Berry-style residence, nestled in the heart of the countryside, then belonged to her grandmother, Marie-Aurore Dupin de Francueil, the illegitimate daughter of Maurice de Saxe. Imprisoned during the Reign of Terror, this strong-willed woman acquired the estate on August 23, 1793, before settling there permanently in 1794. At the beginning of the 8th century, she renovated the interiors, commissioned the construction of a magnificent stone staircase, and surrounded the house with a vast park. Upon her father's death, Marie-Aurore became the guardian of the future George Sand. The young […]

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 […]

In the heart of the Loire Valley châteaux, the Pagoda of Chanteloup is a unique 18th-century monument that still bears witness to the splendor of a vanished palace: the château of the Duke of Choiseul. The Pagoda of Chanteloup is above all a testament to the extravagance of the Duke of Choiseul, former Prime Minister of […]

Built in the 1760s, the Château de Bouges, located near Valençay, elegantly illustrates the arts of the 18th century. When Claude Leblanc de Carnaval purchased the estate in 1765, the existing building was demolished to make way for an Italianate house. This new, fashionable construction reflected the ambition of the wealthy ironmaster, who had risen to prominence in Parisian financial circles and had recently been ennobled. Ruined twelve years later, his château was seized and sold. During the 19th century, a succession of owners followed, including the Prince of […]

Located in the Cher department, in the Sancerre region, the Château de Pesselières is a former residence of the Marshals of the County of Sancerre, whose history dates back to the 12th century. Numerous families succeeded one another over the centuries, each modifying it in turn. During the Wars of Religion, Pesselières was heavily damaged, then rebuilt and enlarged in the […]

A charming historical monument in the Loire Valley, the Château de la Bourdaisière, located between Tours and Amboise, has been owned by the "Gardener Prince" Louis Albert de Broglie since 1991. The origins of this building date back to 1360 when Marshal Boucicault had a fortress built on the hillside to defend […]

In a preserved medieval village on the banks of the Allier River, the 5 hectares of the Apremont floral park offer visitors an enchanting, bucolic experience. Created and opened to the public by Gilles de Brissac in 1976, this park is inspired by the famous Vita Sackville-West garden in England. It features a pond, a babbling brook, lawns, […]

Considered the largest Japanese garden in Europe, the Oriental Park of Maulévrier, located near Cholet, is one of the leading projects in Europe for the quality of its restoration and enhancement. At the crossroads of Maine-et-Loire, Deux-Sèvres, and Vendée, this 29-hectare natural space is an enchanting place […]

From the remains of the old church where Ronsard is buried to the gardens that the 12th-century canons saw as a "paradise on earth," the former monastery has retained its historical, spiritual, and poetic dimension. Today, it offers multiple visitor routes that connect different eras and art forms through the lens of architecture, […]