Other interesting castles in Loire Valley
Azay-le-Rideau castle (Loire)
Château d’Azay-le-Rideau (castle) is located in the town of Azay-le-Rideau in the department of Indre-et-Loire, about 2-3 hours from Paris by high-speed rail or by car via highway, see the Loire Valley map. The castle, built between 1518 and 1527, is considered one of the outstanding examples of early French Renaissance architecture. The picturesque castle, located on an island in the middle of the river Indre, has become one of the most popular tourist castles in the Loire Valley.
History. The current Château Azay-le-Rideau occupies the site of a former feudal castle. In the 12th century, the local lord Riedel (or Rideau) d’Azey, a knight in the service of Philip II Augustus, built a fortress here to protect the road from Tours to Chinon, where it crossed the Indre River. However, this original medieval castle fell victim to the rivalry between the Burgundian and Armagnac factions during the Hundred Years’ War. In 1418, the future Charles VII passed through Azay-le-Rideau when he fled from Burgundy-occupied Paris to Armagnac in the faithful fortress of Bourges. Outraged by the insults of the Burgundian troops occupying the city, the Dauphin ordered his army to storm the castle. All 350 soldiers inside were executed and the castle itself burned to the ground. For centuries, this fate was etched in the city’s name Azay-le-Brûlé (literally Azay the Burnt), which was used until the 18th century.
Berthelot and 16th century. The castle remained in ruins until 1518, when the land was acquired by Gilles Berthelot, mayor of Tours and general treasurer of the king’s finances. Wanting the residence to reflect its wealth and status, Berthelot set about renovating the building in a way that would combine its medieval past with the latest architectural styles of the Italian Renaissance. Although the castle was intended mainly for habitation, the defensive fortifications remained important symbols of prestige, and therefore Berthelot was keen to have them as part of his new castle. He justified his request to King Francis I with an exaggerated description of many “public thieves, vagabonds and other vagabonds, villains committing quarrels, disputes, thefts, thefts, excesses, extortions and a host of other evils that threatened unfortified cities such as Azay-le- Rideau. Berthelot’s duties meant that he was often absent from the castle, so the responsibility for supervising the building work fell to his wife, Philippa Lesbahy. This took time, as it was difficult to lay a solid foundation on the wet ground of this island in Indre, and the castle had to be built on piles driven into the mud. Even after the foundations were laid, construction proceeded slowly, as most of the stone for the castle came from the Saint-Aignan quarry, which was famous for its strong rock, but was also located at a distance of about 100 km, that is, heavy blocks must be brought to Azay-le-Rideau by boat. The castle had not yet been completed in 1527, when the execution of Jacques de Beaune (Jacques de Beaune, chief minister in charge of royal finances and Berthelot’s cousin) forced Gilles to flee the country. Perhaps fearful of his financial misdeeds being exposed, he went into exile, first to Metz in Lorraine and then to Cambrai, where he died just two years later. Ignoring the pleas of Berthelo’s wife Philippa, Francis I confiscated the unfinished castle and in 1535 gave it to Antoine Raffin, one of his knights. Ruffin made only minor renovations to the castle, so the building work was left unfinished and only the south and west wings of the planned quadrangle were completed. Thus, the castle retained the characteristic but random L-shape that it retains to this day.
17th–18th centuries, In 1583, Raffin’s granddaughter Antoinette, former lady-in-waiting to Marguerite of Valois, settled in the castle and, with the help of her husband Guy de Saint-Gelais, began to modernize its decor. Azay-le-Rideau was inherited by their son Arthur and his wife Françoise de Souvre (Françoise de Souvre), the future governess of Louis XIV, and it was during their possession that the new castle received its first royal visit: June 27, 1619 On the way from Paris In order to visit his mother, Marie de’ Medici, in Blois, Louis XIII interrupted his journey to spend the night in Azay-le-Rideau. Later in the same century, his son Louis XIV would also be a guest in the same room.
Biencourt and the 19th century, The Ruffins and their relatives by marriage, Vasse (Vassés), retained ownership of the castle until 1787, when it was sold for 300,000 livres to the Marquis Charles de Biencourt, field marshal of the royal army. However, the castle was in poor condition, and from the 1820s, Biencourt carried out extensive rebuilding work. In 1824 he added a “Chinese Room” (destroyed in the 1860s) to the ground floor of the south wing, and in 1825 or 1826 he decorated the library with carved wood panels to match the living room on the opposite side. His son, Armand-François-Marie (Armand-François-Marie), the guard of Louis XVI, who participated in the defense of the Tuileries on August 10, 1792, began the first large-scale restoration of the castle. This included restoring the old medallions and royal insignia on the staircase (which had been closed during the Revolution), extending the front of the courtyard, and adding a new tower in the east corner. These developments destroyed the last remnants of the old medieval fortress and meant that the castle finally acquired a finished look. For these renovations, he hired the Swiss architect Pierre-Charles Dusillon, who also worked on the neighboring Château de Usse.
During the Franco-Prussian War, the castle was again threatened with destruction. It served as the headquarters for Prussian troops in the area, but when one night a chandelier fell from the ceiling onto the table where their commander, Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia was dining, he suspected an assassination attempt and ordered his soldiers to burn down the building. Only assurances from his officers that the lamp had fallen by accident convinced him to reverse the decision and thus saved the castle from re-igniting. After the retreat of the Prussian troops, Azay-le-Rideau returned to Biencourt. During this period, the castle became well known for the collection of over 300 historical portraits that the owners exhibited here and, unusually for a private collection, could be visited by tourists. In 1899, financial difficulties forced the young widower Charles-Marie-Christian de Biencourt to sell the castle, along with its furniture and 540 hectares of land, to businessman Achille Arteau, a former lawyer from Tours, who wanted to sell its contents for profit. As a result, the castle was emptied, and its art and furniture sold out.
The Castle in the 20th century, In 1905, the estate was bought by the French state for 250,000 francs and listed as a Historical Monument.
WW2, During the early years of World War II, from 1939 to 1940, the castle housed the Ministry of Education when, like many other French ministries, it left Paris.
The Château de Azay-le-Rideau is now one of the many national monuments under the protection of the National Monument Center and is also part of the Loire Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Architecture and the decor. Situated on an island in the center of Indre, Azay-le-Rideau Castle seems to rise straight from the waters of the river, which reflect the castle’s facades so that the castle seems to float in its own image. The writer Balzac, who lived nearby and was sometimes a guest at the castle, deeply admired the building, describing it as “a cut diamond set in the Indre”. This striking setting has made Azay-le-Rideau one of the most famous castles in the Loire.
This relatively small castle is divided into two parts, the central building and a wing at right angles to it, and is a mixture of architectural styles. The influence of the fashionable Italian Renaissance style is seen in its long proportions and ornate sculptural decorations. Along with these Italian elements, remnants of medieval defensive architecture survive, such as traces of a covered passage on the outer walls or hinged slits under the roof, which were no longer necessary for defense but were incorporated into the design of the castle due to their symbolic prestige. Finally, other architectural features, such as the corners of the bastion with their pointed conical turrets, the vertically placed dormer windows separated by a string, and the high, steeply sloping slate roof, give Azay-le-Rideau an unmistakably French air.
The most prominent feature of the castle is the majestic central staircase for guests of honor. Its design is believed to have been inspired by the staircase of the Châteaudun castle, which it resembles from the outside, although its internal structure is very different. The staircase ascends in straight flights rather than spiraling as was most common at the time, and is the oldest surviving of its type in France.
The staircase consists of three floors, each of which has double bay windows forming a mezzanine overlooking the courtyard. The entrance, reminiscent of a Roman triumphal arch, is adorned with the initials of Gilles Berthelot and his wife, and the pediments overhanging each window opening are carved with salamanders and ermine of Francis I and his wife, Claude of France, in honor of the monarch of that time. Inside, the staircase ceiling consists of medallions carved from the profiles of the kings and queens of France from Louis XI to Henry IV. This impressive staircase, with its columns and pilasters, as well as decorative carvings of shells, medallions and other symbols, is a prime example of the influence of the Italian Renaissance style on castle design.
Interior, The richly decorated interior of the castle once again reflects the influence of the Italian Renaissance. Consists of several living rooms and majestic apartments, most of which are decorated in the neo-Renaissance style, popular in the 19th century. Many of these rooms display Flemish tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries, most notably Scenes from the Old Testament, woven in Audenard, and The History of Psyche, created in Brussels and housed in 2009 for an exhibition on Greek myth. The castle also houses a significant art collection, including Dame au Bain (possibly depicting Diane de Poitiers) by François Clouet and several portraits of French monarchs, including Francis I, Henry III and Catherine de Medici.
Also of note are the attics, where the charpent (French for charpente) or handmade timber frame that supports the roof has been recently restored (2010–11) and can be seen along with an exhibition explaining its complex construction methods.
Park and gardens, The modern gardens were designed in the 19th century by the Biencourts, who created a large landscaped park in the English style. To the south and west, the river creates a water mirror for the castle, reflecting the façades and creating an attractive picture.
The description of the tour. When approaching the castle, it seems that a rectangular building with round towers at the corners seems to be floating on the river Indre. The island of the castle is almost invisible and it seems that the walls rise directly from the water.
Tourists have access to 7 halls in which antique furniture, tapestries, household items and paintings have been preserved. In the blue bedroom, pay attention to the bed of Marshal Pierre Fillet de la Bar, who died in 1705 during the siege of Nice. The chambers of Francis I contain an interesting chest depicting a salamander. Of interest is the cabinet of Spanish work. There is a large collection of ceramic and metal antique dishes.
Opening hours for visitors: June – September 9.30-18.00, July-August 9.00-19.00, October – March 9.30-12.30 or 17.30. Excursions and audio guides.
What else is interesting to see. Night performance “Les imaginaries d’Azay-le-Rideau” from May to September 22.00
Official website www.azay-le-rideau.fr
Langeais castle (Loire Valley)
Château de Langeais is an amazing and beautiful Gothic castle built in the 15th century in France, built on a promontory formed by a small valley of the Roumer River at the entrance to the Loire Valley (Indre-et-Loire department). Founded in 992 by Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou, the castle was soon attacked by Odo I, Count of Blois. After an unsuccessful attack, the now ruined stone fortress was built; it is one of the earliest dated stone specimens. Between 994 and 996 the castle was subjected to two more unsuccessful sieges. During the conflict between the counts of Anjou and Blois, the castle changed hands several times, and in 1038 Fulk again captured the castle.
After it was destroyed during the Hundred Years’ War, King Louis XI (1461–1483) rebuilt Château de Langeais into what is today one of the most famous examples of late medieval architecture. It is especially famous for its monumental and ornate fireplaces. Restored at the end of the 19th century, the Langeai castle came under the control of the French Institute, which today owns this place. It is listed as a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture and is open to the public.
History. In the 10th century, a castle appeared, which is considered to be the second earliest known, the earliest of which was the castle of Doué-la-Fontaine (Doué-la-Fontaine), built by the Count of Blois around 900. The Counts of Anjou and Blois had frontier territories and powerful lords were rivals; as a result, the border area contains some of the earliest known castles. When it was founded in 992 by Fulk Nerra, Count of Anjou, the castle of Langeais was made of wood and had the shape of a “bailey hill”. A contemporary chronicler noted that it was built because “(Fulk) had no resting place between Bourgueil and Amboise along the river Loire”. He also had the advantage of being 24 km from Tours, a city under the control of Odo I, Count of Blois. Although the land belonged to Fulk, the territory was under Odo’s control. When news of the fortification reached Odo, he sent troops to destroy it. The attack was unsuccessful and Fulk fortified the area by building a stone fortress, which today stands in ruins. To distract Odo from the building work, which was completed by 994, Fulk periodically raided his lands. It has been suggested that the shallow foundations and thin walls of the fortress, 2 m thick and averaging 1.5 m, show that it was hastily built. Although he failed in 992, Odo tried again to take the castle two years later. This time he summoned his Normans, Flemings and Aquitanians, and the siege of the Château de Langeais began in the spring of 994. Fulk himself led the garrison and sent a message to Hugh Capet, king of the Franks, asking for help; and, although Hugh was ill, he promised reinforcements. Meanwhile, Odo’s army grew as his allies continued to push towards him. The siege continued throughout the summer, and Fulk began negotiations with Odo. Reacher, a contemporary chronicler favorable to Odo, claimed that Fulk agreed to surrender, but later refused, stating that the agreement was not binding, although it is not clear if this was the case. However, the Capetian forces arrived before Fulk was forced to surrender. Faced with the royal army, Odo agreed to leave Fulk alone.
After the siege ended and Odo withdrew, Fulk had to deal with the fighting on the western frontier of his lands. Despite Odo’s arrangement with Hugh, the Count of Blois used Fulk’s divided attention to station troops at Châteaudun, from where he could move to capture Langeais if the opportunity presented itself. Odo laid siege to Langeai Castle in 995. The siege continued the following year, but in March 996 Odo fell ill and died. When their leader died, the siege force abandoned Langeais. After killing his most dangerous enemy, Fulk captured Tours, which had previously belonged to the Count of Blois. After Robert, king of the Franks, took control of Tours, Fulk turned to the castles of Langeais, Montsoreau, Montresor and Montbazon to protect the Loire Valley.
In 1016 hostilities resumed between the counts of Anjou and Blois. During the conflict, Fulk lost control of three castles: Passavant was destroyed, and Montbazon and Langeais were probably captured. By 1032 the Château de Langeais was back under Fulk’s control. However, it was again taken by the forces of Odo II, Count of Blois. Odo II died in battle in 1037 and was succeeded by his son Theobald; Upon receiving news of the death of his rival, Fulk set about reclaiming the Château de Langeais. The siege began in the winter of 1037, and in the spring of the following year, the garrison easily surrendered. Fulk set his sights on further territorial gains and successfully captured the Château de Chinon at a distance of 22 km.
Under the Plantagenet kings, the castle was fortified and expanded by Richard I of England (“Richard the Lionheart”). However, King Philip II of France recaptured the castle in 1206. In the end, however, during the Hundred Years’ War, the British partially destroyed it. The castle was rebuilt around 1465 during the reign of King Louis XI. On December 6, 1491, the wedding of Anne of Brittany and King Charles VIII took place in the great hall of the castle, which forever united Brittany and France.
In 1886, Jacques Siegfried bought Château Langeais and began a restoration program. He installed an outstanding collection of tapestries and furniture and bequeathed the château to the Institut de France, who still own it today. The castle is open to the public. It is listed as a historical monument by the French Ministry of Culture.
What else is interesting. The halls display one of the best collections of tapestries of the 14th and 15th centuries, more than 30 pieces, collected by J. Siegfried from 1888 to 1900. In one room there is an installation of wax figures of the wedding scene of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany.
Practical tourist information. Opening hours: October 9.00-12.30-, 14.00-18.30, the rest of the year 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00, Entrance ticket price, How to get there.
Langeais is located between Tours and Saumur, see the Loire Valley castles map
La Verrerie castle (Loire Valley)
Verrerie (Chateau de La Verrerie*) is a castle in the commune of Oison in the Creusot region, about 2-3 hours from Paris by high-speed train with transfer or car. It was built in 1485 almost on the spot where there was then a small glass factory called “La Verrerie” and located on the shore of a small lake, which gave the name to the castle. Not without interest is the fact that this factory ceased to exist in 1815-1820.
However, the history of the castle began as early as 1422, when the French king Charles VII, as part of the “Court Alliance” between France and Scotland, granted the County of d’Aubigny-sur-Ner to John Stewart, Earl of Darnley, Constable of Scotland, who fought valiantly at the head of a small detachment of Scottish knights in the battle of God (in Anjou, 1422) during the Hundred Years’ War.
At the end of the 15th century J. Stuart’s grandson, Bero Stuart, upon his return from the Italian campaign, built the main building, which continued the chapel. Later, Bero Stuart, on the orders of King Louis XII, went on a secret mission to the Scottish King James IV and died in Edinburgh in 1508. The main building was subsequently connected to the Renaissance Gallery built by Robert Stuart (comrade in arms with the famous Bayard) in 1525 .
In 1670 the last Stuart d’Aubigny died. La Verrerie at that time was the seigneur of the English king Charles II, who descended from J. Stuart. King Louis XIV of France did not recognize this and, as provided for in the act of donation of King Charles VII, La Verrerie passed into the possession of the French crown.
However, by decision of the Council of March 18, 1673, Louis XIV returned this land to the King of England, Charles II, in a descending direct and male line, a descendant of J. Stuart. In the same year, Charles II presented the lands of the Duchy of Aubigny (including the castle of Verrerie) to his mistress and lawful wife, Louise Rene de Penance de Kerualle, who received the title of Duchess of Portsmouth.
In 1684, Louis XIV, at the request of Charles II, who wanted the land of his Stuart ancestors to return to the bosom of the family, awarded Louise de Kerualle the title of Duchess d’Aubigny. After the death of Charles II, in 1685, she finally returned to France and took possession of her castle, where she died in 1737.
The son of Louise and Charles II – Charles Lennox, Duke of Lennox and Richmond, back in 1734 inherited the seigneury d’Aubigny and the castle of Verrerie, but did not want to live in it and left for England, where he served the family of Orange and was the chamberlain of King George I. His descendants, the Dukes of Richmond, mothballed La Verrerie Castle. On May 25, 1842, the castle and the lands of d’Aubigny, put up for sale at auction, were acquired by Leon de Vogüé, who settled his large family there. He had long been master of the lands and forests of the Cher department.
In 1892, the Marquis Louis de Vogüet invited the Parisian architect Ernest Sanson to work in the castle, and in 1895 the south wing was built, where today there are reception areas and part of the bedrooms.
February 24, 1926 the castle of La Verrerie became one of the objects in the register of historical monuments.
In 1960, Count Antoine de Vogüé, mayor of the commune of Ouzone (since 1953, general councilor of Cher since 1964) and his wife, nee Françoise d’Hautcloc, intended the castle for tourists, and in 1962 they themselves finally settled in lower floor of the north wing.
In 1965, A. de Vogüe opened the castle for tourists and connected it to the Jacques Coeur Road. It was founded in 1954 and received its name in 1961 after the banker, merchant and shipowner Jacques Coeur (c. 1400 – 1456). The founding members of the road were the owners of the castles of Culan, Meuillant and Aney-le-Vie. This French tourist road is located in the departments of Cher and Loire (Centre – Loire Valley region) and passes through the territory of the old province of Berry and the natural regions of Peilly – Fort, Sologne and Guyenne; the route from the very beginning was called “The Ring of Castles of the Heart of France”. The road is part of the National Federation of Historic Roads and since 2010 the association of owners of private castles “Routes of Jacques Coeur” has been headed by the owner of the castle La Verrerie in the rank of president.
In 1978, A. de Vogüet’s wife opened the La Maison d’Helene restaurant, which was renamed Le Bon Garcon in 2010.
In 1982, she also initiated the opening of guest rooms, and she herself lived in a spacious room behind the restaurant and called the “Big Oak”.
On January 27, 1987, some ancient parts of the castle were classified under the title of “historical monuments”: facades and roofs of a small fortified castle (chalet) and the main building of the eastern building, dated to the end of the 15th century, the castle and gallery of the 16th century, as well as facades and roofs of the 19th century.
In 1993, the son of Antoine de Vogüet, Count Bertrand de Vogüet and his family, after a long stay in Canada and the USA, returned to France and Bertrand became the owner of the castle, restaurant and 12 hotel rooms, took over all family affairs and became president of Jacques Coeur Road “.
It should be noted that the main building of the shuttle and the posterns were built in the Renaissance style under Bero Stuart, the grandson of J. Stuart, at the end of the 15th century. The south wing with the gallery – also in the Renaissance style – was built for Robert Stewart and Jacqueline de la Caille and added by 1525. The spiral staircase was built in an unusual place. All these modifications and enlargements of the area of the castle were reconstructed in 1894.
Today, the castle successfully hosts a program of a series of prestigious concerts and works of classical music called “Musical Meetings of La Verrerie” with the playing of the concert piano “Steinway”. Such famous musicians as Frederic Agassi, Rasha Arodaki, Giovanni Bellucchi, Jean-Jacques Kantorov, Cyprian Katsaris, Vagan Martirosyan and many others performed at them.
* Note: There are two castles with the same name.
Nevers castle (Loire Valley)
The Palace of the Dukes of Nevers (in French: Palais ducal de Nevers) is one of the earliest castles in the Loire. It is located in the commune of Nevers in the department of Nièvre in the Burgundy-Franche-Comté region (the historical region of Nivemais). Now used by the City Hall of Nevers.
The Count of Nevers – the title of the ruler of the medieval county of Nevers, which was in vassal dependence on the Duchy of Burgundy.
In 1464 the county passed into the possession of Count Nevers, Retel, Étampes and E’Jean II de Clamécy (1415-1491). He decided to build a new castle next to the old one, which has not survived to our time.
The castle was built in 1491 on the initiative of the latter, who did not live to see the end of construction.
In 1538, the count of Nevers and Retel, François I of Cleves (1516-1562) – from 1539 the duke – made a number of attempts to improve and improve the castle and the surrounding area.
In 1564 – 1595. by order of Duke Louis IV de Gonzago (1515-1595), Gothic elements were built in the halls, high fireplaces, and windows in the Renaissance style in the southern facade.
In 1564 -1565. the castle was owned by his wife, Duchess Nevers, Countess (since 1581 – Duchess) Retelya Henriette of Cleves (1542 – 1601). Later, the palace became the property of Duke Charles III de Gonzago, who in 1659 handed it over to the first minister of the French kingdom, Cardinal J. Mazarin (1602 – 1661). His relatives were able to save the palace until the beginning of the French Revolution of 1789. The heiress of the last Duke of Nevers, Madame Cosse – Brissac, in 1810 sold the castle and its land to the city of Nevers and the department, then the Palace of Justice was located here. New windows were installed in it and a central entrance was built.
In 1840 the castle received the status of a cultural monument and its restoration began.
At the end of the 1970s, in line with the policy of restoration and reconstruction of the beautiful historical monuments of Nevers, there was a proposal to transfer the Palace of Justice to the old episcopal palace.
In the 1980s many years of restoration began here under the leadership of Pierre Beregovoy (on May 1, 1993, he was driven to suicide by his malicious accusers). In the course of it, as a result of excavations, many artillery pieces were discovered, one of them – the most beautiful – from the 14th century, is stored in the municipal archaeological repository of Nevers; this is the only unique gun in France.
In 1980, the castle again came into the possession of the municipality, today it houses the city hall, city hall office, meeting room, tourist office, exhibition rooms and reception, a permanent exhibition on the history of the city and a fish aquarium, as well as the Museum of Ceramics. The central part serves for ceremonial receptions, the two extreme ones serve as living quarters. The main building is 53 m long and 11 m wide. Today the northern facade is made in the Neo-Gothic style of the 19th century, the southern facade is in the Renaissance style. The castle has 3 multi-level towers, two of them are the oldest. In the central tower there is an honorary staircase. The interior decor is made up of numerous coats of arms of representatives of the Nevers family.
Polignac Fortress (Loire Valley)
Photo: Fort Polignac (in French Forteresse de Polignac), Haute Loire
Brief history of the fortress
The Polignac fortress (sometimes called the Castle-fortress) is located 5 km northwest of Le Puy, is located on a hill, on a basalt platform, a preserved fragment of an ancient volcanic stream. The fortress occupies a commanding height of 700 meters above sea level with an excellent view of the Polignac valley and the Puy basin.
The rock is bordered by high cliffs at a height of almost 100 meters, with the exception of the northern side, where a triple line of walls was built.
The owners of the castle, since at least the eleventh century, were the hereditary viscounts of Vele.
The fortress, which occupied a strategic position and controlled the roads to the west and north of the city of Puy, could accommodate up to 800 military personnel, as well as their families and households.
Hiding in their stronghold, the lords of Polignac could rule over their lands. They were allies of the kings of France, but showed an independent character, sometimes rebelling against the royal power of Louis VI (1080-1137) and Louis XI (1423-1483)
The majestic building was probably erected in the tough twelfth century, during the struggle against the bishops of Puy du Polignac, and to collect tolls on the pilgrimage route to Our Lady of Puy-en-Velay. The structure was restored and expanded at the end of the fifteenth or at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
The watchtower, referred to in ancient sources as the “great tower”, was built by RANDON Armand X, Viscount 1385-14211, as indicated by a Latin inscription engraved on white stone, built into the northwest corner. Its vaults were repaired from 1565 to 1566 by Philiberte de Clermont, and the dowager viscountess of Polignac.
During the Wars of Religion, Polignac sided with Henry III and his successor Henry IV, which made the castle a royalist stronghold against Puy. The fortress contributed to the success of the royalists.
The vaulted chapel was built in the seventeenth century.
Abandoned in the seventeenth century by the Vicomte de Polignac, who began to prefer their summer Lavoûte-Polignac Castle, the fortress was already in ruins during the Revolution.
On their return from exile, the Polignac family bought the ruins of the fortress in 1830 and part of the castle was restored in the nineteenth century: path, doors, dungeons. Prosper Merimee, the first inspector of historical monuments, entered it into the register.
This resurrection of the castle contradicted the deplorable prediction of the photographer Lacan in the mid-nineteenth century: “a precious monument, like many other tombs, stone by stone; soon it will disappear, through the generations, but, thanks to photography, it will remain as it is even in this drawing drawn by light.
Restorations continue today under the auspices of the special fund of the Polignac fortress.
(*) A series of photo-postcards “10 – ENV. DU PUY – Polignac. — Vue generale vers les Cévennes. — L.L. Pui area. Polignac. Photo studio LL (Sons of Levi, Paris)
Useful tips and practical information
The places are interesting, there is something to see, but you can actually visit the fortress only by ordering an individual or small-group tour according to your program of choice of objects (see the map of Loire castles and maps of the Loire Valley with sights, with wine-growing areas)
Lavoûte-Polignac castle (Loire)
Lavoûte-Polignac Château, the fragments of history, briefly about the castle.
The Duke de Polignac is rightly proud of having the first castle of the Loire. And what a castle! Forget Blois and Chambord. Here, about fifteen kilometers north of Le Puy, the Loire still has a fast current, and a meander – “vault” – which almost perfectly surrounds the house of Polignac. On the terrace of the first floor, which rises 45 meters on the steep bank of the Loire, you can see meadows and grazing sheep.
In the 9th century, the Lavoûte-Polignac castle was originally built by the Benedict monks as a defensive structure – a fortress, which is located on the high bank of the Loire among forests and shrubs.
In 1251, the Castle was handed over to Mr. Armand de Polignac.
In the 17th century, the Polignac family rebuilt the Castle in the spirit of the Renaissance.
At the end of the 18th century, during turbulent political events, in 1793 the Polignac family was forced to leave France and move to Austria. The castle was nationalized, resold to another family, but as always, due to lack of money, it began to collapse.
In the 19th century, a young and energetic representative of the Polignac family, Melchior de Polignac, returned to France and the castle was bought back. The southern wing of the Castle was restored, the castle park was put in order. Since that time, only the heirs of Polignac live in Lavut Castle. The owners themselves occupy only a few rooms on two floors, tours are held in the rest of the premises. In the halls and corridors of the castle, where guided tours are held, there is a rich collection of works of art, Renaissance fireplaces, furniture and tapestries of the 17th century, historical archives, old documents, portraits of the de Polignac family, etc.
Lavoûte-Polignac Castle is built of gray stone of volcanic origin.
The Lavoûte-Polignac Castle complex consists of: Three main buildings, Four towers, Courtyard with bell tower, Dungeon. As befits a defensive structure, the castle was surrounded by a double earthen rampart.
Castle Lavoûte-Polignac, the hunting and the fishing.
The surroundings of the castle, the area called Lavoûte-sur-Loire was famous for its nature and beauty. Mills at the foot of the Castle. Orchards and vineyards, fields, meadows, a forest where wild boars, wolves and even deer live. Guests came here to hunt with greyhounds. There are a lot of fish in the river – salmon, trout, eel. Great place for fishing.
(*) Series of photo-postcards “LE VELAY ILLUSTRÉ 1130 Le Château de la Voûte-Polignac (private collection). Photo by M.B. Le Puy (Marguerite Bremond)
Montrond Castle (Loire Valley)
Montrond Castle (in French Château de Montrond), sometimes called Montrond-les-Bains Castle (Montrond-les-Bains)
Montrond Castle is located in the commune of Montrond-les-Bains, Loire department.
History of Montrond Castle.
The castle is named after Mont Rond, a volcanic dam overlooking the plain. In the twelfth century there is a mention that “Castrum climbed on the rondunti”, which indicates the presence of a small fortification, the property of the Counts of Drill.
1302 – Count John I handed over Montrond and its tower to Arthaud Saint-Germain.
1325 – Arthaud IV started building around the former castle.
1523, the marriage of Arthaud IX and Marguerite Albon, the daughter of Governor Jean, brings Montrond Castle to the height of its glory. The austere fortress has been transformed into a beautiful and rich castle with renaissance flavors.
In the midst of the religious wars, the descendants of Arthaud IX keep Montrond Castle intact through their loyalty to royalty.
In 1730 the family left Montrond to settle near Paris.
In April 1793 the last Marquis Antoine-Claude was guillotined. In September of the same year, Montrond Castle was burned down by a detachment of revolutionary soldiers.
In 1807, the Apchon-Montrond family was cut short by a lonely girl who died without descendants.
In 1828, the castle was sold to an individual entrepreneur who was engaged in stone-making.
Left abandoned for a century and a half, the castle was saved from final ruin by the Friends of the castle.
In 1969, a society of friends of the castle was organized.
Since 1984 it has been the property of the municipality.
The castle hosts festivals and military-historical reconstruction, theatrical performances for groups of tourists. See more
– festivals and celebrations at the castle of Montrond, how to visit from Paris
How to get to the castle from Paris.
Helpful Hints: If you are visiting Lavoûte-Polignac Castle by booking private tours from Paris by car, you can visit another very interesting place near the castle. This is the ancient fortress of Polignac.
Loches castle (Loire Valley)
Royal Castle of Loches, the history. Loches Castle (Château de Loches) and the Royal Town is located in the commune of Loches in the Loire Valley, department “Indre and Loire” (See on the map). The main tower of Loches is a fortified castle in the heart of the city, which, in addition to the donjon, houses the royal palace and the collegiate church of Sainte-Our.
The Royal house. Built on top of a rocky outcrop overlooking the Indre valley, the royal house was one of the favorite residences of the Valois during the Hundred Years’ War. It was built in two phases between the end of the 14th century and the end of the 15th century. The oldest part to the south is adorned with four towers, more decorative than defensive. The second part, built a century later in the northern extension, has a flamboyant Gothic style. Three female figures left their mark on it: Jean d’Arc, Agnès Sorel and Anne de Bretagne.
The scenographic route for young and old allows for a pleasant and fun discovery of interesting places.
The first mention of a fortification on the site of a modern castle was noted by Ursus Cahors in 491. Then a certain Sant-Ur built a mill near the monastery until his death in 508. In 742, the whole area was captured by the troops of Pepin and Carloman, who crushed the revolt of Hunald, Duke of Aquitaine. At that time, the fortress was wiped off the face of the earth. Later, several owners changed on this territory …
On the site of donjon Loches, which is the oldest surviving main tower in the country, at first only a wooden one was built in the 9th century to protect the nearby village. It was connected with the last underground passages carved into the rocks.
The land belonged to the Angevin count Fulk I the Red, who married Rosille de Loches, who brought him the Loches fortress as a dowry. Thus was the birth of the power of the family of the Dukes of Anjou. His successor, Count Fulke Nerra, fought for many years for neighboring lands with representatives of the family of Counts de Blois, and it was he who ordered the construction of a stone quadrangular fortress, a donjon, on the site of a wooden tower. Construction began in 1005 and continued until about 1070 (according to other sources, construction was carried out from 1013 and 1035). The donjon was 25 by 15 meters in size and reached a height of 38 meters, the thickness of the walls was 3 meters, loopholes were made in them, at the top of the walls there were loopholes for shelling the assaulting enemy. For this era, he was virtually impregnable.
Fulca Nerra died in 1040 and was buried in the castle. The successor of his military policy, Count Geoffroy Martel d’Anjou, eventually defeated the representatives of the de Blois family at Saint-Martin-les-Beau, and this finally made it possible for the Nerra family to settle in the castle, which was surrounded by more and more new fortifications. Over time, the last representative of the Nerra family married the daughter of the English king, and their son Henry II Plantagenet (1133 – 1189) in 1154 reigned on the throne of England (the Plantagenet dynasty ruled from 1154 to 1394). He surrounded the donjon with fortress walls and moats. In his possession was a significant territory of France. Its king (since 1180) Philip II Augustus (Philip of the Crooked, August 21, 1165 – July 14, 1223) managed to capture the territories of the Plantagenets.
The son of Henry II King (since 1189) Richard I the Lionheart (September 8, 1157 – April 6, 1199) in 1199 went on the 3rd crusade. Then, upon returning from it, he was captured by the emperor (since 1191) of the Holy Roman Empire, Henry VI, who was at enmity with him (November 1165 – September 28, 1197) and was released by him only in February 1194 and the next month arrived in England. However, during his captivity, Philip Augustus received from Richard’s brother, Prince John (Jean), a large amount of land, including the castle of Loches. On June 13, 1194, Richard, who landed in France, captured it in 3 hours. After the death of Richard, after a year-long siege, in 1205, Philip Augustus recaptured Loches and turned the castle into a state prison. The castle never took part in large-scale hostilities again. The French king reconstructed the fortress, and later the Old Residential Building was built in the northern part of it, which entered the history of France, when in June 1429 the famous maiden Jeanne d’Arc (January 6, 1412 – May 30, 1431) persuaded the Dauphin (heir) Charles (February 22, 1403 – July 22, 1461) to be crowned in Reims on July 17, 1429 under the name of Charles VII.
In 1444, the first favorite of Charles was Agnes (or Agnes) Sorel – “Lady of Beauty” (1421 or 1422 – February 9, 1450), who settled in the castle of Loches. She was very “reverent” about luxury and the royal treasury suffered from this. In 1450, she died and, at her request, was buried in the church of Notre Dame de Loches (now Saint-Ur), to which she bequeathed 2 thousand ecu in gold. Some time after the funeral, the monks turned to the heir to the French throne, Louis (July 3, 1423 – August 30, 1483, king from 1461) with a request to transfer her remains to the castle, but Louis replied that he would go there with her and gold. Thus, everything remains the same.
In the 15th century, the New Tower and the Martello Guard Tower were added to the Old Building. Then the royal apartments consisted of a tower and a wall built in the 13th century, several buildings with a watchtower (14th century), a hunting lodge of the 15th century; around the same time, a donjon was erected, the road from which led to the tower of St. Anthony and the donjon in the area of the Cordelier gate. There was also a chapel of Anne of Brittany (January 25, 1422 – January 1, 1514), the wife of two kings – Charles VIII (June 30, 1470 – April 7, 1498) and Louis XII (June 27, 1462 – January 1, 1515). Anna lived for some time in the castle of Loches while Charles fought in Italy.
From the 15th century, the castle was a military prison, many famous prisoners stayed in it: the famous historian Philippe de Commines (circa 1447 – October 18, 1511), a diplomat and author of memoirs; Duke of Milan Lodovico Maria Sforza (July 27, 1452 – May 27, 1508), nicknamed Moro, captured in the battle of Novara, painted the ceiling and walls (images of the coat of arms, helmet and inscriptions that have survived to this day) and died in Loches ; conspirators against King Francis I (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547, King of France from January 1, 1515) Puy and Autin Antoinde Chabanne and Jacques Guro, who made a mortise altar and a wall polyptych during their “stay” in the castle of Loches ( several paintings consisting of many folds or planks, united by a single theme), depicting the Passion of the Lord.
During the war for the independence of the American colonies from Great Britain (1775 – 1783), France provided military and financial assistance to the Americans and the French king Louis XVI (August 23, 1754 – January 21, 1793) adapted Loches Castle as a prison for British prisoners.
After the French Revolution of 1789, the soldiers of some battalions of national volunteers and mobilized departments of Indre and Indre-et-Loire (they were formed in 1791-1793) thought that Sorel’s tomb was a saint’s tomb, desecrated it by breaking an alabaster statue of Agnes and discarded her remains. In addition, the “revolutionary” soldiers plundered the castle and almost completely destroyed many of the buildings in it: the Old Residential Building, the Church of Notre Dame de Loches, the Anna Chapel and prison cells. Later, the remains of Agnes were collected and transferred to the premises of the Old Building, and a copy of the old statue was installed over the new resting place.
However, the Loches Castle remained a military prison until 1926.
Over a very long time, the castle gradually fell into decay. In 1806, restoration work began, but even today some of its buildings lie in ruins. Only in 1862 the French Ministry of Culture included the castle in the list of historical monuments. The gate of the castle wall became a similar object by decree of July 12, 1886, the old royal palace – in 1889. historical monument according to the conclusion of August 8, 1962.
Nowadays, several rooms can be visited by tourists – for example, a 15th-century torture chamber (the shackles used in quartering are kept here) and a copy of a cell from about the middle of the same century, a donjon (where there is only one entrance through a small tower with loopholes), with the roofs of which you can see the panorama of the entire fortress and the valley of the river Indre, as well as the streets, houses, the palace and the church of Sainte-Our of a small town.
Practical tourist information about the visit.
The entry ticket to the Royal City includes entry to the donjon, the royal chambers and the medieval garden of inspiration. The cost is 8.5 euros. Ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing.
Opening hours: 01 April – 30 September: 9 h – 19 h. October 1 – March 31: 9 h 30 – 17 h. closed: January 1st and December 25th.
According to the schedule, there are special programs on certain days.
To visit the castle during the tour of the castles of the Loire, you can use individual or small group trips by car (minibus).
The classic program of the tour from Paris “Three castles in one day” is NOT included.
Rivau castle (Loire Valley)
Rivau Castle (in French Chateau du Rivau) is one of the most attractive places for all those interested in the history of France. It is located in Lémeré (Indre-et-Loire department), relatively close (about 10 minutes by car) from the more famous one of the castles of the valley of the river. Loire-Chinon and 60 km south-west of the city of Tours.
The castle dates back to the 13th century, when it was a simple fortified feudal estate. It consisted of a walled donjon with four round towers at the corners.
On May 29, 1418, in the midst of the Hundred Years’ War, Pierre de Beauvau, one of the courtiers, helped the then crown prince Charles to escape from Paris occupied by the Burgundians. Later, Charles VII, who became king, thanked his faithful vassal and instructed him to perform the duties of his own valet. Later, Pierre married a wealthy heiress, as a result of which the castle of Rivau ended up in his property. The castle was located in a strategic place – the border of three regions: Poitou, Touraine and Anjou. Apparently, the name “Rivau” comes from here – in the old French Rivaudiere – “border”.
1429 – the famous French warrior Joan of Arc came to the castle to buy horses for her army.
The de Beauvau family was related to the family of the Dukes of Anjou.
1438 – Anna de Fontenay brought the castle as a dowry when she married Pierre de Beauvau, the first valet of Charles the Seventh.
1440 – Pierre received permission to build a fully fortified castle. According to some researchers, Rivau was one of the first castles of the Loire Valley. It was then that Pierre radically rebuilt the castle – he erected a donjon, a drawbridge, dug a dry moat, built up mashikuli (mounted loopholes) and punched loopholes for cannons in the wall, which at that time had already become widespread throughout Europe. However, no one has ever attacked or stormed the fortress of Rivau.
The Beauvau family owned the castle until the end of the 17th century. The coat of arms and the motto of the de Beauvau family – “Without return” with two deer on the sides. Richelieu’s sister Françoise was married to Jean de Beauvau. When their daughter Lorraine became a princess in their family, the de Beauvau family left Tourrain. Then de Beauvau became princes of Lorraine.
Pierre de Beauvau himself died in the battle of Castillon in 1453, which ended the Hundred Years’ War between England and France (1337-1453).
1454 – Isabella de Beauvau married Prince Jean 2nd de Bourbon and thus became related to the royal dynasty.
In 1510, a descendant of Pierre de Beauvau, François, captain of the French army after a succession judgment, built the fundamental stables. He himself later died in the battle of Romagna (near Fort Bayard on April 30, 1524). During the reign of King Henry III, these stables received the status of royal and since then the name Francois de Beauvau has been associated with the official supply of horses to the court of King Francis the First.
1550 – Gabriel de Beauvau took out a loan in order to rebuild a new castle building on the security of his own property. The specificity of the castle was that for the first time in history the stables were designed by an architect who developed his own innovative style.
1768 – Marquis Michel – Ange de Castellane (de Castellane) bought Rivau, but, because. he was already the owner of the castle of Villandry, he was not very interested in the newly acquired property.
Until 1796 the castle remained in the possession of the de Beauvau family.
Interestingly, the castle is mentioned in the famous satirical novel by Francois Rabelais “Gargantua and Pantagruel”, in which Captain Tolmer receives the castle as a gift in gratitude for the victory over King Picrochol.
Then Rivau gradually began to fall into disrepair, it was a country estate, a farm, an artist’s home.
At the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries. the sculptor-decorator Alphonse de Montsel de Perrin lived in the castle. He achieved that Rivau was included in the list of historical monuments of France.
1918 – Rivau was declared a historical monument.
From 1960 to 1992 the artist Pierre-Laurent Lives lived in the castle (according to other sources, the artist Pierre-Laurent Brenaud).
In 1992, the castle, which was in a very deplorable state, was bought by Messrs. Eric and Patricia Legier, who are its current owners.
After 8 years of restoration, Rivau Castle became available for tourists and lovers of antiquity. Address: 9 Rue du Chateau, 37 120 Lemere FRANCE
Artifacts. The castle houses a fairly solid collection of works of art from the Middle Ages to the present day, the premises are fully furnished with antique furniture. The real decoration of the castle is the collection of majolica. Frescoes by Italian and Flemish painters of the 15th century have been preserved on the walls and ceiling.
A park. Gardens. The main attraction of the castle are its 12 gardens, where 450 varieties of roses and more than 200 varieties of irises grow. It is significant that in 2003 the breeder Andre Eve grew an apple-scented rose here and named it after the garden – Chateau de Rivau.. On an area of 6 hectares there are 12 (!) beautiful gardens included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here are some of them: “The Enchanted Forest”, “The Garden of Giant Vegetables” (pumpkins, zucchini, cabbage, etc. grow here), “Blossoming Meadows”, “Garden of Paradise”, The “Boy with a Thumb” Path (growing along it yellow and orange roses), Aroma Path, Secret Garden (English roses), Alice’s Labyrinth (Lewis Carroll world), Love Potion (calming sage, sulphurous mandrake, fragrant red roses – incl. ” Charlemagne” and “Dark Rose” by David Austin), Princess Rapunzel’s Garden (named after the rapunzel flower, i.e. simply valerian), “Enchanted Paradise” (collectible vintage apple, cherry, medlar and almond trees, around which roses curl), “Magic Forest and the World of the Elves” (bushes trimmed to look like various fabulous creatures, as well as large collections of bulbous flowers), Truffle Grove (an oak grove in which truffles are grown), as well as “Fleeing Forest” (here giant legs are in various positions). In addition, it should be noted the fence of “Lilies in Love” (very rare varieties of lilies, Madonna lilies, etc.) and the composition of the Flower Hill Family, which lives on a chessboard made of terracotta grass (peacocks walk here).
The Visit to Rivau Castle and the Gardens. The castle and its gardens are great places for families, lovers and scouts to explore flowers and plants.
Sache castle (Loire Valley)
Honore de Balzac Museum and Sache Castle (Château de Saché).
Built on the foundations of a 12th-century fortress, of which a cylindrical tower and part of a dry moat remain, the Château de Sachet is a fine French Renaissance mansion.
Enlarged by a wing in the 17th century and then by a second in the 18th century, all of its interiors were furnished in the 19th century by its owner, Jean de Margonne, in keeping with the style of the time. Honore de Balzac stayed there several times from 1825 to 1848. He found there his inspiration for several of his great novels and his comfort in writing them: first Le Lys dans la Vallée, but also among other novels La Comédie Humaine. Goriot’s father, César Birroto, Louis Lambert, among others. Balzac, from his bedroom window, sees his “lonely valley,” as he calls it. He revisited the prime of his youth and wrote Le Lys dans la Vallée, his most beautiful love story, in memory of the love of his youth, who was Laura de Bernie.
In June 1848, Balzac returned to Sasha, wrote to Madame Hanske and told him about his stay in Sasha.
The Metadier family took over the castle in 1922. They later turned it into a museum dedicated to Balzac. Collected hundreds of items. In 1951, the museum was opened by the president of the French Academy, Georges Duhamel. Mr. Paul Metadier becomes his curator. In 1958, he donated the castle to the General Council of Indre and Loire, which became its owner.
b>Museum collections.
Precious printed products Fund. The printed editions of the collection of the Balzac Museum (about 1000 copies) mainly consist of a unique collection donated by Bernard-Paul Metadier and the Samueli collection. Thanks to various donations, Bernard-Paul Metadier enriched the collection of engravings of the Balzac Museum with his interests, objects and hobbies. Thus, some topics were prioritized: Balzac’s Touraine, Balzac’s Paris, Balzac and science, Balzac and the press. The Samueli Foundation was acquired by the General Council of Indre-et-Loire in 2002 with financial support from the DRAC and the Center region. It consists of approximately six hundred bound volumes. This is an exceptional collection built over several decades by Jean-Jacques Samueli, a passionate collector. This fund includes, in particular, all of his early works, which he published under various pseudonyms. The first then completely unknown works of the author have become practically inaccessible to trace today. The fund also contains almost all the first editions of Balzac’s novels and short stories, very beautiful illustrated ones, collections and illegal editions of Belgium and Holland.
Manuscripts. Among its collections of manuscripts (correspondence of Balzac and his contemporaries), the Balzac Museum keeps three collections of handwritten corrections of the novel “Le Lys dans la vallée”, which make up the second, third and fourth folder of all documents, which allow us to trace the origin of this novel (manuscript, cabinets and other folders are kept at the Institut de France in the Spoelberch collection in Lowenjoules). He also has volumes corrected from China (nine leaves corrected by Balzac’s hand) and an edition by Louis Lambert annotated by Balzac’s hand.
Oil Paintings. Since 2013, the Musée Balzac has exhibited a portrait of Mrs. Hansky’s daughter and her son-in-law Jean Gigot, as well as a portrait of Mr. Hansky by Giuseppe Bezzuoli. These collections are kept in the Maison de Balzac (Paris).
Sculptures. Balzac was represented by several sculptors, including David d’Angers, Marquet de Vasselot, Auguste Rodin and Alexandre Falguière, whose work is on display at the Balzac Museum. Commissioned by the Society for the Sociology of Women in 1891, Rodin’s work was the subject of numerous preparatory studies, including several plasters and bronzes that trace origins (museum collections and Balzac’s warehouses). In 1892, Auguste Rodin came to stay in the Indre Valley, to the Château de l’Islette, to draw inspiration from the novelist’s home region and begin the first studies of his Balzac.
The Balzac Museum also exhibits a whole series of plasters and terracotta by Pierre Riper, representing the characters of the comedy “Man” and sculptures that evoke Balzac’s personal taste for art (works after Falcone, Michel Ange, Michallon), sources of inspiration for his novels.
Drawings and engravings. In its collection of engravings, the Balzac Museum keeps many caricatures from the first half of the 19th century. This art, especially complementary to the study of manners painted by Balzac, did develop during this period. Note that a writer who is closely associated with the press has often been the target of cartoonists.
Printing equipment. A 19th-century printing shop reconstructed to evoke the printing profession that Balzac practiced from 1826 to 1828. It includes a Stanhope typepress, a mid-19th century lithographic print, a bookbinding machine, an old guillotine, and print breaks.
Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire castle
Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire (Château de Saint-Maurice-sur-Loire) is a castle located in the village of the same name, Loire department, Center region. A little history and description.
Its foundation dates back to 1020, and at that time it was apparently made of wood. However, already at the beginning of the 13th century, the main tower of the castle – the donjon and some other buildings were made of stone. Until 1220, the castle was the feudal estate of the lords of Saint-Maurice. After that, the castle passed to the county de Foret, and then to the Duchy of Bourbon.
In 1221, Guy the 4th took control of the castle and with its stone keep dominated the surroundings and the banks of the Loire.
In 1553, the castle was in the territory of the district under the royal control, later – under the control of the Duchy of Roanne.
During the feudal (1181 – 1187) and religious (1562 – 1598) wars, the castle changed its owners several times, but in 1626 Cardinal A.-J. du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1585 – 1642) ordered its destruction. But it was not possible to do this in full, and something survived from the castle, for example, a donjon 17 meters high.
In 1989, they tried to reconstruct the castle, at the top of the donjon they made a platform for visitors, which allowed them to see the road around the tower.
Now the castle is a ruin of red granite. It is located near the old town of Saint Maurice. The donjon is a round tower, standing on a foundation with the walls of an old house, and dominates the necks, which are just over 100 m away. It should be noted that the castle had no military significance and served as a residence and a place of judicial functions. The castle and keep are visible through the Guy de la Mure gate, and the town of Saint Maurice can be entered through the Ri Serpentin gate.
Personal experience and the advice. This castle is interesting for those who like to walk and take pictures on the ancient ruins. You can include it in the route if you have chosen to visit some objects where the road leads through these regions.
How to visit from Paris. Getting here on your own is quite difficult, especially without the knowledge of French. The best option is to include the visits to the castle in the program of an individual tour from Paris by car with a guide.
- Private guided tours from Paris or airport Charles de Gaulle by a car