Chateau Gallery - Photographs of a few French Castles

French chateaus (castles) are numerous in the Loire Valley, but are found throughout France. This gallery contains photographs and information of those I had the opportunity to either drive by or tour.

Chateaus of the Loire Valley, France

Chateau de Chenonceau

Chenonceau is my favorite chateau. Spanning the River Cher near Tours, Chenonceau is open to the public. You may choose to borrow an audio set for a tour of the chateau. There are also gardens, a path along the river, a restaurant and wine available from the chateaus vinyards.

From the far corner of Diane de Poitiers Jardin (Garden)

Chateaus de Amboise and Clos-Luce

The chateau overlooks the town of Amboise and the Loire River. The chateau belongs to the Comte de Paris a direct descendant of France's last royal line. The late Gothic Chapel St Hubert is said to be the burial place of Leonardo da Vinci.

Also in Amboise, you will find the Chateau de Clos-Luce. The Renaissance manor house was the last home of Leonardo da Vinci. The chateau and grounds are open to the public. Several groups work to reproduce some of da Vinci's inventions which are scattered throughout the grounds. The chateau can be toured and there are models made from drawings in the basement.

Amboise Information

Chateau de Cheverny

The chateau has a very different style, with no defensive elements. It is open to the public. The largest room in the chateau, the Salle des Armes has a collection of arms and armor, including complete suits of armor. Twice a week in winter the hounds participate in the Cheverny hunt, the kennels may also be visited. There is a trophy room containing 2,000 pairs of antlers mounted on the walls and ceiling. I did not visit the kennels or trophy room.

Chateau de Chambord

The largest chateau in the Loire Valley, Chateau de Chambord began as a hunting lodge in the Foret de Boulogne, but in 1519 was rebuilt to today's grandeur. The skyline is the most interesting with all its chimneys and towers.

The interior double helix staircase is fascinating. Two people can enter from different sides, and even when walking at the same pace will never meet. It is possibly a design of Leonardo da Vinci, though it was constructed after his death.

Chateau de Chaumont

On the hill above the village and beside the Loire River, stands the Chateau de Chaumont. The chateau is open to the public. The main entrance has a double drawbridge. The park was landscaped in 1884 and closely follows the lines of an English country garden.

Chateau de Villandry

Gardens abound at this chateau. There are 8 full time gardeners that raise and plant out 60,000 vegetables and 45,000 bedding plants a year for the kitchen and flower garden. The plants are arranged in colorful geometric designs and considered a typical Renaissance garden.

The grounds also include a pool used for irrigation, a maze, and an herb garden. The chateau has a collection of Spanish paintings, and has been owned by a Spanish family since 1906.

Chateau de Angers

This striped stone fortress is magnificent, though rather ominous looking with its 17 towers. Built between 1228 and 1240 the perimeter is 2,100 feet long. A drawbridge leads to the entrance, and the 36 feet deep dry moat has been turned into gardens. There are walkways along the walls and the towers may be ascended by spiral staircases. Within the walls are a chapel, buildings, gardens a modern tapestry gallery, a small vineyard, and last but not least the royal logis which house France's most famous Millefleurs tapestries.

Chateau de Brissac

The chateau is approximately 18 kilometers (11 miles) outside of Anger and is the tallest chateau along the Loire. Ten of the 150 rooms are open to the public. Wine from the 11th century can be tasted in the cellars.

Chateau de Saumur

The chateau was constructed on the base of an earlier fortification in the second half of the 14th century. It is another chateau that stands above the River Loire. The chateau houses two museums, the Musee des Beaux Decoratifs and the Musee du Cheval (horse). The first museum contains paintings, tapestries, furniture, ceramics and statuettes. The horse museum includes a collection of saddles from around the world.

Chateau de Usse

This gleaming white chateau was the inspiration for French author Charles Perrault's "The Sleeping Beauty". The chateau was built on the foundations of a medieval castle and is a blend of Renaissance and Gothic architecture. There is a separate chapel. Some of the rooms include waxwork statues in period clothing.

Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau

One of the most popular chateaus, because it is mirrored in the lake that was once a moat. It appears to float on the surface. The most significant feature of the interior is the straight staircase with landings, instead of the spiral staircase that was the usual design in 16th century chateaus.

Chateau de Chinon

This chateau and ramparts parallel the River Vienne on the cliff above Chinon. The chateau, most of it in ruin consists of three castles separated by moats. The clock tower holds a small exhibition on the life of Joan of Arc and is the entrance to the chateau. The views of the surrounding hills and valley are spectacular from the clock tower.

Chateaus of Brittany, France

Chateau de Suscinio in Morbihan

Chateau de Suscinio was the first chateau that I visited. The chateau is surrounded by a moat and you cross the former drawbridge to enter. It was built in the 13th century and converted to a fortress in the 14th century. It contains a museum of Breton history.

Chateau de Josselin in Morbihan

The chateau is still occupied, and only a few rooms and the grounds are open to the public. The chateau is of the Flamboyant Gothic style. There was a globe in one of the rooms that only showed the 13 colonies!

Chateaus in Le Nord and Picardy

Chateau de Pierrefonds

The immense chateau dominates its surroundings. In 1857 it was restored by Napoleon III. There is an exterior moat with double sentry walks. There is a park on one side.

Chateaus in Normandy

Chateau de Fontaine-Henry

A Renaissance chateau built in the 15th and 16th century over dungeons, cellars and foundations of an original 11th to 12th century fortress. Some of steeply sloping roof is taller then the building below. The chateau is not far from the D-Day beaches.

Small Chateau in Janville

Chateau Gaillard

This chateau is mostly in ruin and rises out of the rock on the hill overlooking the Seine and the town of Les Andelys. It appears more a fortress then a chateau, surrounded by a moat at one time, yet once held the governors residence.

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Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Mary Vance