Famed for its fine wines, opulent castles and Renaissance intrigue, the Loire Valley boasts both a wealth of history and architecture. Like the Loire River itself, this vast region cuts through the very heart of French life. Its sophisticated cities, lush landscapes and excellent wine and food complete the picture of a bourgeois paradise.
Scattered throughout the valley are magnificent castles and ancient cities, which for a long time, before King Henri IV moved his entire court to Paris, were home to the royal family and served as the center of social and cultural life in France. The towns of Tours and Angers, located on the river, are excellent starting points for exploring the valley and its treasures. In addition to regular bus excursions, you can rent a car or bicycle and make your own route.
From Tours, located at the confluence of the Loire and Cher rivers, you can begin an exciting journey through the Loire Valley. The city itself is of much less interest than the castles surrounding it, but it also has places and objects that deserve attention. For example, the city's cathedral, whose striking Gothic façade is flanked by 12th-century towers, and whose interior is notable for its stunning 13th-century stained glass windows and the tomb of the children of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany. Also in Tours you can visit the museum at the Archbishop's Palace, where interesting works by Degas, Delacroix, Rembrandt and Boucher are kept. Otherwise, the city is very pleasant for an evening relaxation, when the streets and bars are filled with tourists and locals. The large student population in Tours also adds an energetic touch to the city's atmosphere.
Just a few kilometers from Tours, on the Cher River, is the Château de Chenonceau, one of the famous castles of the Loire. In the Middle Ages it was used as a mill - the space of the castle completely blocks the river. Who didn’t own this castle: Henri II’s beloved Diana of Poitiers, Queen Catherine de’ Medici, and Louise de Laurens. In this regard, Chenonceau is often called the “women's palace”. Inside the palace there is a delightful 61-meter-long gallery, the living room of Louis XIV and the bedroom of François I.
Eight kilometers from Tours is the tiny village of Villandry and its castle. The latter is famous mainly for its gardens, which are open to the public from February to November. It contains not only ornamental gardens, so familiar and characteristic of Europeans. In the Villandry gardens, paths lined with vines are interspersed with neat beds and boxes of carrots, cabbage and zucchini that make up the original design, while roses rise elegantly above plantings of medicinal herbs and plants.
The city of Angers stretches across the Maine River towards the western part of the Loire Valley. It is a vibrant regional center and university city with an air of sophistication. Among the significant attractions of the Loire Valley are the intriguing Tapestry Museum of Jean Lurs, famous especially for his work "The Song of the World"; and the city cathedral with a nave and stained glass windows from the 12th century. However, the greatest attraction here is the Angers castle, surrounded by a kilometer-long fortress wall and having 17 cylindrical towers along the entire perimeter. Available for inspection are the courtyard, the prison, the creeping arches, the windmill, the 15th century chapel and the royal apartments. Well, the most important detail, for which it is worth visiting the Angers castle, is the tapestry depicting scenes of the apocalypse. Woven between 1375 and 1378 for Duke René of Anjou, it represents a vision of the apocalypse through the eyes of St. John the Evangelist.
During the Second World War, Orleans was heavily destroyed and now represents only a faded shadow of its glorious past. Its history began long before the arrival of the Romans, but the most famous event in its chronicle is the liberation of the city from the British by Joan of Arc in 1429. Every year on May 8, festivities and city parades in medieval style are held to commemorate this event.
Much of the historical character of medieval Blois can be seen in its whitewashed houses and narrow cobblestone streets. Modernity, however, also left its mark here. Tourists come here mainly to see the magnificent castle, around which there is now a circular road, which does not in the least interfere with its entertainment. This beautiful castle witnessed the assassination of the Duke of Guise, and is famous for its impressive 13th-century hall. From Blois you can also take an excursion to the Chateau de Chambord, located in the outskirts of the city.
18 km from Blois is the vast Chateau de Chambord - the largest and most famous castle in the Loire Valley. Its construction was conceived by François I, who wanted to surpass Charles V. The result was a picturesque 450-room Renaissance masterpiece, designed by an Italian architect in 1519 but executed by French masons. The facade looks typical of the French Middle Ages - massive cylindrical towers with conical tops, a large number of chimneys, spiers and turrets. However, the interior is strictly Italian in style: magnificent spiral staircases, colored marble panels, niches decorated with shell-like domes, and free-standing columns. Contrasting architectural styles came together in Chambord to create a decadent and at times contradictory whole. The castle is surrounded by a 32-kilometer wall containing a deer park.
Located in Sologne, near Blois, Cheverny Castle is one of the main castles of the Loire Valley, and for seven centuries these lands belonged to the same family. Now Cheverny is privately owned; these places are also famous for hound hunting, as evidenced by the numerous trophies on display. The Château de Cheverny as we know it today was built in 1634 by Henri Hurault, Count of Cheverny, from bourré stone, which became whiter and harder over time.
On the banks of the Loire, 32 km east of Tours, is the Renaissance city of Amboise. A beautiful city, proud of its history, attracts crowds of tourists, but this does not make it any less charming. This place was the favorite residence of Leonardo da Vinci and Charles VIII. The castle of Charles VIII rises above the city, combining the expressiveness of the Renaissance and Gothic. The original 15th-century entrance lobby opens onto a terrace with panoramic views of the river. After the revolution, the castle fell into disrepair, and now we see less than half of its former greatness. However, many rooms have been preserved, including the king's apartments, and are open to visitors. Leonardo da Vinci was invited here by Francois I to support the Renaissance in France. He settled in Clos Luce, which is now a museum where 40 models made from his drawings are exhibited. East of Amboise are museums for children, including the Mini-Chateau, a two-hectare park containing the great castles of the Loire Valley in miniature. There is also a magnificent aquarium nearby.
The Loire Valley is the birthplace of the French Renaissance, one of the most picturesque and poetic places on Earth, where the literary French language developed. Natives of these places were Francois Rabelais, Pierre Ronsard and Honore Balzac. Here, François Villon and Victor Hugo, Stendhal and Jules Verne, Oscar Wilde, George Sand and Charles Perrault drew their inspiration to write new works.
But, of course, the main attraction of the valley are the numerous castles, most of them built or significantly rebuilt during the French Renaissance, which served as a refuge for royalty in difficult times. The abundance of magnificent architectural and historical monuments in this part of France determined the inclusion of the Loire Valley in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Traditionally, 42 castles are called castles of the Loire (although English Wikipedia mentions as many as 300). Let's look at a few of the most famous ones.
Chenonceau Castle
Chenonceau Castle (Chateau de Chenonceau) is unique for its original location on the Cher River, as well as for its destiny. He was loved, cherished and protected by women such as Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici
These days, Chenonceau Castle is the second most visited castle in France after Versailles.
Valencay Castle
Valencay Castle (Chateau de Valencay) combines two architectural styles - Renaissance and classicism. It is fully furnished and surrounded by superb French-style gardens and an English park. At one time, the castle belonged to Talleyrand, for whom it was acquired by Napoleon in 1803.
Castle of Azay-le-Rideau
The Chateau d'Azay-le-Rideau, built on an island in the middle of the Indre River, in its present form was built during the reign of Francis I by the wealthy financier Gilles Berthelot, who wanted to implement Italian innovations in French architecture. Surrounded by greenery, the castle is washed by the waters of the Indre, in which its walls are reflected.
Royal Castle of Blois
The Royal Castle of Blois (Chateau Royal de Blois) is the favorite residence of the French kings Louis XII and Francis I. The castle is located in the center of the city of Blois, on the right bank of the Loire, and offers tourists a real panorama of the art and history of the castles of the Loire.
Castle of Saumur
Chateau de Saumur is located in the town of the same name, considered the cavalry capital of France (the National Equestrian School is located here), also known for its champignons and wine. Inside the castle there are three museums: applied arts (porcelain, tapestries of the 15th century), horses (stirrups, bridles, a collection of saddles and sleds from the Russian "troika") and ancient toys (animals, clowns and soldiers).
Chambord Castle
Chateau de Chambord is the largest of all the castles of the Loire. It was built by order of Francis I, who wanted to be closer to his beloved lady, Countess Turi, who lived nearby.
Cheverny Castle
Cheverny Castle (Chateau de Cheverny) is recognized as the castle with the most magnificent furnishings. It is famous for its kennel and regular hound hunts. The Moulensart castle from the comics of the Belgian artist Hergé was copied from the Cheverny castle.
Angers Castle
Angers Castle (Chateau d'Angers) - a large medieval fortress with seventeen towers was built by the young St. Louis on the border of his kingdom in the 13th century. From Neolithic times to the 21st century, this place has constantly changed its appearance and purpose, with each period leaving its mark. Behind the fortress walls are living quarters and gardens. The castle exhibits the famous Apocalypse tapestry, the largest work of medieval masters.
Castle of Clos Lucé
Castle of Clos Luce (Le Clos Luce) - House-Museum of Leonardo da Vinci. At the beginning of 1516, Leonardo da Vinci accepted the invitation of King Francis I and settled in France. The artist died on May 2, 1519 and was buried in the Amboise castle, which is located nearby and connected to the Clos-Lucé castle by an underground passage. The d'Amboise family saved Clos-Lucé from destruction during the revolution. It then became the property of the Saint-Bris family. This family has preserved the castle to this day. Today the Leonardo da Vinci Museum is organized in Clos Luce. In the castle and park, the universe of Leonardo da Vinci is recreated and comes to life.
Royal Castle of Amboise
The Royal Castle of Amboise (Chateau Royal D'Amboise), towering over the Loire in the city of Amboise, becomes a royal residence during the reign of kings Charles VIII and Francis I (late 15th - early 16th centuries). Many European artists and writers lived at the court in Amboise at the invitation of the kings, like Leonardo da Vinci - here he finished La Gioconda, and here he died in 1519. The great artist, as is commonly believed, was buried in the castle chapel of St. Huberta.
Castle of Chaumont-sur-Loire
Chateau de Chaumont-sur-Loire is located on the estate of the same name, where there is also a landscape park with hundred-year-old cedar trees and the International Flower Festival. The sharpest and most original minds lived here - Catherine de Medici, Diane de Poitiers, Nostradamus, Ruggieri, Benjamin Franklin, Germaine de Staël, as well as the wayward Princess Broglie, who turned Chaumont-sur-Loire into a sophisticated and sophisticated residence in the French style.
Langeais Castle
Langeais Castle (Chateau de Langeais) was founded at the end of the 10th century by the Angevin Count Fulk the Black (the founder of the Plantagenet dynasty) on a cliff hanging over the Loire Valley. In the 12th century the castle was expanded by his descendant Richard the Lionheart. Philip II Augustus recaptured Langeais from the Angevin counts in 1206, then it was partially destroyed by the British in the Hundred Years' War. The façade of the main tower, nicknamed the “donjon of Fulk the Black,” has been preserved from the building of that era; it is considered the oldest surviving stone fortress in France. The rest of the castle was built in the second half of the 15th century, under Louis XI.
Villandry Castle
Villandry Castle (Chateau de Villandry) is located 15 km west of Tours on the D7 highway. Famous for its 3 gardens, a keep rising above the ornamental vegetable gardens (1 hectare), an ornamental garden and a garden with a pond.
Fontevraud Abbey
Fontevraud Abbey (Abbaye de Fontevraud) is one of the largest monastic complexes in Europe, the tomb of the royal Plantagenet dynasty. Fontevraud Abbey amazes with its size and originality. Turned into a prison by Napoleon in 1804, it escapes destruction and becomes a formidable place of detention. The last prisoners will leave it only in 1985. Today it is the Cultural Meeting Center (according to the terminology of the Ministry of Culture and Communication). The Abbey hosts concerts, conferences and exhibitions. The Abbey also encourages creativity to flourish by welcoming and housing artists.
The Loire Valley has been built up by the metropolitan elite for more than 600 years. Intrigues and amorous passions of the French royals were in full swing here, providing many subjects for Dumas’s novels. The variety of architecture of castles, successfully “fitted” into the bewitching landscapes, attracts not only history buffs, but also all connoisseurs of beauty to the valley. Traditionally, 42 palaces are classified as castles in the Loire Valley, although their total number is close to 300.
Usually people want to “see Paris and die” in the spring, or at most in the summer, but the most comfortable time to visit castles is autumn. This is a time when the weather is still warm, but the massive flow of tourists has already subsided.
How to get to the castles of the Loire Valley
Where to stay
The two most convenient starting points for visiting castles are the cities of Blois and Tours. Blois is a pleasant, intimate city that maintains reasonable prices and a cozy atmosphere, despite the abundance of tourists. In addition, Blois can boast of having its own castle, and not just any castle, but the largest of all the castles in the valley. The tour is larger, there are more hotels, 2 train stations. From here it is convenient to get to the castles downstream of the river - Chenonceau, Villandry, Azay-le-Rideau, Chinon. Architecture lovers will love its ancient half-timbered houses.
One of the accommodation options: staying not in a standard hotel, but in a real castle - is guaranteed to enhance the experience. However, you won’t be able to feel like a medieval king or queen in its entirety, due to the presence of sewerage, hot water and air conditioning, but this is hardly a reason for frustration, rather, on the contrary. The cost of pleasure is from 100 EUR for a double room.
Maps of the Loire Valley
Locks
Chambord Castle
The castle of Chambord appears as a fairy-tale palace, in which, over the five centuries of its existence, people lived for at most twenty years, using it only for hunting and temporary entertainment. For this reason, the interior decoration of the halls is poorer than its architectural composition, and during the trip, tourists usually examine the castle only from the outside.
Amboise Castle
Amboise Castle is directly connected with the life history of three kings at once - Charles VIII, Louis XII, Francis I - and the famous Leonardo da Vinci, whom Francis I managed to invite to France. It was here, in Amboise, that the great Italian spent the last years of his life. Unfortunately, today, of the entire ensemble, only the Royal House has survived, the facade of which overlooks the Loire, the chapel of St. Hubert and two towers - the Minimsky and the Gurto Tower. The most beautiful part of the castle is undoubtedly the Chapel of St. Hubert, whose amazing stone patterns are often compared to lace.
The gastronomic pleasures of the valley - oysters, goat cheese and tender pate on toast with onion marmalade accompanied by white young wine from the “royal garden of France” - logically complement the visual ones.
Chenonceau Castle
In the heart of the Loire Valley stands the Chateau de Chenonceau. Its “folk” name is “Dame Castle”, and it is one of the most beloved, famous and visited buildings in France. In its current form, the castle was founded between 1513 and 1521 by Thomas Boyer. The magnificent landscape, French-style gardens and park that surround the castle make an indelible impression. Chenonceau is remarkable not only for its architecture and history, but also for the richness of its collections: furniture in the Renaissance style, wall hangings and tapestries of the 16th and 17th centuries and numerous paintings by Rubens, Primaticcio, Corrage, Tentore, Rigaud, Nattier, Van Loo and Mignard.
Here, in addition to visiting the castle itself, you can go to the Wax Museum, walk through the labyrinth, and taste wine in the cellars of the citadel.
Cheverny Castle
From its creation in 1634 to the present day, Cheverny Castle has been in the hands of the same family, thanks to which it appears to us in almost unchanged form. The descendants of the founder of the castle, Jacques Hurot, occupy the top, third, floor of the castle (there is no access there), but the remaining rooms, luxuriously furnished with furniture from the era of Louis XIII, seem residential and inhabited. The castle is famous for its kennel with sixty hounds trained for hunting, as well as its beautiful English-style park. You can stroll past giant sequoias and cedars not only on foot, but also by electric car, and motor boats ply along the canal crossing the park.
Villandry Castle
The multi-level gardens of Villandry Castle are a true work of park art. Just look at “Gardens of Love” - allegories of love, tragic, tender, passionate and fickle. “Boxwood living rooms”, an intricate decorative vegetable garden and a garden of medicinal plants, surrounded by fountains, will touch the hearts of even those completely indifferent to botany. The palace, matching the gardens, is elegant and unusual, built in the shape of a U with an asymmetrical façade, and was built in 1536.
The stone for Villandry Castle was extracted from caves located a kilometer away, the origin of which dates back to the Mesozoic era. The water that forms stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave is used to obtain original souvenirs: various products are placed under streams of water, which covers them with a kind of “glaze.”
Castle of Azay-le-Rideau
Rising above the bend of the Indra River, the snow-white castle of Azay-le-Rideau seems to float along its waters. Owned by the treasurer of Francis I, Gilles Berthelot, it was built under the careful guidance of his wife, Philippa Lebaye. It was thanks to her refined taste that the castle became a real pearl of the valley. Azay-le-Rideau is one of the castles with preserved original interiors.
From July 1 to August 31, in the evening (from 21.00 to midnight), the walls of the castle are illuminated with the lights of the light and music show “Les Imaginaires d’Azay-le-Rideau”.
Chinon Castle
Unlike most of the Loire Valley castles, which date back to the Renaissance, Chinon Castle is a real medieval fortress. The main building of the castle was erected in 954, later several more buildings appeared around it, occupying a total of 400 meters in length and 70 meters in width. The castle played a significant role during the Hundred Years' War: it was here that Joan of Arc appeared to the future king Charles VII, encouraging him to start a liberation movement. For 6 years, from 2003 to 2010, large-scale restoration work was carried out in the castle, and now a unique interactive exhibition telling about the history of the fortress is open to visitors. The castle houses the Joan of Arc Museum.
Chinon Castle
Angers Castle
The towers of the fortress walls of the castle in Angers rise like gloomy giants. Inside, behind perfectly laid out and manicured lawns, there is a church and a small castle. It is worth visiting the castle not only to be impressed by the scale of medieval architecture, but also to “read” the “Angers Apocalypse” - a series of tapestries made based on the Revelations of John the Evangelist.
The composition is recognized as one of the “regional wonders of France”, it took five years to create, its length is 103 meters (originally 144 meters), and its width is 5.5 meters.
When the image of France is associated with one of the symbols of the country, the beautiful Madeleine, the Loire Valley is called a wedding dress with pearl decoration on the chest. Each of its pearls, strung on the blue thread of the most significant river in France, is one of the castles built and improved in the 9th-18th centuries.
Architecture of the castles of the Loire Valley
In 2000, a part of the river valley with a length of 500 km from Sully-sur-Loire in its upper reaches to Chelon in the lower reaches of the Loire was declared by UNESCO a heritage of all mankind. According to various sources, this huge open-air museum contains up to 300 castles, the first of which were built in the 9th-11th centuries.
Even those castles that were destroyed by order of the king as a warning to obstinate feudal lords or that were deserted, abandoned and partially dismantled over time by enterprising businessmen for the sake of personal enrichment from the sale of building materials make an indelible impression of the power of the surviving fragments of defensive fortifications. Like old soldiers and veterans of numerous wars, the dungeons of the castles of Beaufort, Monron, Vendôme and Montrichard are still “on duty”, towering menacingly and impressively above the small towns in the Loire Valley.
In the XIV-XV centuries. The architecture of castles developed under the influence of the Gothic style. This was manifested in the elegant carvings around the perimeter of the windows, the appearance of balustrades and spiers on the roofs and interior decoration. Castles of this period include, and.
Secrets and mysteries of past centuries
Traveling from castle to castle along the Loire Valley, every tourist can easily imagine how the heroes of the literary works of A. Dumas and M. Druon enjoyed life and were sad here, loved and hated each other, weaved complex intrigues and fought. But sometimes even a talented writer with a rich imagination will not be able to come up with those incredible events that actually happened behind the walls of castles.
The darkest secrets are kept in the castle's dungeons. Under their arches, bishops Antoine de Chabany and Jacques Guro, participants in the conspiracy against Francis I, languished in prison for many years. The cellars of the Chateau de Chambord still retain the mystical atmosphere of the laboratory of the great adventurer of the 18th century. Count Saint-Germain, who conducted his alchemical experiments in it. The castle turned out to be a death trap for the leader of the Catholic League, Duke Henry of Guise. The trip there was a terrible mistake, ending his attempts to ascend to the French throne.
Rising above the waters of the Indra, the castle is often rightly called the “ladies' castle.” In the 16th century he turned out to be a “bone of discord” between two outstanding women of the royal court. The fatal beauty Diana de Poitiers received the castle as a gift from her lover, but was forced to give it up to the powerful and ambitious Catherine de Medici. It was the home of the French queen Louise of Lorraine, and in the 19th century. “provided shelter” to the writer George Sand.
Tourists visiting the castle involuntarily immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the literary work of O. de Balzac, and in the Castle of Cande they can imagine themselves as guests at the wedding of the American woman W. Simpson and the Duke of Windsor, who renounced the throne of Great Britain for the sake of the woman he loved.
Since the time of Charles of Orleans, the nature and castles of the Loire Valley have served as a source of inspiration for artists, poets and writers. In all centuries, they were hospitably received in their country residences by illustrious aristocrats and wealthy bourgeois, which is why there are so many places in the region associated with the biographies and works of the Renaissance poets P. de Ronsard, J. du Bellay and the great Italian genius L. da Vinci. In the 17th century J. de Lafontaine and the Marquis de Sevigne often visited here, and two centuries later in the 19th century. G. Flaubert, A. de Vigny, C. Baudelaire and V. Hugo fell in love with the Loire Valley with all their hearts.
How to get there
Address: Val de Loire, Val de LoireWebsite: www.valdeloire.org
Updated: 05/15/2018
England, Scotland, Czech Republic, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France - all these countries have medieval fortresses. Perhaps the most impressive structures still remain in the valley of the French Loire River. If you like our article, you can always purchase an excursion to the castles of the Loire on the website paris-tourist.ru
Villandry
The last castle of the Renaissance 
The Villandry fortress was built much later than its neighbors - in the 16th century. This area is famous for its Italian gardens, located on three levels. The upper one is occupied by ponds. The middle one is the “Garden of Love” - it is divided into four large squares of box, depicting allegories of love: stricken hearts (passion), a yellow massif (infidelity), hearts separated by flames (tenderness), swords and blood (tragic love).
Downstairs there is a decorative vegetable garden: in it you can find cabbage, carrots, beets, lettuce, as well as apple and pear trees. The landscape is completed by fountains, previously intended to irrigate the land.
Saumur
Prison of the Marquis de Sade 
In the 10th century On the site of this building a monastery and a military fortress arose, designed to protect the local population from attacks by the Normans. Later, the fort came into the possession of the Count of Anjou and turned into a luxurious castle. The golden times for him were the 14th and 15th centuries. Then a royal garrison was stationed here, and then for two hundred years Saumur served as a prison for people from the noble classes. For example, the Marquis de Sade once spent two weeks here.
Cheverny
Family heirloom 
This castle belonged to the same family for several centuries, passing from one generation to another. This tradition was interrupted only once and not for long: when the king settled his favorite Diane de Poitiers here. That is why the building itself and the interiors of the halls are well preserved. In the rooms on the ground floor you can find original paintings from the era of Louis XIII, and you should also visit the basement trophy room filled with deer antlers and the castle kennel, where hundreds of hunting dogs live. These places have long been famous for hound hunting.
Chambord
Castle-labyrinth 
One of the most recognizable buildings in France. They say that Leonardo da Vinci himself had a hand in his project - this is probably why the architecture of the castle is so exquisite and complex: 426 rooms, 77 staircases (sometimes in the most unexpected places) and 282 fireplaces. The castle was owned by King Francis I, who loved to visit Countess Turi, who lived next door.
Chaumont-sur-Loire
Castle of Catherine de Medici 
This place was made famous by the wife of the French king, Catherine de Medici, who bought it in the 16th century. Now it is a museum where you can see the room of the queen herself, the tower of her astrologer Ruggieri, a meeting room, a hall of guards, a dining room, a library, a billiard room, a chapel and the chambers of Diana de Poitiers, the king’s favorite, who had to move here after his death. It will also be interesting to visit the castle stables - look into the saddlery workshop, the kitchen for preparing feed, the carriage house and the pony arena.
Lange
France's oldest surviving stone fortress 
The history of this castle is associated with the names of such legendary figures as Fulk the Black and Richard the Lionheart. Here you can look at one of the last functioning castle drawbridges, French tapestries of the 15th-16th centuries, Gothic chandeliers, ancient paintings, sculptures and, of course, the main pearl of this building - a wax recreation of the wedding of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany, which took place here and celebrated the beginning of the annexation of Brittany to France.
Yusse
Sleeping Beauty Castle 
There is a legend that Charles Perrault was so fascinated by this structure that he described it in his famous fairy tale. In the round tower you can now see wax recreations of episodes from there. In addition, the history of this castle is associated with the names of two more famous writers: Chateaubriand wrote his “Grave Notes” here, and Prosper Merimee ensured that in 1861 it was included in the state list of historical monuments of France.
Losh
The most massive castle 
The local donjon is considered the oldest surviving one in the country. The construction of the fortress on this site began in the 9th century, and it, of course, was wooden. The tower that has survived to this day was built at the very beginning of the 11th century, and the thickness of its walls is 3 meters. Many famous historical names are associated with the castle. In the 12th century. it was owned by the English king Richard the Lionheart, and later, for a long time, the “Beautiful Lady” Agnes Sorel, the first favorite of King Charles VII, lived here. She was buried right there, in the church at the castle.
Amboise
The final resting place of Leonardo da Vinci and the Huguenots 
Francis I grew up here and loved this castle very much. In 1515, he settled Leonardo da Vinci on the Cloux estate, connected to Amboise by an underground passage. The artist painted his most famous work here, La Gioconda, and died in 1519. His remains are kept in the castle chapel of St. Hubert. This place is also famous for the fact that the court of Henry II and Catherine de Medici lived here, their children and daughter-in-law Mary Stuart were raised here, and the execution of Huguenot conspirators who planned an assassination attempt on Francis II took place here.
Chateaudun
The most gothic castle 
Lovers of the Middle Ages will find here everything that interests them: an ancient donjon, frescoes depicting the Last Judgment, tapestries with scenes from the life of the prophet Moses, an exquisite staircase, gardens in medieval style, which are planted only with those plants that were known in medieval times and were used in cooking, medicine and cosmetics.
Chenonceau
"Ladies' Castle" 
At various times, this building was owned by the king's favorite Diana de Poitiers, queens Catherine de Medici and Louise de Vaudemont, Catherine Brisonnet, as well as Louise Dupin, the wife of a wealthy landowner. All of them moved in intellectual circles and patronized the arts, so the castle was often visited by writers, artists, musicians of that time and, of course, left their mark on it. For example, a collection of paintings by Poussin and Rubens, as well as Flemish tapestries of the 16th century, appeared here.
Blois
Favorite residence of French kings 
From the XII to the XVII centuries. 7 kings and 10 queens of France lived here in turn. Blois was especially loved by Louis XII and Francis I. They spent a lot of time here. Joan of Arc once prayed in the local chapel. Now the castle is a museum and contains about 35 thousand different works of art.
Azay-le-Rideau
The most crowded castle 
It was built by the treasurer of Francis I, Gilles Berthelot, or rather, his wife Philippa. It was thanks to her taste that graceful external towers, an elegant staircase with paired loggia windows, and a complex system of moats and ponds appeared here. Azay-le-Rideau was a pleasure palace: it came to life in the summer and was empty in the winter.
Chinon
Place of blessing of Joan of Arc 
Once upon a time it was not even one castle, but three. Then they were united, and Chinon became the favorite residence of King Charles VII. By the way, it was here that Charles (then still a prince) met with Joan of Arc and received from her God’s message that he would be crowned on the throne in Reims. In the 17th century Chinon became the property of Cardinal Richelieu, who left it as an inheritance to his descendants.