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Visit The Loire Chateau: A Journey To The French Valley Of The Kings

The name Loire inspires images of romantic fairytale castles, stories of the Plantagenets and the Medicis and royal intrigue, and lush green valleys and vineyards surrounding the rivers of the area.
Known as the Valley of the Kings, the French royals built their homes here, creating an unrivalled region of beautiful and historical architecture.
But, it's not just the awe-inspiring castles ( that are the attraction; the fascinating stories of the people that lived in them are utterly compelling.
Below are the principal chateaux of the Pays de la Loire.
Most of these chateaux are built along the Loire, the 'royal river', and are often built upon medieval, or even Neolithic, sites.
Many are made of the local tufa, a white limestone that adds to the elegant style of the chateaux.
Some are still private homes, some have been converted into museums, and some have their own vineyards and offer wine tasting.

Chateaux found in the French Department (county) of Maine-Et-Loire

Angers

More than 1000 years old, this giant of tufa and slate overlooking the Maine River is typical of castles encountered on crusades to the Holy Land.
Built over Gallo-Roman town buildings, in turn standing on a Neolithic site dating from 4500 - 4000 BC, the chateau of the Counts of Anjou is surrounded by a fortress constructed by Saint Louis.
With walls 30 metres high and 17 towers, it was key in the defence of Anjou and the largest fortified castle in France.
The lovely Bout du Monde gardens enhance your visit to the castle.
The chateau houses the famous Apocalypse Tapestry - the largest medieval tapestry in the world - commissioned by Duke Louis I of Anjou in the mid-1370's.

Montsoreau

In this picturesque Small City of Character, Montsoreau is one of the most romantic of all the chateaux in the Loire Valley.
Much of its fame is based on the popular Alexandre Dumas novel, 'La Dame de Montsoreau', written in 1860, and at the castle you can learn about this beautiful Lady of Montsoreau.
Rising high above the Loire and the Vienne rivers, the chateau overlooks three historical provinces: Anjou, Touraine, and Poitou.
Unlike other castles by the Loire, Montsoreau was actually built near the river.
A combination of castle and grand residence, the chateau is the setting for the spectacular 'Stories of the Loire', which pays tribute to the 'royal river'.

Le Plessis-Bourre
 
Le Plessis-Bourre Chateau is so lovely, it's used as a set for many French films.
Built between 1468 and 1473 by Jean Bourre, this defensive castle is made of tufa stone, has wide water-filled moats, a double drawbridge, fortified gates, and large towers and parapets. But beyond the gatehouse, Le Plessis ceases to be a fortress and becomes a country house.
A spacious courtyard surrounded by arcades and overlooked by elaborately mullioned windows leads to the house filled with richly furnished rooms.
Formerly a covered walkway leading to the chapel, the library is 36 metres long and contains more than 3000 volumes.
The intriguing Salle des Gardes has a painted ceiling depicting strange allegorical figures whose presence and meaning is a mystery.

Brissac

At seven stories high, Brissac is the tallest chateau in France and is called 'The Giant of the Loire Valley'.
It's been home to the Dukes of Brissac since 1502 and is today the residence of the 13th Duke of Brissac.
Of the original 15th century fortress, there remain two medieval towers and the ancient wine cellars (wine tasting available).
The Chateau de Brissac has 203 sumptuously decorated rooms, an exceptional 19th century Belle Epoque theatre, ornate gold-leaf ceilings, Flemish and Gobelin tapestries, and a magnificent 70-hectare parkland.
In 1620, Louis XIII and his court stayed in Brissac to sign a peace treaty for his mother, Marie de Medicis, who was exiled in Angers.
This chateau and it's owners were of such enormous attraction and importance that the future Henry II of France declared, "If I wasn't a dauphin, I'd like to be a Brissac."

Breze

A chateau under a chateau, Breze is a rare example of a troglodyte castle, with miles of underground medieval passages providing the largest underground stately home in Europe. Above ground, Breze Chateau has both 16th and 19th century battlements and a dry moat 18 metres deep - the deepest in Europe.
Once owned by the Prince of Conde, this enormous chateau has been in the Dreux-Brezes family for 400 years and is currently the home to the Count and Countess de Colbert.
Breze is surrounded by vineyards - wines have been made here since the15th century - and you can visit the wine cellars, the press, and the mill.

Montreuil-Bellay

Originally a medieval fortress built in the 11th century by the infamous Foulques Nerra (The Black Falcon), Montreuil-Bellay Chateau had a stately home added in the 15th century.
The town of Montreuil-Bellay was built on a rocky outcrop and is the last surviving walled town of the 32 that once stood in Anjou. Surrounded by vineyards, the delightful town has retained a medieval atmosphere.
The chateau has splendid medieval kitchens, a collegiate church, and was one of the most important venues for hunting with falcons in the 13th century.
The chateau produces AOC wines - red, white, rose, and effervescent.
The grapes are harvested by hand and the wine is bottled at castle. Sales and wine tasting are available.

Serrant

Architects, builders, and artists have made Serrant the prince among Anjou's chateaux. Lived in by the same family since the 18th century, this Renaissance chateau has one of the finest private collections of furniture in France - the cabinets are truly exceptional. There is also a magnificent library with 12,000 volumes, magnificent tapestries, art objects, and furniture of the Belle Epoque.
Evenings in July and August have the guides dressed in Belle Epoque costumes - entrance by reservation only.

Le Plessis-Mace

With outer defences dating back to the 12th century, this fortified manor house has superb views over the Loire.
Le Plessis-Mace is an appealing jumble of styles and materials with its combined use of schist and tufa.
Louis de Beaumont was the most significant of Le Plessis-Mace's 15th century lords.
A knight of the Order of St-Michael, his chapel is dedicated to the dragon-slaying saint
Still a residence, the chateau hosts the Anjou Festival's theatrical presentation every summer.

Saumur

Overlooking the Loire, the Chateau of Saumur is a joy to behold. Built, destroyed by invaders, and rebuilt several times between the 9th and 14th centuries, the castle was a key defence in protecting the eastern approach to Anjou.
Towers and walls from the 1360s have survived and offer a beautiful view over the countryside. The castle has served as barracks and as a prison - the Marquis de Sade was held captive here for awhile.
The town bought it in 1906 and undertook extensive renovation work, and it now houses the Museum of Decorative Arts and the Equestrian Museum.

Montgeoffroy

Montgeoffroy Chateau is a place where time stands still - nothing has changed since the Marechal of Contades, governor of Strasbourg, had it built, decorated, and furnished between 1772 and 1775.
It has been home to that same family ever since. The marshal asked Nicholas Barre, a Parisien architect, to design it around a lovely chapel and two towers remaining from a former chateau. Inside, the rooms have retained their original appeal and good taste: paintings by old masters, fine original furnishings, and in the kitchens are shelves of gleaming copperware that look as good today as the day they were made.
With its white stone facade softened by a slate roof and tall pink chimneys, Montgeoffroy is one of the most outstanding masterpieces of French 18th century architecture.
Tel: 02 41 80 60 02.

Bauge

Historically a jewel in the crown for the Baugeois area - the chateau was a favourite residence of Good King Rene - the importance of Chateau de Bauge increased with the large number of lodges and wealthy dependencies in the area. The many little towers pop up out of the trees next to the little Loir river.
Inside, the chateau glows with its collections of porcelain, weapons, and furnishings.
There's also an ancient apothecary that is considered one of the best collections in France.

Durtal

Rising from the waters of the Loir up six floors to loom over the town below, Chateau de Durtal was the envy of many great historical figures, including Henry II of France, Charles X, Catherine de Medici, and Louis XIII.
Royalty were keen to enjoy the splendid lifestyle offered by the chateau.
Visitors are invited to explore the castle from top to bottom, taking in the trophy room, kitchens, and dungeons.
The wall walk offers a good view of the area.

La Lorie

The Chateau de la Lorie was the epitome of gracious living with its parkland sculptures, architecture, magnificent library, and an orangery where the area's first pineapples were grown.
The chateau has a magnificent marble drawing room, which the English royal family is rumoured to have greatly admired when they stayed here as guests.
There are also the remnants of a stud farm.

Chateaux found in the French Department (county) of Sarthe:

Laval

Built on a rocky spur in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, the Laval Chateau overlooks the river and offers superb views of the old town.
Inside is The Museum of Art Naif, one of the finest museums of folk art containing a collection of some of the greatest international masters of Art Naif painting.
There's also a reproduction of local artist Douanier Rousseau's studio.
Tourist office tel: 02 43 49 46 46.

Le Lude

Originally built as a medieval castle, Chateau du Lude is one of the finest examples of early Renaissance chateaux in France.
There is a lovely long terrace on the south-facing facade that overlooks the extensive gardens and parkland that stretch to the banks of the little Loir river.
The original fortress was built between the 10th and 11th centuries, in order to defend Anjou from invaders.
The richness and variety of the styles that characterise the chateau are echoed in the interior decoration and furniture.
In the hands of the same family for the last 250 years, Le Lude belongs to the Count and Countess Louis-Jean de Nicolay, who have carried on its restoration and decoration.

Chateaux found in the French Department (county) of Loire-Atlantique

Nantes

The Castle of the Dukes of Brittany (Chateau des Ducs de Bretagne ) is a massive fortified chateau that served as the centre of the historical province of Brittany until 1941, when the regions and departments were restructured. It was the residence of the Dukes of Brittany from the 13th to the 16th centuries, then became the residence of the French monarchy.
Listed as a historic monument by the French Ministry of Culture since 1862, the recently restored chateau now also houses the Nantes History Museum.
The castle and the museum offer a modern vision by presenting the past, the present, and the future of the city.
A walk on the fortified ramparts provides excellent views of the castle, its courtyards, and of the town.
The night-lighting, which won the Light Originator Prize of the Lumiville Trophy 2007, dramatically displays the architectural complexity.

Goulaine

Chateau Goulaine has been in the Marquis de Goulaine's family for more than 1000 years.
A fortress in the middle ages, Goulaine was entirely rebuilt during the Renaissance period in the style of the great homes of the Loire valley.
Although the outside looks like a stern Breton castle, inside is a land of butterflies and biscuits.
The chateau has an outstanding collection of antiques, and the Tropical House butterfly farm has butterflies fluttering freely from April to November.
The chateau also has a collection of memorabilia, including posters from the Lu bakery company.
The castle is currently the home of writer Robert de Goulaine, who will happily autograph his books for you.

Chateau found in the French Department (county) of Vendee:

Terre-Neuve

Terre-Neuve Chateau is a treasure of a castle with magnificent architecture and parkland.
A prime example of the elegance of Renaissance times, inside are carved stone fireplaces, elaborate ceilings, antiques, and paintings. Built on a hill in Fontenay-le-Comte in 1580, Terre-Neuve has been occupied as a residence ever since.

Chateau found in the French Department (county) of Mayenne:

Ste-Suzanne

The keep of the Chateau of Sainte-Suzanne and the 14th and 15th century ramparts have changed little over the centuries.
Set in this Small City of Character with cobblestone streets and medieval buildings, the castle has a rampart walk with fabulous views over the surrounding Coevrons countryside.

About the Author

David Morrison is a journalist with FrenchEntree Loire (http://www.frenchentree.com/france-pays-de-la-loire), the leading English-language website for anyone interested in this stunning part of France. Visit the site for details on property, tourism and more.