Loire Valley Castles

The purpose of this page is to provide an extensive list of the châteaux in the Loire Valley that can be visited. Castles and châteaux that are in private hands and either off-limits to visitors or used as hotels, Bed & Breakfast or for weddings and seminars are not listed here.

The list is divided in two categories: 1) medieval castles and 2) Renaissance châteaux. They are sorted by ranking, then by alphabetical order within each rating bracket.

Medieval Castles of the Loire Valley

Angers
Historic Loire Valley city boasting the impressive Château d'Angers and world-famous medieval Apocalypse Tapestry. Charming cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses, vibrant university atmosphere, and gateway to renowned Anjou vineyards make it perfect for exploration.

Château de Montreuil-Bellay
Medieval fortress dating from 1025 with 15 defensive towers and 600 metres of ramparts overlooking the Thouet River. This architectural jewel offers guided tours through furnished interiors, underground passages, and vaulted cellars, surrounded by vineyards.

Chinon Castle
Magnificent medieval fortress complex of three interconnected castles overlooking the River Vienne. Once home to Henry II Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine, this royal stronghold witnessed Joan of Arc's historic meeting with Charles VII in 1429.

Saumur Castle
This Loire Valley château began as a medieval fortress before becoming an elegant 14th-century palace of the Dukes of Anjou. Perched above Saumur with panoramic river views, it now houses decorative arts and equestrian museums.

Ancenis Castle
Medieval fortress dating from 990, magnificently situated on the Loire's banks in Ancenis. Features a unique 15th-century gatehouse with chicane drawbridge and elegant Renaissance house from 1529. This strategic castle controlled vital river traffic for centuries.

Baugé Castle
15th-century Gothic hunting lodge built by King René of Anjou (1454-65) in the charming town of Baugé-en-Anjou. This elegant pre-Renaissance château now houses an interactive museum exploring medieval court life, with engaging family-friendly exhibits in period rooms.

Loches Castle
Medieval fortress in the Loire Valley featuring a massive 11th-century keep built by Fulk the Black. This imposing Royal City witnessed Joan of Arc's meeting with Charles VII and served as both royal residence and prison. Superb example of military architecture.

Noirmoutier Castle
A superbly preserved 12th-century medieval castle on Île de Noirmoutier, dominated by its impressive 20-metre-high keep. This magnificent example of medieval architecture houses a museum chronicling the island's fascinating history from Viking raids to maritime heritage.

Rivau Castle
A 15th-century Loire Valley fortress combining medieval architecture with Renaissance elegance. Joan of Arc collected horses here before the siege of Orléans. Features spectacular royal stables and 14 enchanting fairytale gardens surrounding this Historic Monument.

Saint-Jean Castle
Impressive medieval fortress dominating Nogent-le-Rotrou, featuring one of France's oldest rectangular keeps built in the 1040s. The 35-metre-high castle houses an ethnographic museum and offers spectacular views over the Huisne valley from its commanding plateau position.

Les Réaux Castle
Medieval castle in Chouzé-sur-Loire dating from the 15th century, named after writer Tallemant des Réaux. This historic monument features a unique contemporary art gallery with paintings dedicated to human legs, plus guest accommodation in atmospheric surroundings.

Le Grand-Pressigny Castle
Medieval château housing the Prehistory Museum, built on a rocky spur in the 12th century with impressive keep and ramparts. Strategic stronghold during the Hundred Years War, later restored in Renaissance style. Famous for prehistoric flint tools that made this region archaeologically significant.

Sarzay Castle
A magnificent 14th-century fortress in Indre featuring multiple towers, drawbridges, and authentic mediaeval rooms. This imposing castle survived centuries of warfare and offers visitors unrestricted exploration of its historic chambers and tower views.

Clisson Castle
Medieval fortress ruins built by the powerful Clisson family from the 12th century. Once protected Brittany's frontiers and served as ducal residence. Features impressive defensive architecture including arrow slits and cannon ports. Romantic ruins overlook the Sèvre Nantaise.

Renaissance & Classical Châteaux of the Lore Valley

Château de Chambord ※
The Loire Valley's largest château, commissioned by François I in 1519 as a royal hunting lodge. This Renaissance masterpiece features distinctive architecture possibly influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, including the famous double-helix staircase. A symbol of royal grandeur with 440 rooms and elaborate roofline.

Château de Brissac
France's tallest château, standing 48 metres high as the 'Giant of the Loire Valley'. This magnificent Baroque castle has been home to the Dukes of Brissac since 1502, featuring 204 opulent rooms, fine art collections, and a unique 19th-century theatre.

Château du Lude
Le Lude is the northernmost château of the Loire Valley, showcasing four centuries of French architecture from medieval fortress to Renaissance palace. Still inhabited by the same family for 260 years, this remarkable castle features imposing corner towers, ornate façades, and splendid terraced gardens classified as "Remarkable Gardens".

Château de Maintenon
Elegant château in Eure-et-Loir, transformed by Madame de Maintenon, Louis XIV's secret wife. Medieval origins blend with Renaissance architecture, Le Nôtre gardens, and Vauban's impressive aqueduct. Eight centuries of royal romance and history await.

Château de Chenonceau ※
Built over a bridge spanning the Cher River, Chenonceau Castle is like no other in France, and probably like no other in the world. This exquisite Renaissance château is the most visited heritage site in France still in private hands.

Château d'Azay-le-Ferron
Renaissance château spanning 15th-18th centuries with sumptuously furnished rooms and magnificent formal gardens by the Bühler Brothers. Located in Indre, this architectural gem showcases different periods through its varied wings and topiary.

Blois Castle
Royal château showcasing four architectural styles from medieval to classical periods. Former residence of seven French kings and ten queens, where Joan of Arc was blessed in 1429. Features the renowned François I spiral staircase and houses a fine arts museum.

Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire ※
Renaissance château dramatically positioned above the Loire River, rebuilt in the 15th-16th centuries after destruction by Louis XI. Famous for Catherine de' Medici and her rival Diane de Poitiers. Features magnificent historic stables, landscaped gardens, and renowned contemporary art exhibitions.

Château de Cheverny ※
Elegant 17th-century château built in classical Louis XIII style by the Hurault family, who still reside there today. Famous as the inspiration for Tintin's Marlinspike Hall, it features sumptuous period interiors, historic hunting kennels, and a distinctive white Bourré stone façade.

Château de Meillant
Magnificent 15th-16th century château in Berry showcasing late Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Built by the d'Amboise family, it features the ornate Lion's Tower and contrasting medieval and decorative façades. Privately owned, it offers guided tours of sumptuous interiors, chapel and grounds.

Château de Menetou-Salon
Neo-Gothic château near Bourges, originally owned by Jacques Cœur, Charles VII's treasurer. Rebuilt in 1884-90 by Prince d'Arenberg, this lavishly furnished private residence offers guided tours through its elegant rooms and wine estate in the renowned Menetou-Salon region.

Château de Montgeoffroy
An 18th-century Loire château (1772-76) uniquely preserved with all original furnishings intact since the French Revolution. Built by Marshal de Contades, this architectural masterpiece offers authentic aristocratic interiors, period kitchens, and historic chapel.

Château de Serrant
Renaissance château in the Loire Valley, 15km west of Angers, built over three centuries on medieval foundations. Features elegant architecture blending dark schist and white stone, magnificent staircase, and exceptional private collections including a 12,000-volume library.

Château d'Ussé ※
Loire Valley's fairy-tale Château d'Ussé, inspiration for Sleeping Beauty, blends medieval fortress origins with Renaissance elegance. This privately-owned castle features magnificent architecture, ornate interiors, and Le Nôtre gardens overlooking the Indre Valley.

Château de Valençay ※
Splendid Renaissance château in Berry, built from 1540 by the d'Estampes family. Renowned as diplomat Talleyrand's residence from 1803, where Spanish princes were held captive. Features elegant domed towers, Empire furniture, and magnificent 53-hectare park with varied gardens.

Château de Villandry ※
The last great Renaissance château built in the Loire Valley (1536), Villandry near Tours is world-renowned for its spectacular six-hectare terraced gardens. This UNESCO site combines elegant architecture with meticulously maintained ornamental, water, and kitchen gardens.

Château d'Amboise ※
Royal Renaissance palace perched dramatically on a rocky promontory above the Loire. Former residence of French kings including Charles VIII and François I. Features stunning Gothic and Renaissance architecture, with Leonardo da Vinci's tomb in the exquisite Chapel of Saint-Hubert.

Château d'Anet
Exquisite Renaissance château built 1547-52 by Philibert de l'Orme for Diane de Poitiers, Henri II's cherished mistress. Though extensively demolished post-Revolution, this architectural gem near Dreux retains its splendid gateway, chapel and wing showcasing exceptional period craftsmanship.

Château de Beauregard ※
Located a few kilometres south of Blois, the Renaissance Château de Beauregard encloses an exceptional portrait gallery depicting 327 European monarchs, ministers, clergymen, marshals, diplomats and other notables who lived between the reign of Philip VI (r. 1328) and the death of Louis XIII (1643).

Château de Bouges
This elegant 18th-century château, modelled on Versailles' Petit Trianon, sits amid 80 hectares of magnificent gardens in the Loire Valley. Built by an ironmaster between 1759-1773, it houses exceptional period furnishings and equestrian collections. Open to the public.

Candé Castle
Renaissance château near Tours, famous as the 1937 wedding venue of the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson. Built in 1508, later modernised with luxurious 1930s interiors. Now offers guided tours of opulent furnished rooms and extensive parkland.

Château de Châteaubriant
Medieval fortress dating from the 11th century, dramatically transformed during the Renaissance. This striking castle on Brittany's eastern border combines defensive medieval architecture with elegant Renaissance palace wings, offering visitors ten centuries of French history.

Fougères-sur-Bièvre Castle
A remarkable 15th-century fortified castle in the Loire Valley, built by Pierre de Refuge, Louis XI's treasurer. This perfectly preserved medieval fortress combines defensive features like machicolations and a formidable keep with elegant Renaissance touches, creating the archetypal image of an ideal castle.

Château de Gien
Striking Renaissance château built by Anne de Beaujeu in the 15th century, featuring distinctive red and black brickwork with panoramic Loire views. Houses one of Europe's finest hunting museums and marks the entrance to the renowned Valley of Kings.

Château de La Bussière
Medieval fortress transformed into elegant 17th-century brick château, dubbed the 'fisherman's castle' for its exceptional collection of angling artifacts. Features beautifully furnished rooms, classified remarkable gardens, and lakeside setting with stone bridge access.

Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubain
This delightful 16th-century Loire Valley château offers interactive family experiences in a lived-in castle setting. Explore 15 furnished rooms, enjoy giant board games across the 40-hectare park, and savour famous honey madeleines whilst discovering centuries of history.

Langeais Castle
A 15th-century château built by Louis XI, showcasing medieval fortress architecture and Renaissance elegance. Famous for Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany's 1491 wedding, it features richly furnished rooms, tapestries, and a working drawbridge overlooking the Loire.

Château de Meung-sur-Loire
Medieval château built from the 12th century as residence for Orléans bishops. Known as the 'castle with two faces' for its contrasting medieval and classical façades. Features dungeons, furnished rooms, and parklands. Joan of Arc liberated it in 1429 during the Hundred Years' War.

Château de Montigny-le-Gannelon
Renaissance château built by Jacques de Renty in 1495, magnificently set within 15 hectares of parkland overlooking the river Loir. Features stunning turrets, beautifully furnished period rooms including the Kings' Dining Room, and grounds perfect for leisurely strolls.

Montpoupon Castle
Renaissance château rebuilt after medieval destruction, privately owned by the same family since 1857. Offers intimate glimpse of aristocratic life through fully furnished rooms and France's unique hunting museum in Loire Valley.

Montrésor Castle
Medieval fortress ruins and elegant Renaissance château nestled in one of France's most beautiful villages. Originally built in 1005, this privately-owned castle features sumptuous 19th-century Polish interiors and commands stunning views over the Indrois Valley.

Ducal Castle of Nantes
Nantes' premier historic monument, this magnificent 15th-century fortress was built by François II and Anne of Brittany. The castle combines imposing medieval fortifications with Renaissance elegance and now houses the city's fascinating history museum.

Château de Plessis-Bourré
An enchanting 15th-century château combining medieval fortress and Renaissance palace, built by Louis XI's finance minister Jean Bourré. Surrounded by wide moats with working drawbridges, this transitional masterpiece remains virtually unchanged since 1473.

Château de Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire
The most upstream château on the Loire, this medieval fortress became a Renaissance residence under the Séguier family. Dating from 1061, the Historic Monument features 25+ furnished rooms across four floors, plus escape games and medieval siege demonstrations.

Château de Sully-sur-Loire ※
Sully-sur-Loire is a 14th-century medieval castle converted into a residential château between 1602 and 1607 by Maximilien de Béthune (1559-1641), Duke of Sully, known as the Grand Sully.

Château d'Argy
Captivating 15th-16th century château in rural Indre, perfectly illustrating France's architectural transition from medieval fortress to Renaissance palace. Features imposing round towers, elegant Italian-inspired galleries, and stunning 40-hectare parklands.

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau ※
Renaissance masterpiece built under François I (1518-1527), this exquisite château rises from an island in the river Indre. Balzac's 'faceted diamond' perfectly blends French traditions with Italian influences, surrounded by romantic parkland. One of the Loire Valley's most beloved châteaux.

Château de Chamerolles
Elegant Renaissance château near Orléans housing France's leading perfume museum. Built by Lancelot du Lac (1500-1530), this brick masterpiece boasts beautiful period gardens, a historic Protestant chapel, and fascinating exhibitions on fragrance history.

Château de Châteaudun
Medieval fortress transformed into elegant Renaissance château by Jean de Dunois, Joan of Arc's famous companion. Built 12th-16th centuries, showcasing remarkable architectural transition from Gothic to Renaissance. Houses sacred Sainte-Chapelle. Overlooks Loir valley.

Château de Gué-Péan
Renaissance château from the 16th century, still inhabited by its owners. Features distinctive corner towers with domes, including one housing a chapel. Located near Chenonceau and Beauval, offers guided tours of furnished salons and remarkable imperial tower.

Château de Maupas
This remarkable 15th-century château in Morogues, Berry, has remained in the same family since 1682. Famous for its unique collection of nearly 1,000 faience plates decorating the grand staircase and treasured memories of the Duchess of Berry who once resided here.

Château de Montsoreau
Unique Renaissance château built directly in the Loire riverbed. This 15th-century architectural pioneer marked the transition from fortress to pleasure palace with elegant Flamboyant Gothic design. Houses a contemporary art museum. Immortalised in Dumas' novel.

Château de Talcy
A 16th-century Renaissance château built by Florentine banker Bernard Salviati, famously immortalised as the romantic muse of poet Pierre de Ronsard. This austere Loire Valley gem retains medieval defensive features and preserved 18th-century interiors amidst picturesque rural gardens.

Château de Villesavin
Renaissance château built 1527-37 by Jean le Breton, François I's secretary who oversaw nearby Chambord's construction. Features elegant horseshoe-shaped architecture, rare 1,500-hole dovecote, Carrara marble fountain, and fascinating carriage museum.

And now check out the :
Best French Medieval Castles	Best French Châteaux	Best French Fortified Towns
Best Spanish Medieval Castles	Best German Castles	Best German Palaces
Best UNESCO Monuments	Most Romantic Places	Best French Villages

And now check out the :

Best French Medieval Castles

Best French Châteaux

Best French Fortified Towns

Best Spanish Medieval Castles

Best German Castles

Best German Palaces

Best UNESCO Monuments

Most Romantic Places

Best French Villages