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Châteaux of the Loire Valley
Châteaux of the Loire Valley
	Château de Montsoreau
Location	France (Centre, Pays de la Loire)
Built	Renaissance period
Architectural style(s)	French Renaissance architecture
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Designated	2000
Part of	The Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes
Reference no.	933
Country	France
Region	Europe and North America

The châteaux of the Loire Valley (French: châteaux de la Loire) are part of the architectural heritage of the historic towns of Amboise, Angers, Blois, Chinon, Montsoreau, Orléans, Saumur, and Tours along the river Loire in France. They illustrate Renaissance ideals of design in France.^[1]

The châteaux of the Loire Valley number over three hundred,^[2] ranging from practical fortified castles from the 10th century to splendid residences built half a millennium later. When the French kings began constructing their huge châteaux in the Loire Valley, the nobility, drawn to the seat of power, followed suit, attracting the finest architects and landscape designers. The châteaux and their surrounding gardens are cultural monuments which embody the ideals of the Renaissance and Enlightenment. Many of the châteaux were built on hilltops, such as the Château d'Amboise, while the only one built in the riverbed is the Château de Montsoreau. Many had exquisite churches on the grounds or within the château.

History

With the Hundred Years' War concluded, Charles VII, Louis XI, and their successors preferred to spend the bulk of their time in the "garden of France" along the banks of the Loire. In the late 15th century Tours, then Blois, and later Amboise became the preferred locations of the French royal court. Many courtiers bought dilapidated castles built by the medieval Counts of Blois and of Anjou, and they had them reconstructed in the latest Italianate fashion. Leonardo da Vinci and other Italian artists arrived to design and beautify these residences.

In the 16th century, Francis I moved his main residence back to the Louvre, in Paris. With him went the great architects, but the Loire Valley continued to be the place where French royalty preferred to spend their time when not in the capital. Toward the end of the 17th century, Louis XIV made the Île-de-France the permanent locale for great royal residences when he built the Palace of Versailles. Nonetheless, those who gained the king's favour, as well as the wealthy bourgeoisie, continued to renovate existing châteaux or build lavish new ones in the Loire Valley as summer residences.

The French Revolution saw a number of the great châteaux destroyed and many ransacked, their treasures stolen. The overnight impoverishment of many French noble families, usually after one of their members lost his or her head to the guillotine, saw many châteaux demolished. During World War I and World War II, various chateaux were commandeered as military headquarters. Some of these continued to be so used after the end of World War II.

Today, the remaining privately owned châteaux serve as homes and some of them open their doors to tourists, while others operate as hotels or bed-and-breakfasts. Many others have been taken over by local governments, and the grandest, like those at Chambord, are owned and operated by the national government and are major tourist sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

List of châteaux of the Loire

Though there may be no universally accepted definition for the designation, the main criterion is that the château must be situated close to the Loire or one of its tributaries (such as the Maine, Cher, Indre, Creuse or Loir). Châteaux further upstream than Gien are generally not included, with the possible exception of the Bastie d'Urfé for its historical significance.

Royal châteaux

Château	Commune	Département	Coordinates	Historic Events
Amboise	Amboise	Indre-et-Loire	47°24′47″N 0°59′9″E / 47.41306°N 0.98583°E / 47.41306; 0.98583 (Château d'Amboise)	Accidental death of Charles VIII (1498)^[3] Amboise conspiracy (1560) Edict of Amboise with the Calvinists (1563)
Angers	Angers	Maine-et-Loire	47°28′12″N 0°33′36″W / 47.47000°N 0.56000°W / 47.47000; -0.56000 (Château d'Angers)	Location of the Apocalypse Tapestry
Blois	Blois	Loir-et-Cher	47°35′8″N 1°19′51″E / 47.58556°N 1.33083°E / 47.58556; 1.33083 (Château de Blois)	Assassination of Henry I, Duke of Guise (1588)^[3]
Chambord	Chambord	Loir-et-Cher	47°36′58″N 1°31′2″E / 47.61611°N 1.51722°E / 47.61611; 1.51722 (Château de Chambord)	Considered the most magnificent Loire château Treaty of Chambord (1552)^[3]
Chenonceau	Chenonceaux	Indre-et-Loire	47°19′31″N 1°4′13″E / 47.32528°N 1.07028°E / 47.32528; 1.07028 (Château de Chenonceau)	Owned by Diane de Poitiers (1547–1559) et Catherine de Médicis (1559–1589)^[3]
Chinon	Chinon	Indre-et-Loire	47°10′5″N 0°14′10″E / 47.16806°N 0.23611°E / 47.16806; 0.23611 (Château de Chinon)	Meeting between Charles VII and Joan of Arc (1429)^[3]
Langeais	Langeais	Indre-et-Loire	47°19′29″N 0°24′22″E / 47.32472°N 0.40611°E / 47.32472; 0.40611 (Château de Langeais)	Marriage of Charles VIII and Anne of Brittany (1491)
Loches	Loches	Indre-et-Loire	47°7′29″N 0°59′48″E / 47.12472°N 0.99667°E / 47.12472; 0.99667 (Château de Loches)	Captured by Richard the Lionheart (1194)^[3] Residence of Agnès Sorel (1443–1450)
Plessis-lez-Tours	La Riche	Indre-et-Loire	47°22′57″N 0°39′38″E / 47.38250°N 0.66056°E / 47.38250; 0.66056 (Château de Plessis-lèz-Tours)	Treaty of Tours (1444) Death of Louis XI (1483) Death of Francis of Paola (1507), founder of the Order of Minims Treaty of Plessis-les-Tours (1580) Meeting between Henry III and the king of Navarre, future Henry IV, who allied against the Catholic League (1589)
Saumur	Saumur	Maine-et-Loire	47°15′22″N 0°4′21″W / 47.25611°N 0.07250°W / 47.25611; -0.07250 (Château de Saumur)	"Château d'amour" of the king René of Anjou (1454–1472) Place of sanctuary for Protestants (1589)
Tours	Tours	Indre-et-Loire	47°23′49″N 0°41′34″E / 47.39694°N 0.69278°E / 47.39694; 0.69278 (Château de Tours)	Marriage of the future Louis XI and Margaret of Scotland (1436) Imprisonment of Charles, Duke of Guise (1588–1591)

Châteaux of the nobility

Château	Commune	Département	Coordinates	Notes
Azay-le-Rideau	Azay-le-Rideau	Indre-et-Loire	47°15′33″N 0°27′58″E / 47.25917°N 0.46611°E / 47.25917; 0.46611 (Château d'Azay-le-Rideau)	Masterpiece of the first French Renaissance^[4]
Armaillé	Loches	Indre-et-Loire	47°07′47″N 0°00′10″E / 47.12972°N 0.00278°E / 47.12972; 0.00278 (Château d'Armaillé)	Loches Château of Count Arthur de Marsay
Beauregard	Cellettes	Loir-et-Cher	47°32′13″N 1°23′3″E / 47.53694°N 1.38417°E / 47.53694; 1.38417 (Château de Beauregard)	Art gallery
Brézé	Brézé	Maine-et-Loire	47°10′28″N 0°03′27″W / 47.17444°N 0.05750°W / 47.17444; -0.05750 (Château de Brézé)	Artifacts of Troglodytes under the château Deepest moats in France
Brissac	Brissac Loire Aubance	Maine-et-Loire	47°21′11″N 0°26′59″W / 47.35306°N 0.44972°W / 47.35306; -0.44972 (Château de Brissac)	Tallest château in France
Chanteloup	Amboise	Indre-et-Loire	47°23′28″N 0°58′13″E / 47.39111°N 0.97028°E / 47.39111; 0.97028 (Pagode de Chanteloup)	Property of Duke of Choiseul (1760–1785)
Châteaudun	Châteaudun	Eure-et-Loir	48°04′15″N 1°19′25″E / 48.07083°N 1.32361°E / 48.07083; 1.32361 (Château de Châteaudun)	Property of Jean de Dunois (1439–1468)
Chaumont-sur-Loire	Chaumont-sur-Loire	Loir-et-Cher	47°28′45″N 1°10′55″E / 47.47917°N 1.18194°E / 47.47917; 1.18194 (Château de Chaumont-sur-Loire)	Property of Catherine de' Medici (1550–1559) et Diane de Poitiers (1559–1566)
Cheverny	Cheverny	Loir-et-Cher	47°30′1″N 1°27′29″E / 47.50028°N 1.45806°E / 47.50028; 1.45806 (Château de Cheverny)	Inspiration for Hergé's Marlinspike Hall
Clos-Lucé	Amboise	Indre-et-Loire	47°24′36″N 0°59′31″E / 47.41000°N 0.99194°E / 47.41000; 0.99194 (Clos-Lucé)	Home to Leonardo da Vinci (1516–1519)^[3]
Meillant	Meillant	Cher	46°46′59″N 2°30′15″E / 46.78306°N 2.50417°E / 46.78306; 2.50417 (Château de Meillant)	Contains the famous Tour du Lion
Montsoreau	Montsoreau	Maine-et-Loire	47°12′56″N 0°03′44″E / 47.21556°N 0.06222°E / 47.21556; 0.06222 (Château de Montsoreau)	Only Château in the Loire Valley constructed in the Loire riverbed Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art has the world's largest holding of Art & Language works^[5]
Richelieu	Richelieu	Indre-et-Loire	47°00′26″N 0°19′33″E / 47.00722°N 0.32583°E / 47.00722; 0.32583 (Château de Richelieu)	Property of Cardinal Richelieu (1621-1642)
Sully-sur-Loire	Sully-sur-Loire	Loiret	47°46′4″N 2°22′31″E / 47.76778°N 2.37528°E / 47.76778; 2.37528 (Château de Sully-sur-Loire)	Property of Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1602–1641)
Ussé	Rigny-Ussé	Indre-et-Loire	47°14′59″N 0°17′28″E / 47.24972°N 0.29111°E / 47.24972; 0.29111 (Château d'Ussé)	Inspiration for Charles Perrault's Sleeping Beauty^[4]
Valençay	Valençay	Indre	47°9′27″N 1°33′48″E / 47.15750°N 1.56333°E / 47.15750; 1.56333 (Château de Valençay)	Property of Talleyrand (1803–1838)^[3]
Villandry	Villandry	Indre-et-Loire	47°20′26″N 0°30′51″E / 47.34056°N 0.51417°E / 47.34056; 0.51417 (Château de Villandry)	Famous for its French formal gardens^[3]

Other châteaux

Château	Commune	Département	Coordinates	Image
Argy	Argy	Indre	46°56′20″N 1°26′08″E / 46.93889°N 1.43556°E / 46.93889; 1.43556 (Château d'Argy)
Azay-le-Ferron	Azay-le-Ferron	Indre	46°51′04″N 1°04′12″E / 46.85111°N 1.07000°E / 46.85111; 1.07000 (Château d'Azay-le-Ferron)
Baugé	Baugé	Maine-et-Loire	47°32′29″N 0°06′07″E / 47.54139°N 0.10194°E / 47.54139; 0.10194 (Château de Baugé)
Beaugency	Beaugency	Loiret	47°46′45″N 1°37′57″E / 47.77917°N 1.63250°E / 47.77917; 1.63250 (Château de Beaugency)
Boisgibault	Ardon	Loiret	47°47′18″N 1°52′00″E / 47.78833°N 1.86667°E / 47.78833; 1.86667 (Château de Boisgibault)
Boumois	Saint-Martin-de-la-Place	Maine-et-Loire	47°18′30″N 0°07′48″W / 47.30833°N 0.13000°W / 47.30833; -0.13000 (Château de Boumois)
Briare	Briare	Loiret	47°38′22″N 2°44′27″E / 47.63944°N 2.74083°E / 47.63944; 2.74083 (Château de Briare)
Candé	Monts	Indre-et-Loire	47°17′49″N 0°39′56″E / 47.29694°N 0.66556°E / 47.29694; 0.66556 (Château de Candé)
Chamerolles	Chilleurs-aux-Bois	Loiret	48°03′37″N 2°09′51″E / 48.06028°N 2.16417°E / 48.06028; 2.16417 (Château de Chamerolles)
Châteauneuf-sur-Loire	Châteauneuf-sur-Loire	Loiret	47°51′51″N 2°13′00″E / 47.86417°N 2.21667°E / 47.86417; 2.21667
Chémery	Chémery	Loir-et-Cher	47°20′43″N 1°28′48″E / 47.34528°N 1.48000°E / 47.34528; 1.48000 (Château de Chémery)
Chissay	Chissay-en-Touraine	Loir-et-Cher	47°20′13″N 1°08′11″E / 47.33694°N 1.13639°E / 47.33694; 1.13639 (Château de Chissay)
Courtalain	Courtalain	Eure-et-Loir	48°04′49″N 1°08′11″E / 48.08028°N 1.13639°E / 48.08028; 1.13639 (Château de Courtalain)
Fougères-sur-Bièvre	Fougères-sur-Bièvre	Loir-et-Cher	47°26′52″N 1°20′37″E / 47.44778°N 1.34361°E / 47.44778; 1.34361 (Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre)
Gaillard	Amboise	Indre-et-Loire	47°24′47″N 0°59′09″E / 47.41306°N 0.98583°E / 47.41306; 0.98583 (Château-Gaillard)
Gien	Gien	Loiret	47°41′06″N 2°37′54″E / 47.68500°N 2.63167°E / 47.68500; 2.63167 (Château de Gien)
Gizeux	Gizeux	Indre-et-Loire	47°23′26″N 0°12′22″E / 47.39056°N 0.20611°E / 47.39056; 0.20611 (Château de Gizeux)
Gué-Péan	Monthou-sur-Cher	Loir-et-Cher	47°21′00″N 1°19′07″E / 47.35000°N 1.31861°E / 47.35000; 1.31861 (Château du Gué-Péan)
La Bourdaisière	Montlouis-sur-Loire	Indre-et-Loire	47°22′11″N 0°50′19″E / 47.36972°N 0.83861°E / 47.36972; 0.83861 (Château de La Bourdaisière)
La Bussière	La Bussière	Loiret	47°44′50″N 2°44′52″E / 47.74722°N 2.74778°E / 47.74722; 2.74778 (Château de La Bussière)
La Farinière	Cinq-Mars-la-Pile	Indre-et-Loire	47°21′08″N 0°28′29″E / 47.35222°N 0.47472°E / 47.35222; 0.47472 (Château de La Farinière)
La Ferté-Saint-Aubin	La Ferté-Saint-Aubin	Loiret	47°43′35″N 1°56′36″E / 47.72639°N 1.94333°E / 47.72639; 1.94333 (Château de La Ferté-Saint-Aubin)
La Possonnière	Couture-sur-Loir	Loir-et-Cher	47°44′48″N 0°41′32″E / 47.74667°N 0.69222°E / 47.74667; 0.69222 (Château de La Possonnière)
Lavardin	Lavardin	Loir-et-Cher	47°44′28″N 0°53′01″E / 47.74111°N 0.88361°E / 47.74111; 0.88361 (Château de Lavardin)
Le Lude	Le Lude	Sarthe	47°38′45″N 0°09′14″E / 47.64583°N 0.15389°E / 47.64583; 0.15389 (Château du Lude)
Le Moulin	Lassay-sur-Croisne	Loir-et-Cher	47°22′09″N 1°36′34″E / 47.36917°N 1.60944°E / 47.36917; 1.60944 (Château du Moulin)	\|
Nevers	Nevers	Nièvre	46°59′18″N 3°09′30″E / 46.98833°N 3.15833°E / 46.98833; 3.15833 (Palais ducal de Nevers)
Le Plessis-Bourré	Écuillé	Maine-et-Loire	47°36′3″N 0°32′40″W / 47.60083°N 0.54444°W / 47.60083; -0.54444 (Château du Plessis-Bourré)
Le Rivau	Lemere	Indre-et-Loire	47°06′25″N 0°19′34″E / 47.10694°N 0.32611°E / 47.10694; 0.32611 (Château du Rivau)
Le Roujoux	Fresnes	Loir-et-Cher	47°26′01″N 1°24′03″E / 47.43361°N 1.40083°E / 47.43361; 1.40083 (Château du Roujoux)
Les Réaux	Chouzé-sur-Loire	Indre-et-Loire	47°14′54″N 0°8′52″E / 47.24833°N 0.14778°E / 47.24833; 0.14778 (Château des Réaux)
Luynes	Luynes	Indre-et-Loire	47°23′28″N 0°33′19″E / 47.39111°N 0.55528°E / 47.39111; 0.55528 (Château de Luynes)
Menars	Menars	Loir-et-Cher	47°38′36″N 1°24′34″E / 47.64333°N 1.40944°E / 47.64333; 1.40944 (Château de Menars)
Meung-sur-Loire	Meung-sur-Loire	Loiret	47°49′26″N 1°41′41″E / 47.82389°N 1.69472°E / 47.82389; 1.69472 (Château de Meung-sur-Loire)
Montgeoffroy	Mazé	Maine-et-Loire	47°28′08″N 0°16′35″W / 47.46889°N 0.27639°W / 47.46889; -0.27639 (Château de Montgeoffroy)
Montigny-le-Gannelon	Montigny-le-Gannelon	Eure-et-Loir	48°00′54″N 1°14′07″E / 48.01500°N 1.23528°E / 48.01500; 1.23528 (Château de Montigny-le-Gannelon)
Montpoupon	Céré-la-Ronde	Indre-et-Loire	47°15′11″N 1°8′28″E / 47.25306°N 1.14111°E / 47.25306; 1.14111 (Château de Montpoupon)
Montrésor	Montrésor	Indre-et-Loire	47°9′21″N 1°12′35″E / 47.15583°N 1.20972°E / 47.15583; 1.20972 (Château de Montrésor)
Montreuil-Bellay	Montreuil-Bellay	Maine-et-Loire	47°07′58″N 00°09′14″W / 47.13278°N 0.15389°W / 47.13278; -0.15389 (Château de Montreuil-Bellay)
Montrichard	Montrichard	Loir-et-Cher	47°20′37″N 1°11′10″E / 47.34361°N 1.18611°E / 47.34361; 1.18611 (Château de Montrichard)
Saché	Saché	Indre-et-Loire	47°14′45″N 0°32′41″E / 47.24583°N 0.54472°E / 47.24583; 0.54472 (Château de Saché)
Saint-Aignan	Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher	Loir-et-Cher	47°16′10″N 1°22′30″E / 47.26944°N 1.37500°E / 47.26944; 1.37500 (Château de Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher)
Saint-Brisson	Saint-Brisson-sur-Loire	Loiret	47°39′00″N 2°40′56″E / 47.65000°N 2.68222°E / 47.65000; 2.68222 (Château de Saint-Brisson)
Selles-sur-Cher	Selles-sur-Cher	Loir-et-Cher	47°16′29″N 1°32′58″E / 47.27472°N 1.54944°E / 47.27472; 1.54944 (Château de Selles-sur-Cher)
Serrant	Saint-Georges-sur-Loire	Maine-et-Loire	47°24′54″N 0°44′40″W / 47.41500°N 0.74444°W / 47.41500; -0.74444 (Château de Serrant)
Talcy	Talcy	Loir-et-Cher	47°46′11″N 1°26′39″E / 47.76972°N 1.44417°E / 47.76972; 1.44417 (Château de Talcy)
Troussay	Cheverny	Loir-et-Cher	47°29′29″N 1°25′29″E / 47.49139°N 1.42472°E / 47.49139; 1.42472 (Château de Troussay)
Valmer	Chançay	Indre-et-Loire	47°27′32″N 0°53′14″E / 47.45889°N 0.88722°E / 47.45889; 0.88722 (Château de Valmer)
Vendôme	Vendôme	Loir-et-Cher	47°47′21″N 1°03′55″E / 47.78917°N 1.06528°E / 47.78917; 1.06528 (Château de Vendôme)
Villesavin	Tour-en-Sologne	Loir-et-Cher	47°32′48″N 1°30′51″E / 47.54667°N 1.51417°E / 47.54667; 1.51417 (Château de Villesavin)